Chapter 72

SEVENTY-TWO

AMETHYST

Hours after the raid, I follow Xero into a cottage nestled within a sprawling estate. My limbs drag like lead weights, each step a monumental effort. Sunlight floods the wood-paneled room, casting warm golden hues, but my heavy eyelids struggle to stay open.

The adrenaline that once coursed through my veins has long since drained away, leaving me hollow. Every inch of my body aches with exhaustion, burdened by memories I can’t escape.

We spent the rest of the night transporting and settling the children into a safe house on the grounds of this estate, guarded by Xero’s people.There were only twenty-four child assassins, yet over seventy operatives arrived to help.

Navigating the old summer camp was like walking through old memories. It wasn’t just the location that pricked my mind, but the anguish etched in the girls’ eyes. Their faces reflected the pain and fear of that terrible summer, mirroring my own haunted past.

Xero turns around and cups my cheeks. “You alright, little ghost?”

I can barely hear him through the ringing in my ears. “Just exhausted.”

That’s an understatement. Last night was intense—from nearly getting blown up, finding and interrogating Charlotte, to returning to Three Fates—the weight of it all drapes heavily on my shoulders.

Eyes sparkling, Xero gazes down at me with a soft smile. “You did well for your first mission.”

I lean into his chest. “Thanks.”

“Anything hurt?”

“Just the usual aches. It feels like I’ve fought my way through hell,” I mutter against his shoulder.

“Did you win?” His arm slides around my waist, pulling our bodies flush.

“This round was a victory,” I reply with a yawn. “Making Charlotte scream was so satisfying.”

Chuckling, Xero walks me past the cottage’s cozy cream furniture and sits me on the edge of a bed. Kneeling at my feet, he unlaces my boots. His touch is gentle, almost reverent, and my heart aches with the intensity of my gratitude. What did I do to deserve this man? How did I become so entwined with someone who sees the broken pieces of me and still chooses to stay?

He slides off my socks, his fingers grazing the sensitive skin of my soles. Shivers erupt along my spine. The exhaustion fades away, replaced by a flicker of arousal.

“What are you doing?” I ask with a smile.

He meets my gaze with dancing blue eyes. “Such pretty feet need attention after their trip through hell.”

“You think so?” I giggle. “Maybe they could use a massage.”

He chuckles, the sound soothing and rich. “It’s the least I can do for my brave little warrior.”

Kneading his thumbs into the arch of my foot, he unravels knots of tension. I moan, the muscles of my core tightening. Every touch of his fingers is just another reminder of what we used to have, and I long for the time we spent together on Parisii Drive.

“Thank you, Amethyst,” he says, his voice thickening with emotion. “Without you, I might never have achieved one of my biggest goals.”

Pride swells in my chest. Maybe this breakthrough can make up for not trusting Xero after seeing that video. Apologies can’t compensate for what I did. I wish there was a way to make things right.

My hand trembles as I reach up to brush his platinum hair. “It should be me doing the thanking.” I say between ragged breaths. “I owe you my life.”

Our eyes lock, and the air between us thrums with tension. My gaze drifts down to his lips and I lick my own in anticipation.

Xero’s eyes darken, mirroring my longing, and the space between us closes. My heart pounds, echoing my need to be in his arms. With him, I feel invincible, loved, desired. His presence chases away the demons and makes me feel like I can conquer anything.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, placing my feet on a soft rug.

“About how much I want to kiss you,” I murmur.

Rising, he draws closer until our breaths mingle. His scent—citrus, spearmint, and cedarwood—overwhelms my senses, leaving me dizzy with desire.

“You want my mouth?” he whispers against my lips.

His fingertips graze my jawline, leaving my skin prickling with goosebumps.

“Yes,” I whisper, inching closer.

The kiss starts with a tender brush of lips that makes my skin tingle. There, Xero’s mouth moves against mine, soft and coaxing, drawing out another moan.

I wrap my arms around his neck, wanting more, needing it, and he slips his tongue into my mouth. As the kiss deepens, his hands travel up my spine, making every nerve ending sing. My fingers tangle in his silky hair, holding him in place.

His heart thrashes against my chest, mirroring the rhythm of my desire. I want this man so badly that it hurts. I pour a lifetime of gratitude into this kiss, and Xero returns it with a passion that makes my toes curl.

Shutting down Three Fates released a dark void in my psyche I never even knew existed. Making Charlotte bleed vanquished the ghosts of my past and brought me one step closer to closure.

“I’ve missed you so much,” he groans against my lips, his touch igniting my skin with sparks.

The kiss becomes more heated, unleashing a fire that burns through years of trauma and pain. The flames consume my past, and, as I kiss back, I arise from the ashes a new woman.

His large hands glide up the backs of my thighs, his fingers digging into my skin as he grips my hips. His body heat seeps through our clothes, branding me as his. When he pulls me closer, my heart races, each beat a desperate plea for more. This kiss is hotter than the one in the truck, and I crave more. I want him with an intensity that borders on madness.

“You’re wearing too much,” I say.

We fumble with each other’s bulletproof jackets, my hands trembling with urgency and desire. The garments drop to the floor with heavy thuds. Xero lowers me onto the mattress, his touch charging my skin with sparks of desire.

