Princess of Darkness (The Dark Prince #3)

by Autumn Winchester

  “Can’t have her dying on me,” was all Sebastian said, crossing his hands over his chest. His voice was emotionless.

  “Young kid,” Fayth mused, knowing that any and all of John’s men that would arrive would be dead within minutes.

  Summer wrung her hands in front of her, her nerves taking over. She wanted to puke, and she most likely would before this all ended. There was no way in Hell she’d keep strong enough to make it through.

  Sebastian saw, of course, he did, and took the few steps where he had been pacing so he was in front of her. He took her hands in his own, a soft expression on his face.

  “You’ll be perfectly fine. Don’t ever doubt yourself, Grace,” Sebastian spoke. He kept his voice low, so only where Summer would be able to hear his words. “I’d rather die than let anyone lay a hand on you. Be the strong girl I know you are, and make me proud.”

  She gave him a tender smile, her shoulders relaxing, ignoring the blast of cold air that came in as the door opened with a clang. Summer couldn’t help but jump, startled. Sebastian simply gave her a nod, dropping her hands from his and turning around with a hard mask in place.

  Through the door in walked a bleached white-haired man, that looked nothing like what Summer had been expecting. With Sebastian and Gabriel, she could see the similarities. This man had dark blue eyes, but his face was more diamond shaped. His forehead was high, his nose thin. His mouth was set in a blissed, amused smile.

  He was dressed in a black suit, making his light hair stand out more. He seemed to be so out of place here in this building.

  “Ah, Sebastian, dear brother of mine,” the man sang out in a tone that boarded on the dark side, no matter the greeting. “Having one last moment with my prize? I saw how you held her.”

  Summer saw Sebastian’ shoulders rise up, his stance hardening even more. He didn’t reply to the greeting.

  “I was starting to wonder who’s side you were on,” John went on, a number of men following in behind him and taking a stance in protection while a few went to look around the building for anyone that would possibly be hiding. They wouldn’t be returning.

  “I still don’t see why you had to hide away for so long. I would have gladly taken her off your hands much sooner,” he went on darkly, his eyes looking at Summer from across the way. “She’s much healthier than I expected, though.”

  “Can’t have her dying on me,” was all Sebastian said, crossing his hands over his chest. His voice was emotionless.

  “A few weeks,” Sebastian shrugged. “You know I don’t keep track of time, brother.” Once more, his voice was emotionless.

  “She’s in better health than I expected. I figured I’d see more skin….less meat,” John said. “But she is even more appealing now, wouldn’t you say?”

  “I don’t see the appeal what-so-ever,” Sebastian said, hiding his shudder. “She was like that when I came across her.”

  “Where was that?” John asked, sounding like he was about stripped thin with asking so many questions.

  He then took another step, reaching out to run the fingertips of his left hand down Summer’s cheek. Summer couldn’t help but blanch at his show of affection if she could even call it that.

  “With the redhead,” Sebastian huffed out. “I had to take them both since they seem to be a thing.” A pause. “Can we get this over with. I have things to do?”

  “Not yet, my boy,” John said, pinning Sebastian with a hard look that would have frozen him in the spot he was at. “I have a small . . . . gift . . . . in exchange for your troubles.”

  “Oh?” Sebastian said, generally surprised.

  John simply smirked at Sebastian before cupping Summer’s chin between his pointer finger and thumb, squeezing hard enough to surely have her attention, and leaving a bruise on her soft skin. He ignored Summer’s whimper, pulling her face this way and that, examining her.

  “She has no owner marks,” John mused. “That will be changed, soon.”

  “I don’t need repayment for my duty,” Sebastian said, wanting to end this. He hated that someone was touching the Princess.

  “Nonsense,” John said, roughly letting Summer go. Fayth was able to keep her upright from the force, but she glared at John.

  Sebastian grimaced, knowing he should have warned Fayth about such looks. Luckily for her, John let it slide that time.

  “I owe you for bringing back my daughter. It had been way too long. I can’t believe Jason ever thought he could have such . . . . pleasure in having any children,” John said like it was nothing new.

  “What?” Sebastian said, not able to contain his shock. “Jason was her father. Marcel had DNA testing done.”

  “Oh, brother,” John said with a small shake of his head like he was disappointed. He turned to face Sebastian. “Jason never could have kids. Who do you think won Emma over all those years ago. I got to bed her. I impregnated her. Not him, me,” he hissed out, pointing to himself. “And that bitch should have been mine all along as it was. She was always fun to tie up in bed.

  “Anyhow, I swayed her to sleep with me, even as she put Jason off time and time again. What do you think made Jason want to kill that slut? Once he knew that I had fathered this girl there,” John pointed towards Summer, who had a look of shock and disgust on her face. “I made Jason do my bidding for me. He wanted Emma, and I’d give false hope to having her if he did what I wanted.

