by Dani René
He spins me on the dancefloor, our bodies moving to the song, but he doesn’t respond. A couple walks out onto the dancefloor, and it’s as if the air has thickened to scorching.
Everyone moves to the edge of the large tiled square, and the music stops. A gentle hum of whispers lingers, but it stills the moment the man picks up a microphone.
The woman beside him glances around, and Damien’s body stiffens beside me, but I don’t have time to look at him because the man speaks.
“Good evening to the young Thorne Haven elite,” he greets to whoops and howls of excitement. “It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the fiftieth annual Le Ball Masqué.”
“I thought you said it’s all the younger kids attending tonight?” My whisper feathers up toward Damien, and he tilts his head down to my ear. The warmth of his breath makes my skin tingle with awareness of his nearness.
“It is. They’re the owners of The Castle.”
“Who are they?” The moment I pose the question, the man’s glance lands on me, and I look directly into his eyes for the first time since he walked into the crowd. A lead weight drops into my stomach, and bile rises up to my throat. “Is that…?”
“Yes.” That’s all Damien says, but his arm snakes around my middle, holding me up because my knees buckle. “I need you to keep calm so we can explain,” he tells me in a lowered voice, but my heart thumps wildly in my ears, beating a rhythm that drowns out everything else.
Damien holds me up. He’s a rock, and I feel like I’m flailing in the darkness, but the spicy scent of his cologne is calming. Breathing deeply, I watch her smile. Even under the bright red mask, I would know her anywhere. She’s holding onto the man beside her, as if he’s her lifeline.
How can she not tell me where she was?
Why is she living in Thorne Haven?
And why the hell didn’t Damien tell me?
The man finishes his speech, but I’m still in shock when the crowd claps and whistles. I turn toward Damien, his blue eyes sparking with sadness and guilt.
“Talk to me Damien,” I plead, tears filling my eyes. His hand latches onto mine, and he tugs me through the crowd and deeper into the darkness of the garden. My heels aren’t made for the grass, so I stumble behind him. When we reach a beautifully carved fountain, with Cupid shooting an arrow down at us, I can’t help the laugh that bubbles in my chest at the irony.
“Sit.” Damien points at the smooth, marble seating bench that surrounds the fountain. I obey silently because I have a feeling, if I fight him on this, he’ll only keep more secrets from me. My chest is tight with agony. She didn’t even look at me. Surely, she knows I’m here.
“Damien, I don’t know what’s going on, but I need to know why the fuck my aunt is here. And why she’s hanging onto the man making the speech.”
“I know.” He nods, as he runs his fingers through his hair, which only makes it look messily sexy. Shaking my head, I focus on the anger that’s surging through me, along with confusion at my aunt’s actions.
“Who is the man?” I whisper. Damien looks at me before he sighs and settles beside me. I know something bad is coming. If he’s being this quiet about it, this can’t be good at all.
“The man is Creed’s father.”
I shoot to my feet. “What?” My voice comes out with a croak of shock. “That… I can’t… She’s… No.”
“They got married last year. She moved to Thorne Haven, and as time passed, she became part of the community. When I met you at the reception, I couldn’t bring myself to tell you because everything else didn’t matter. Only your eyes on me. I was being selfish.” His words falter off into the dark night. It feels like the world is closing in on me.
“I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t she tell me? What is actually going on?” Even though I have a million questions running through my mind, one comes to the forefront, and I voice it. “Did you and I happen because of that?” I point back to the castle behind us. “Did you make a move on me because you were trying to make Creed angry?”
“No!” Damien’s on his feet, his hands on my hips. He holds me tenderly, but firmly. “I want you, Nesrin. When I first saw you at the reception, all I could think about was being beside you, inside you.” Damien leans in close, his mouth feathering over mine. “You’ve burrowed your way into my life and into my heart.”
He doesn’t blink, keeping his gaze locked on mine. I believe him. He doesn’t smile; he doesn’t grin and play his admission off, so I know there’s truth in his statement.
“I can’t get my heart broken, Damien.” My plea is clear. He knows I’m not strong. I may come across as such, but I’m so far from it, and this has hurt me more than I can explain.
“Wild rose,” Damien whispers the nickname he’s given me. “If I do ever hurt you, I’ll be hurting myself ten times over. When you came into my life, I was…” He shakes his head. I’ve never seen Damien vulnerable. I have never witnessed him look so torn and broken. Not even when he showed me his scars.
“You were?” I urge, needing him to tell me the truth. I don’t know why I’m so needy, so fucking childish, but I want his words, and nothing else will suffice. Not now.
“I don’t trust myself around you.”
“Why?”
“Isn’t this cozy?” Creed’s voice comes from behind me. Damien’s gaze lifts to the man with a spark of annoyance.
“What the fuck do you want, Creed?”
“You know I’m allowed a dance with any new girls who’ve come to Thorne Haven. It’s part of the rules.” A shiver runs down my spine, and goosebumps rise on my bare skin.
“We’ll rejoin the party shortly, Creed.” Damien’s voice is ice. The heat behind me is the only way I know that the other man has stepped closer to me. I’m sandwiched between the two, and the animosity is so thick, you could cut it with a knife.
