39. Millie

39

MILLIE

I swear if I get knocked out by a vampire one more time, I'm going to lose my shit.

Thankfully, this time, I know exactly where I am. I recognize that stained glass color anywhere. Even in dim lighting where the candles stay infinitely burning, I know I'm back in Drago's Cathedral. The smell of wood, mint, and the man I love to fight surrounds me like a warm fall blanket.

I'm alive. Protected. Safe.

"Hayden. Is it you? Is it really you?" I grumble through the darkness.

"It's me, my little Bambi. Wake up now. I need you to wake up, baby. Can you do that for me?"

His voice slips into my ears, reminding me I crave him as much as he craves me. I've tried to block him out since I came back to Texas, but he's there imprinted in my blood and soul like a virus. I want to be sick with his obsession. Because now, I fear I'm obsessed with him, too.

Although my twisted heart desires Hayden, there's uncertainty.

I groan when the inflammation and soreness in my neck remind me of Cole's mouthful. My best friend is my dad's killer, and he tried to kill me. The betrayal is sickening. The trust issues I already have heightened. But Hayden. Hayden…is my nightmare-turned-lover. Dark passion intertwined with thrill. The man who loves me dangerously yet gently.

I sit up on his bed and lick my lips. I rub my eyes and realize I'm in a black satin dress. He likes to dress me in his favorite color. Black.

Those familiar cold, callous hands tilt my chin up.

"There's my Bambi girl. I missed those honey eyes on me," he tells me with a clenched jaw. His dashing smile, which masks the pain he holds within his spirit, isn't there. The morbid humor he likes to throw at me is nowhere to be found. His tone is agonized. His pulled-in dark brows and eyes are crimson like a fire, pushing me into a storm of regret.

"I fucking missed you. Don't ever make me experience what that word feels like again, Millie. I won't be able to live another fucking second if I do," he growls. His fingers drop from my chin. He sits next to me instead and glues his eyes to me.

"Some things are a bit fuzzy," I truthfully say as I rub my neck.

"You're back in Montana…with me." He takes my hand in his. He grabs something from his pocket. It's the same massive ruby engagement ring I threw at him. He grabs my ring finger and places it back on.

"You're never taking this off," he murmurs.

I stare at it, and it shines back at me. This must be worth a fortune.

"How long have I been out?" I raise a brow and tilt my head to face my handsome vampire captor.

"Too long." He kisses my forehead.

"How long?"

"Twelve hours."

I shift uncomfortably.

"Hayden. Is my father really dead?" I croak out, doing my best to avoid choking up. Fuck. Grief hits me like a stab to the heart.

He leans over me and kisses my lips this time. He clenches his jaw and nods. He stops pressing his lips against mine and instead rubs my cheekbones with his thumb. "Yes."

"Is Cole really the one responsible for killing him?"

He nods again. "Yes."

"I need to get out of here, Hayden. I can't forgive you for everything that's happened to me. I…" I place my feet on the floor, ready to stand, but Hayden grabs my hips and forces me back down on the bed beside him.

"Stop it! No more running. No more fighting me. Let me fucking love you!" he shouts. "I'm not letting you go. I will do everything in my power to help you grieve your father but don't make me live one more moment without you. I love you. And you love me. I can feel it." He cups my face, and I look into his darkened, wide eyes.

I shiver.

He's been showing me unconditional love and devotion this entire time, and I run from it because I'm scared he'll eventually leave. Everyone leaves . But not Hayden.

"I love…you," I whisper with a heavy breath. My tone almost breaks, but I swallow the shakiness back down. "I'm sorry. I love you, Hayden."

"I know you do. You run from me, but then you want me to follow. You fight me, but then you want me to hold you tighter. You're my little Bambi girl. I know your soul calls to mine even when you think it doesn't. And I'll gladly burn the whole world for you to understand that I love you, and you're only mine to look at. I'll burn it all with a smile on my face just so you'll know you can never outrun me."

A tear escapes my eye.

"I don't want to run anymore," I concede.

