Page 127 of Vows of Ruin

Every muscle in my body goes tight, ready to snap. “What future?” I ask, voice low.

“I want the line to continue,” he whispers. “Our line. The one our family began generations ago. The one she owes me.”

My vision goes red. “You think she’d ever—”

“No,” he interrupts, soft and simple. “She wouldn’t. Not willingly. Not even under threat.”

His gaze slides toward me, hungry. “But fear not—I don’t need her willing.”

My heart slams against my ribs. Because now I see it. All of it. The room. The chairs. The stage. The shrine, the fixation, the obsession. This wasn’t meant to be a confrontation. It was meant to be a ceremony.

My voice comes out as a snarl. “You sick son of a bitch.”

“Oh,” he breathes, stepping closer. “But you… you are a surprise.”

His smile sharpens into something predatory. “I know why you came instead of her,” he says.

I clench my jaw. “Why don’t you tell me, then, if you know so much?”

“Because you love her,” he says. “Enough to take her place. Enough to die for her. Enough…” his eyes glitter. “…to offer yourself in exchange for her freedom?”

The world narrows. He knows. He fucking knows. I would trade myself for her in a heartbeat. Sebastian turns his back deliberately, mocking me, knowing I won’t strike yet, and walks toward the bedroom set, letting his fingers trail across the white bedframe.

“Well then,” he says softly, “This changes everything.”

I force my breathing to be steady. I force the rage down. I force myself not to tear his throat out with my bare hands. Because I came here for one reason. To end this.

“Sebastian,” I say, voice low, sharp, controlled. “Enough games. You said you didn’t expect me. Fine. Then listen carefully.”

He turns toward me, eyebrows lifting with theatrical curiosity.

I take a step forward. “I’ll stay,” I growl. “Whatever you want—whatever this is—I’ll do it. I’ll be the one you keep. I’ll be the one you hurt. I’ll be the one you use.”

His smile grows slow and serpentine, sickly pleased. I keep going.

“But in return—” my voice sharpens, cutting the air between us. “—You swear to leave her alone. Forever. No more threats. No more messages. No kidnappings. No traps. No serpents. You stay the hell away from them all.”

Sebastian watches me like he’s watching a performance he’s already memorized.

“Just one more time, so it’s perfectly clear,” I add, stepping closer. “You never, ever go after my wife again.”

Silence stretches. His eyes go bright. Too bright. “Interesting,” he murmurs. “A trade of one life… for her entire world.”

“It’s the only offer you’re going to get.”

He tilts his head, thoughtfully. Then he nods. Once. “Very well,” he says softly. “I decline.”

Rage boils under my skin. It’s time to do what I came here for. I might not make it out alive, but I will take him with me. I surge forward dagger raising in my hand. Before I can complete two steps, something sharp pricks the side of my neck. Fast. Clean. Precise. My hand snaps up on instinct, finding a dart in my neck. I continue forward, my legs stumble under me. My vision wavers. I fall forward to the floor, the dagger missing him completely and plunging into the stage.

Sebastian steps forward, hands clasped gleefully in front of him, smiling like a child who just solved a puzzle.

“Oh, Liam,” he says sweetly, “You didn’t think I’d let you negotiate while standing on both feet, did you?”

I lunge at him again, everything in me igniting, rage rising fast enough to drown the drug. But my limbs aren’t listening. My hand claws for the dagger. My knees buckle when I try to stand. The room spins faster. The stage blurs. The pink walls bleed together. I meet the floor again.

“Not to worry, Liam,” Sebastian says, crouching to meet my failing stare. “You’ll wake soon. And then, my friend… the real fun begins.”

I try to speak, to snarl, to threaten, to tell him I’ll rip him apart with my teeth if I have to. But the drug hits hard. Too hard. Too fast. My vision narrows to a tunnel. His face is the last thing I see. That smile. That sickly sinister smile, before everything fades to black.