“Don’t disappoint me, Thorne,” Creed says in a low, violent tone. “You of all people know I don’t like being disappointed.” He spins on his heel, and the cool air he leaves behind makes me shiver.
“Are you ever going to tell me what the hell is going on between the two of you?” I question, looking up at the man who’s stolen my heart.
“Tonight. For now, we need to get back. And please don’t be angry with your aunt.”
“Why? She neglected to tell me about her being married to a man who practically owns a town. She didn’t even mention knowing you when she stood in front of me at the reception. Does my mother know?”
“Let’s get back to the party. I’ll answer any questions later. I promise,” he tells me, not meeting my questioning gaze, and I know there is so much more that’s being kept from me.
“Fine,” I bite out, as frustration shoots through me, heating my blood. I spin around and make my way back to the house, leaving Damien staring at my back.
If Creed wants to dance with me, I’ll do it. Perhaps he’ll be more forthcoming with information.
30
Damien
I don’t run after her because I know she’ll only push me away. I don’t blame her for being angry, but there are reasons behind everything I’ve done. It was all to keep her safe, and I would do it again if I had another chance.
When I reach the house, I step into the ballroom and head straight for the bar. Cassian joins me, a smirk on his face, and I want nothing more than to punch him, but that wouldn’t help matters.
“She saw Mallory?” he asks, and I nod. “You knew it would happen. It’s not up to you to keep her safe from the truth. Her family should do it.”
“I’m her…” I allow my confession to silence because I can’t admit shit right now.
“I know you’re in love with her, Damien. It’s time you stopped denying it.” Cassian watches my reaction to his response. I gulp down the bourbon and gesture to the barman for another.
“You know what love did to our father, Cass,” I bite out when I have another double shot of bourbon. Turning to the dancefloor, I
watch her from afar, talking to and dancing with Creed. Her smile is bright, but I don’t miss how her gaze finds me across the crowd.
Her hands snake around his neck, and my body burns with jealous rage. I know she’s doing it to piss me off. The man who’s wanted the legacy of Thorne Haven for himself is enjoying the dance. Creed has always wanted everything that’s mine. Our fathers are one and the same, but, the difference is, Bradford Thorne would not happily leave Thorne Corporation to me. Whereas Octavius Haven would wrap his legacy in a bow, before leaving it to his eldest son.
He moves closer to her, and every instinct in my body hums with violence. I’m so close to tearing through him, ripping him to shreds and fucking her drenched in his blood.
Would I enjoy it? Of course.
The darkness that’s always consumed me has a hold of me, and it’s not letting go. Not until I can make Nesrin completely mine, without anything hanging over our heads.
But it’s wrong.
Perhaps not to us.
But to my father, to her mother, her aunt. My feelings have grown; they’ve taken over, and all of this will ensure our lives are torn apart, left in shambles at the feet of the man who will gladly take everything from me—Creed Haven.
“Are you going to kill him?” Cassian’s amused voice comes from beside me, but I don’t look at my brother. I can’t. Because if I do, I’ll see the mirror image of my need dancing in his own eyes. We have experienced The Black Knights side by side. He knows how much I loved the games, the twisted runs in the darkness. Cassian also knows how deeply my body craves the fear in their eyes because I confessed my yearning to him.
Even though he’s a year younger than me, Cassian also understands my hesitation. This party is not the time or place to act out. Especially since we’re on Haven property.
“Perhaps I’ll torture him, watch him beg for mercy, while I enjoy a drink and smile at his pleas,” I mumble, unable to tear my gaze away from Nesrin, as she grins at him.
“I don’t think your girl would enjoy that,” Cass says with a shoulder bumping against mine as amusement laces his words. Even if I don’t look at him to see it for myself, I know he’s grinning. He’s right. Nesrin’s fighting her own demons, but when we’re together, it’s as if she forgets about her pain, her dark thoughts. She forgets to hurt herself.
And, for me, that’s the only thing that matters.
Because I’m the only person, the only thing that can hurt her. Because, if I walk away, I’ll break her worse than anything ever has.
“I want to show her the roof tonight,” I tell him, then feel his heated stare on the side of my face, as I take a sip of my drink. The burning amber liquid trickles a hot path down my throat, warming my stomach moments later.
“Do you think she’ll like it up there?” he asks, with amused curiosity. I’m not doing it for her. Even though I’ve ensured she’s comfortable, that she’s ready for what’s coming, I have secretly been selfish with my needs. I won’t apologize for it, and I certainly will never admit it to her, but my brother’s question makes me consider just how much this girl has burrowed herself in my mind.
I’m aching to finally have her. To feel her pussy pulse around my cock. And that’s the one place I know we’ll have complete privacy. The lights dim and the blue spotlights illuminate the dancefloor. It’s time for the couples to take the stage. I swallow back my drink and pat Cassian on the shoulder, not answering his previous question, but rather telling him, “Time to play.”
With a wink, I turn and make a beeline directly for my girl and Creed. When I reach them, my hand captures her hip, causing her to gasp.
