Chapter 40

Zander

The only sound other than Piper's light snores was the heavy beating of my heart. I stood in the center of my closet, staring at the glass case that held my heart.

Every time I neared the fingers would tighten, and I'd feel a flutter in my chest. Knowing Priscilla, I knew it was for added effect. She hated me so badly that she wanted to remind me of my curse at every moment. As if I could forget.

She had died to punish me, and now she wanted to punish me after her death. Sadly enough I understood her desperation. I didn't have children, but I had love right in front of me, yet so far away. Always right out of reach.

Part of me wanted to find someone that could break the curse if it was even possible. Though what would I give up to break the curse? Would it be worth it? The price of magic could cost me the very thing I wanted more than my life.

The air around me chilled, but I didn't move, I kept my eyes on the monstrosity in front of me. I wasn't afraid of death. I was afraid of being sent to death without a taste of freedom.

Without Piper.

She wore my mark.

She agreed to stay.

But yet, she didn't love me. I didn't blame her. She'd known me a mere two weeks. She'd be crazy to fall so fast, especially after what she knew about my past.

Her heart was guarded because of her ex-boyfriend.

Though I'd never hurt her intentionally, or dare be with another woman, she didn't know that. She felt it, but she didn't know for sure. Loving me would put her insecurities and her fears out for the world, and I knew she was afraid I would swallow them whole.

Priscilla's soft laughter taunted me, spinning circles, trying to box me in with my pain. Piper slid her fingertips against the back of my arm, and she slowly wrapped her arms around my waist from behind me, resting her cheek against my back.

"You need to sleep," I said, my voice dropping an octave. "You had a rough night."

"I can sleep tonight. Why are you in here torturing yourself?"

That was a good question. I hated the sight of it, but it felt like a car crash sometimes. I couldn"t help but stare.

"I don't know," I admitted.

Piper loosened her arms around me and walked to stand between me and my torment. She looked more rested than before, though the slight dark circles beneath her eyes haunted me. "You're hurting enough. You're being punished enough. Don't punish yourself."

Piper turned toward my clothes, grabbed a random shirt, and tossed it over the glass case. When she turned back to face me, her eyes were fierce. "You're not giving up are you?"

I chuckled half-heartedly. "Of course not, Little One. What kind of anti-hero would I be if I didn"t wallow in my torment occasionally?"

"It looks like it," she said, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Standing here watching those gross fingers move like some kind of Frankenstein's creation is going to hurt you, Zander. Don't look at that. Look at me."

I smiled because she would never have to ask me twice. Stepping toward me, she lifted onto her tiptoes and kissed me. I welcomed it, anything to void the feeling of loss settling in my stomach.

Lacing my fingers into her hair, I tilted her mouth upward, angling my mouth over hers. She kept her eyes closed, waiting on me to diminish the space between us.

She clung to my biceps, her fingernails digging into my skin. I welcomed the pain. Stumbling backward, the row of hanging clothes dwarfed her, and she chuckled, grabbing my hand, she hauled me down on top of her.

Her chocolate hair splayed out around her head like a halo.

My angel sent down to rescue me from Hell.

I positioned myself between her thighs, feeling her skin rather than the fabric from her bulky dresses fed my hunger for her.

"Take me," she whispered.

I bent down and nipped her jaw, sliding my tongue over the mark, I felt her body shiver with need. Interlacing my fingers with one of her hands, I trapped her wrist above her head, watching her irises dance in the lighting of the closet. "You're safe with me. Besides a deranged ghost hell-bent on separating us, you're safe."

She laughed. "I never doubted it."

Pulling her t-shirt up her hips, and over her shoulders, I jerked her underwear down her thighs and positioned myself against her.

Excitement filled her face, and I watched her cheeks turn red, and her mouth open in pleasure as I shoved myself inside her sweet heat. She felt like the tightest, warmest, safe haven I could have imagined.

She arched her back, and a moan slipped from her mouth.

My name fell off her lips, and my wolf stirred inside of me. She dug her fingertips into my flesh, and wrapped her legs around my waist, drawing me deeper.

Piper cradled the back of my head, and dragged me closer, bracing her forehead against mine. With each thrust, Piper became needy and hungry for more.

Slinging her leg over mine, she pinned me to the floor, placing both hands on my chest, she lifted and sank back down, her eyes closing and her body shivering.

Sliding my palms up her hips, I helped her up and down, watching the emotion grow on her face. Her brows pulled down in destructive pleasure.

Watching her take from me built something in my chest that clutched my heart. I hadn't been lying when I told William I loved her. Because I did. But I wouldn't pressure her into saying it.

The curse would break once she did.

Her hair caged around her angelic face, which twisted into pleasure, and her nipples begged for attention.

I pulled her closer to my mouth with one hand and helped her up and down with the other. "You're perfect," I whispered, my tongue fighting the words I wanted to say.

I licked her mark, hearing a deep needy moan leave her. "More," she begged.

Wrapping my palm around her neck, I sucked her flesh into my mouth, thrusting harder into her. Piper gripped my chest with one hand and rolled her hips harder.

"Don't stop," she whispered.

I moved my lips to hers and kissed her deeply. Her tongue snaked into my mouth and fed my soul. An orgasm crashed over her, and her legs shook around my hips, her fingers clutching my flesh.

It sent me over the edge.

I spewed into her and her sweetness welcomed every drop.

She crashed down on top of me, and I looped my arm around her waist. After a few minutes, she whispered, "I'm not perfect."

I stroked her dark hair with my fingers. "You're perfect to me," I whispered.

Piper pushed against my chest and glanced down at me. "This is all I've ever wanted. I never wanted a Prince Charming. Even though I read those fairytales growing up, they never thrilled me. They seemed so out of reach, and unobtainable, even at an early age. I wanted something real, something ugly, and boy have I gotten it. Nothing is perfect about this relationship. Nothing about this relationship is fair. Or equal. A true relationship will always be lopsided. But I will always hold on to my side if you promise to do the same for me."

I watched the seriousness on her face. She was in turmoil on the inside. She was ... feeling things, and it both scared me and excited me. Feelings led toward deeper things.

Things that I already felt for her.

Things that would link us together forever.

Things like .... True love.

I lifted onto my elbows. "Piper," I whispered, swallowing the emotion in my throat. "I've been reaching for you since the beast brought you here. Now I'm holding on with everything I have. I will never let go."

She nodded, a single tear raced down her cheek, and I caught it.

"Tomorrow when the search party gets here, I am going to tell my parents. I'm going to stand my ground. I'm going to put their torment to rest, but give myself what I deserve."

I hardly thought she deserved this heartache of watching me turn into the beast every night, but I also knew if she truly loved me as I prayed she would, I would make her the happiest woman I could.

Every day. For the rest of our lives.

Piper pressed her mouth against mine softly, and curled into the crook of my arm.

For the first time in decades, I'd glanced down at my forearm with a smile. The petals were scarce, but the hope in my heart outweighed any fear I had of this bastard curse.

I knew Priscilla had been scared when Piper decided to stay.

Now I could taste the terror in the air.