"We'll see about that…" he jokes and kisses my lips. I move against him and enjoy every second he devours me with his mouth. He tastes like he always does. Sexy. Rough. With a hint of cigarettes. His tongue spins with mine in a passionate dance before he lets me go. I grip his thick thighs tightly once more, practically digging into his skin over his jeans.

"I want to show you what I do to those who hurt the only person I fucking care about." He breaks the kiss, and his words hold a cruel, vindictive tone.

"What do you mean?" I ask breathlessly. "I don't want to go anywhere. I want to stay in bed kissing you until I forget my own name. Help me forget."

He smirks as a lock of hair falls over his face. His eyes turn from blue to bright red. He stands, intertwines his hand with mine, and pulls me up.

"Let's go. I have a surprise for you."

I've never been to this part of the Cathedral before. Hayden holds me like I'm his property as four of his guards walk us to wherever he's taking me. He stops when we reach two massive, tall and wide double black doors with the family crest in the middle. A terrifying, detailed bat with a snake wrapped around it.

"Where are we?" I ask Hayden as I hold his arm tighter. He looks over his shoulder and smiles at me with those drop-dead stunning aqua eyes. He returns me with silence, then his teeth sharpen, and he's in full-on Drago vampire mode.

The doors split in half once Hayden pushes them open—the wood creaks and echoes amongst the tall Victorian walls. I gasp as I take in the mesmerizing scenery. It looks like a throne room. He holds my two hands with one of his behind his waist. I take in the painted murals on the ceiling. Beautiful and elegant.

Hayden lets me go, leaving me with his guards. Finally, after his massive, tall frame sways to the side, I see what he wants to show me. My body goes rigid, and a wave of anger hits my chest. I ball my fists, and a rock in my constricted throat is born.

Cole is helpless, with his hands tied behind his back. Black tears roll down his cheeks as he struggles to stand but the guards keep him restrained on his knees. He kneels in front of what looks like a chair made of crystals—red, blue, green, and magenta diamonds sparkle.

Hayden smiles like he's having the time of his life, and Cole's suffering is his favorite form of entertainment.

"The council is in favor of the Drago family. Your father and brother really fucked up this time, didn't they?" Hayden taunts like it's a game to make Cole miserable. Hayden rolls up his sleeves and circles Cole three times.

Cole screams. "Let me go, Hayden! I don't want revenge anymore. I'm…I'm sorry! Please !" he bellows out his apology as he tries to escape his chained wrists. Cole glares at Hayden with pure hatred.

"You're sorry? Please?" Hayden mocks. "I fucking hate that word."

Hayden shakes his head. He walks away from Cole as another vampire with beaming red eyes, and a cane hands him a sword.

"Thank you, Holland." Hayden admires the weapon like a true King and thanks the man. Its blade is thick, and the handle looks like it weighs about twenty pounds. The diamonds from the throne glimmer against it, casting rays everywhere like a disco ball.

"One thing about me, Cole, is that I love problems. I get excited when I get to solve them, and you know what my favorite thing to do is with people who piss me off?" Hayden roars with depravity. He looks at me and locks his vision with my blurred eyes. His jaw flexes as he shows me the side of him I fear.

I can't look at this. I can't watch the man I love be possessed by revenge. I hug myself as I stare at the black floors but keep my ears open.

"Millie…" Cole calls me.

My old friend is trying to seek mercy through me. He pleads for me through his whiskey eyes, and I almost feel bad for him. Hayden flips the sword in circles, keeping a sinister grin who's taking pleasure in Cole's dread.

"I like to make them scream and regret the day they ever met me." Hayden raises the sword high in the air and slices Cole's head off before Cole can say his last words. His blood splatters all over the floor. I jump up at the sound of his head being severed. The sound of his head falling onto the floor and rolling will forever haunt me. Hayden roars with laughter as his friends rally behind him with cups of red, chanting and cheering his new name.

The Depraved King! The Depraved King! The Depraved King!

Cole's body slowly melts and turns into ash. Goosebumps prick at my skin as I watch my old life and Cole disappear forever. I belong to the Depraved King now.