My breath quickens as he straddles my hips, his limbs creating a cocoon of security and warmth. I slide my fingers beneath the fabric of his shirt, wanting to remove every barrier between our bodies. He draws back, letting me yank it off, revealing his tight abs and bulging pecs.

Sunlight streams through the windows, bathing Xero in golden light and casting a glow across the dips and contours of his muscles. He looms over me like my own personal deity, and I can’t help but trace the tattoos on his chest. His breath quickens with an intensity that goes straight to my clit.

“Tell me what you want,” he says.

“All of you,” I reply, my voice breathy.

He blinks. “You sure?”

I give him an eager nod.

With a low growl, Xero captures my lips once more, deepening the kiss with a passion that leaves me breathless. His hands roam down to where my vest has ridden up to expose my belly, his touch igniting sparks of desire.

“Fuck, Amethyst. You’re driving me crazy.”

His hands move lower, and his fingers trace over the waistband of my pants before slipping beneath them. His touch is electric against my bare skin, sending shivers down my spine. Anticipation coils low in my belly, tightening with every heartbeat. If I don’t have him right now, I might die.

When I reach for his belt buckle, he breaks away, leaving me panting and flushed. His pale eyes survey my features as if checking that I still consent.

“Please,” I whisper, my back arching.

Can’t he see I’m no longer the jumpy woman fresh from the asylum? I’ve evolved into someone stronger, fiercer, in control. Someone who knows exactly what she wants, and that’s Xero. I want to say all of this, but I just don’t have the words.

Instead, I unbuckle his belt, my fingers shaking with anticipation.

A smoky chuckle escapes Xero’s lips. He leans forward to whisper in my ear, “Impatient, little ghost?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

I pull down his pants, revealing his chiseled thighs and the outline of his impossibly thick cock. It strains through his boxers, begging for release.

Xero kicks off his pants, leaving himself only clad in his boxers. The lining of my stomach flutters. I can’t tell if it’s butterflies or nerves. Ignoring the peculiar sensation, I pull him in for another kiss.

Our lips collide with a rush of urgent desire. I squeeze my eyes shut and lose myself in the intensity. Sunlight streams through my eyelids, bathing my inner world in light. For a moment, it feels like we’re the only two people in existence.

As Xero’s erection presses into my belly, a memory from the asylum hits me like a punch to the gut. I’m paralyzed in a tent of light, with Delta’s probing fingers removing the pessary filled with drugs. Seconds later, he pushes into me and groans.

A sob catches in my throat. I flinch, jolting out of the memory, my eyes flying open. It’s like waking up from a nightmare, half-dazed, half-confused, yet still haunted by the lingering memory of Delta’s touch.

Xero pulls back, holding my face in his hands, his gaze searching mine. His eyes, clouded with desire a moment ago, are now filled with worry.

“Talk to me, Amethyst,” he says, his voice soft, his thumb wiping a stray tear.

“I’m sorry.” My throat tightens. “I just kept picturing him.”

Xero’s features harden. “My father.”

“It was a flashback,” I croak.

Xero pulls me into his chest, wrapping his arms around my shoulders in a protective shield. He runs his large hand up and down my spine, his caress a balm on my nerves.

“He will die painfully for touching you,” Xero growls, his deep voice resounding through my chest. “Every one of those bastards who took from you will pay in blood. I will carve out their hearts and present them to you as offerings.”

My eyes flutter shut, and I relax into his embrace. “I know you will.”

His hold is steady and grounding. The warmth of his palms on my skin anchors me to our connection. The past doesn’t dictate my present. I’m safe. I’m sane. I’m strong.

With a shaky breath, I draw back and focus on his face. The terror ebbs away, and I lose myself in his gaze. Xero’s irises are a pale blue lit up by bolts of lightning, reflecting the depth of his fury.

“Kiss me again,” I murmur.

He leans in, his lips pressing against my forehead. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Not like that,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “I want to move forward with our relationship.”

“Don’t push yourself before you’re ready,” he says.

“But I’m tired of being traumatized.”

Drawing back again, he nods, his eyes filled with understanding and a touch of hope. “We’ll take it slow. The moment you’re uncomfortable, I’ll stop.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, a weight lifting from my chest. It’s minuscule, the tiniest shift in my psyche, but I’m a step closer to healing.

He kisses me again, this time with a gentleness that makes my heart ache. His lips move slowly, reverently over mine, as if sealing a promise. We’ll move forward together, our love strengthening with the blood of our enemies.

Xero’s fingers trace gentle patterns on my back, bringing with them tiny shivers. The warmth of his touch contrasts with the cold hands that once held me captive. I close my eyes, trying to focus on the present, on the safety of his embrace. But the memories claw at the edges of my mind, threatening to pull me back into the darkness.

“Eyes on me,” Xero says, bringing me back to the present.

Xero’s eyes lock onto mine, a blend of desire and concern. I lose myself in his gaze, surrendering to the moment, feeling Delta’s presence dissipate until all that’s left is us.

“Tell me what you want, little ghost,” he murmurs.

My throat thickens. I swallow hard, trying to muster the words. “Can I watch you touch yourself?”