“Your dance is over,” I say, looking directly at Creed who, for a moment, looks like he doesn’t want to let go. But he tips his head in acknowledgment and steps back.
“Thank you for the dance, Nesrin,” he tells her, before leaving me with my wild rose.
“What’s happening?” she asks, looking around as if she’s only now noticed the blue illumination that surrounds us.
“It’s time for the dance we practiced. Afterward, there’ll be a game,” I tell her, as the music starts, and we move across the floor. The fluid motion of the couples is beautifully in sync. Nothing else matters to me in this moment, though, because her gaze is on me.
“Game?”
“Think of it as hide and seek,” I say, leaning my face down to steal a kiss. But Nesrin turns her head, giving me her cheek, which causes my body to lock in anger. “What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to get a hold of everything that’s been said tonight.”
“What did Creed tell you?” My voice comes out laced with anger, even though I try not to let it get to me. I should have known the asshole would’ve said something to make her feel like this.
She doesn’t respond. We dance until the song ends, and the speakers come alive with the deep voice of Creed’s father.
“Every female attendee will now find her hiding spot. Time to play,” he says into the microphone, the booming baritone makes Nesrin shiver. “The person to find you first will be your partner at the upcoming year-end ball in December. It will be the person you’re publicly professing as…” the words filter off, leaving anticipation hanging in the air, “the girl you’re either in love with, or the girl you’d like to be with.”
I cup her face, holding her, so she doesn’t turn away from me because I feel like she’s about to disappear. Keeping my gaze locked with hers, I don’t blink, as I swipe my thumb along her lower lip. “I’ll find you.”
“What if you don’t?” There’s fear twined around her words, and it twists in my chest. There is no guarantee that I will be the first to find her, but I’ll kill anyone who gets in my way.
“Don’t be afraid. I’ll always find you, even in the dark.” The words are out of my mouth before I can swallow them back. My admission means more than she knows. Seconds later, she’s racing through the doors, leaving me to watch her disappearing form. A childish game made for adults. If she only knew what’s to come.
“She’s a beauty,” Creed says, from beside me. We stand in silence. I can’t speak to him, if I do, I’ll say something that could cause a war. “I didn’t tell her all the secrets you’re still hiding from her. And I definitely didn’t tell her about Gen. Perhaps you can,” he murmurs, with a chuckle.
“If you don’t stop this bullshit, I will kill you,” I promise. “I don’t give a shit who you are.”
“You’re in love with her,” he muses. “I can see the appeal. But have you taken her for a test drive yet?”
His question has rage burning through my veins. My hands fist, but a touch on my shoulder from Cassian, reminds me to keep calm. Creed enjoys taunting me and, as much as I want to hurt him, I know I can’t. Not yet, anyway.
We’re the same age, grew up together, but one event turned our loyalty into hate. There’s a fine line between loving someone and hating them. And teetering on the barrier of those two emotions can be detrimental.
“Will you win tonight? Can the polished and perfect, Damien Thorne, ever cause a scandal in this town?”
“If you go near her tonight,” I speak, keeping my voice low so only he can hear me, “I will come for you, and I’ll make sure everyone knows what happened that night.” The moment the words are out, the buzzer sounds, and we’re on the move. I grab a rose from the basket on the table which sits inside the dining hall and make my way into the bowels of the castle, praying with all I have that I find her.
I need to get to Nesrin before he does.
Or he’ll steal her from me, just like he did with her.
31
Nesrin
The hallways are like a maze of cool brick and dimly lit bulbs. The eeriness of the castle itself makes me shiver. I find a door, push it open, and step into a library that looks like heaven for a book lover. Books line three of the four walls, with colorful spines from floor to ceiling. I shut myself inside and move deeper into the room.
I’
ll find you, even in the dark.
Damien’s words linger in my mind, as I find myself at the window overlooking the grounds that stretch into the distance. Even in the dark, I can make out just how large the property is.
Heavy velvet curtains hang on either side of the arched window, and I smile, knowing I have my hiding spot if the door were to whoosh open. This night has taken on a sinister feeling, which has me shivering. Soon enough, the snow will arrive, and we’ll be in the throes of winter, but for now, the mild weather seems to be holding out. I wonder if that’s why they have this ball so early.
“Gotcha.” A deep voice startles me, causing me to spin on my heels and come face to face with Creed Haven. In the darkness, he looks sinister as he approaches me. A salacious grin breaks on his ruggedly handsome face and a shiver races down my spine, making me tremble. My throat is thick with a lump of worry, and my stomach somersaults when his head tilts to the side, his eyes taking me in from head to toe.
“How?” I glance at the door; it’s still shut. I didn’t hear him enter. I didn’t even notice him until he spoke.
He turns, gesturing to another door, which I didn’t notice earlier. It’s hidden in the corner of the room nestled between two bookshelves. “My bedroom is on the other side,” he tells me when his dark gaze lands on me once more.
“So, you hide out here to scare girls?” I ask, trying to sound confident, but the slight squeak that escapes my lips when he closes the distance is unmistakable.
“I do. The fear that I see dancing in those pretty eyes makes my dick hard.” He chuckles, and his hand grabs at his crotch as if he’s proud of the admission.