  “It really was too easy. Even when you were head over heels for her too. I used you both,” he laughed a bitter laugh. “You both fell into my trap. I wanted a pet that was trained. Trained to be my silent sub. Trained to be what I wanted, to be used as my bartering tool for anyone I wanted to let use her at any given moment.”

  “I didn’t see that coming,” Sebastian muttered to himself. He really hadn’t. Thinking about it all, it did make sense now. He wouldn’t have gone after Emma at all if he knew that John had a hand in her life. It explained why Jason loathed the girl so much that he did everything to ruin her life that he could.

  “I always get what I want. I can be very persuasive, even patient, when I want to be,” John said with an innocent expression. “Bring her in,” he said to one of his guards.

  The door opened once more, this time bringing in another masked guard and someone with a dark fabric bag over the top of their head. Sebastian turned and watched, unsure of how to deal with this. His brother was never one to have a surprise up his sleeve. Not once ever did he show this kind of power, this upper hand.

  Sebastian wasn’t sure if John did have the upper hand, and wasn’t sure he would risk finding out quite yet.

  Summer, meanwhile, had her eyes glued to the newcomer. Her gut twisted in fear. Her knees shook, about to give out as she tried to gather as much strength as she could. Fayth wrapped her arm around the blue eyed girl’s waist, holding her up.

  John gave the nod, and the masked man that held tightly to the hidden guest moved his hand and quickly took off the bag. Summer couldn’t contain her shock, not sure how otherwise to respond.

  “Really?” Sebastian barked out a laugh. “I don’t want her.”

  There stood Valerie Rodrigo. Her once perfectly styled black hair was a mess, her face make-up free.

  Summer saw right then and there that John had no more use for her. She was no one, only another pawn in the game. She had known that this snobby bitch had more than she had ever bitten off and that it would come bite her in the ass one day soon.

  “Too bad,” John said with a flick of his hand. He almost sounded like he was disappointed by that fact.

  “You fucker!” Valerie hissed at John, her eyes lit with fury. “You promised I’d get my husband back. I’d get my life back! This is not what I bargained for. You told me you’d let me get my hands on that bitch!”

  “Oops,” John said in mock calmness. “My bad,” he smirked.

  Then in the next blink, he pulled out his gun, shooting Valerie in the head, blood spraying from the wound as she fell, her face f
rozen in rage.

  “Guess you’ll miss out on the fun,” John shrugged, turning back to Summer after putting his pistol back under his belt.

  A look of terrified fear covered Summer’s face. What had she signed up for here?

  Chapter 33

  “Now, my sweet girl,” John said with a cock of his head in thought. “What will I do with you?” He looked Summer up and down, thinking of what he would love to do with her.

  John had expected more from her, thinking for sure that Marcel would have taught her something, anything. She stood, a frightened rabbit with nowhere to run. It was just too easy. He wanted a chase.

  John had Fayth tied to one of the posts, as he really had no use for two pets. One was more than enough. He didn’t want the redhead, but there was no way he was going to let his brother know that. It would be no concern here soon enough anyways. He planned to put a bullet between both of their heads before he left.

  Summer hated the idea that Fayth was tied so far away. She knew that the girl could – would – get out of her bonds. She saw it in her eyes. Fayth would be free soon enough.

  Instead, Summer stood there, fearing for her life as John looked her up and down like she was something to eat. She couldn’t help but shudder, which caused John to laugh in bliss. One hand was at her side, the other cupping her upper arm.

  “There are many things I can’t wait to make you do, Summer,” he went on, drawing out her name. Summer’s stomach twisted as her name fell from his lips. “I can’t wait to see how you scream for me when I use my most prized knife on your skin. I can’t wait to see how you beg me to use you. I know you will love what I can do. My men would love nothing more than to use you in any way they saw fit.”

  “You sick bastard!” Summer said. Although her voice was quiet, it was strong. “I’ll kill you if you ever try to touch me!”

  “Oh, really now,” John said, a full out belly laugh. “I’d love to see you try. I have men in here, and I know you have no weapon.”

  “Are you so sure?” Summer asked sweetly. She could do this. “How do you know that the men that you brought with you are on your side? How do you know they won’t turn on you? They all have masks on, so you would never know.”

  “How dare you question me!” John shouted, slapping Summer across the face.

  Summer had expected it, but she let the force of his slap make her fall, clutching her cheek as tears pricked her eyes. He was stronger than he looked, but so was she. She fell down, gasping for breath. Although she didn’t really need to, it gave her the chance to slowly take her gun out from behind her without anyone noticing.

  “Marcel made you weak,” John seethed, looking down on Summer like she was a piece of scum. “You’re nothing! You’re my daughter, my flesh, and blood. I’ve waited for years to be able to use you as I please! There is no way you can use words against me! No way you can make me second guess my reason, my men!”

  Summer slowly stood up, a fire in her eyes. She lifted her cheek towards Sebastian, a silent way to let him know it was time. Time to end this.

  In the next breath, John had a hand around Summer’s neck. It wasn’t tight enough to cut off circulation, but enough pressure to make her heave from the touch, surely leaving lasting bruises.

  Although Summer’s eyes were wide with fear, she cocked the gun, watching how John’s similar eyes widened in surprise. In the next moment, he was pulled off and away. His knees were kicked out from under him as Sebastian held a knife to his throat.

  “Well, look at this,” Sebastian said with a glint in his eyes. He had been waiting too long to do this.

  Chase took that moment to come out of his hiding place, a look of pure fire in his eyes as he stared John down. He had promised to keep his wife safe, and John had touched her three too many times.

  Chase was quick to take down a number of the men that reached for the guns that had come with the man that was now bowing. Three quick in session, the bodies hit the floor, blood bleeding out of the bullet wounds.

  Summer stood, holding the gun between her two hands. She knew it didn’t take both hands to do so, but she feared her hand would shake otherwise. Her heart was pounding ten miles an hour, pulsing against her chest with each breath.

  She was surprised herself, holding the gun, the barrel pointing at the man. His face was filled with shock, but also doubt. Would she really go through with this? Did she have the guts to pull that trigger? And who had trained her to even be standing here today, now?

  The man kneeled there by force, but still as cocky as ever. His dull blue eyes glared at the Princess. How dare she test him. How dare she threaten him. She should be bowing, thanking him in any way he wanted her to for saving her life. He was, after all, the one that talked dear old Jason Meads into not killing the girl. John was the brains behind making the princess a slave in her own home. A slave that would never, ever see the way life worked. Nor was she ever meant to be the true princess.

  She was meant to be his all along, and not even Jason saw that coming. John used everything he could against every single person he knew. That was how he worked, how he lived. The Marcel family was never meant to find her. She should have been killed, or chained to the wall in his basement. Either way would have been good to this sick twisted bastard.

  Summer returned his glare full fold. If looks could kill, John Meads would be a pile of smoldering ash, blowing in the wind. Her hatred for the man was so deep that there was no hope of him living much longer. One of them would not be walking away from this building today, Summer was certain of that.

  This had been a long time coming, and nothing would stop her.

  Not even Chase, as he stood back, impressed. He was slightly turned on, too, at the scene in front of him. Seeing his Princess holding a gun on one of the most feared men on Earth was something he’d never see again.

  Summer, slightly swollen with child, stood tall, filled with determination. Was this wrong of him? Hell yea but damn if he wasn’t turned on.

  So he stood, hands folded over his chest, his gun held in a tight grip. He was close enough to get Summer out of the way if need be, but he wanted to see what she was capable of. She was so different from the last time he laid eyes on her. She was strong. Strong in all ways he could only imagine.

  He couldn't wait to wrap her in his arms and kiss her senseless. That would have to wait, as taking down this threat once and for all was more important.

  “Finally figured out how to handle that thing?” John said, his eyes focused on only Summer, flat out ignoring anyone else, even the knife pressed to his throat. “I heard you had to have help when you shot your supposed father. You have no idea how to even hold a thing like that.” Stupid girl, he thought.

  He wisely didn’t move from his spot, keeping his hands down at his sides. John knew what his brother was capable of.

  “I had a wonderful teacher,” Summer said with a smile, a smile that showed just how wonderful said the teacher was. “He taught me a few tricks.” More than she ever really needed, but yet not enough.

  “I highly doubt that,” John snorted, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, things clicked into place. “Who?” he demanded, his voice hardening.

  “That is of no concern,” Summer said simply, her voice strong. Inside, she felt anything but strong. Determined, yes. But also fear. She could never have thought that she’d ever be here, standing on her own two feet, showing no fear of this monster.

  The monster that started it all. He was the one that all of her enemies had looked up to for guidance. Now, the tables had turned. Now, he would be the one shaking in his boots.

  “But it is. For when I kill you, I have to know who I’m up against,” John said smoothly. His eyes held secrets that no one but him knew. “Although the Prince sure is quiet. Is he the one behind this?”

  “I really wish I was,” Chase said, his voice carrying around the room. “I had no hand in this one bit. She wasn’t even with me for the last few months.�
� His voice turned slightly awed, but kept his hard demeanor, letting it leak into his words. “I’m actually more stunned that you fell into this little trap.”

  “This is no trap, my dear boy,” John said with a wide smile, showing off his teeth. His nose was upturned. “I let you believe that. I have my men with me, who will barge in here at any little sound. So really, I played you right back.” He was proud of that little fact.

  “Is that so?” Chase said, letting his hands drop to his sides before he took a few measured steps towards the man. “Are you so sure about that?” he made the motion of looking John up and down. Even though he was dressed in a fine suit, like always, it was easy to tell that he had been in hiding. There were wrinkles from the car ride, along with a few seams coming undone. Chase was even sure that there were more than likely blood stains on his pants, as his shoes were filthy.