Chapter 32

Chapter Thirty-Two

SERAFINA

I’m in and out of sleep. My dreams all sorts of messed up. I keep seeing my father. And in my last one, my father and Tyrant were out at the pool, having a beer together. Talking about business. Tyrant sat there, shirtless, his sexy nipple piercing glaring in the warm sunlight.

Now I’m awake with Naya at my left side. Lia had come in but only for a few seconds. She looked terrified of me. She wouldn’t even look at me. Naya keeps telling me not to worry about it. Standing at the end of my bed, arms folded, is Demo. He stares right at me. Almost right through me.

“Where is Tyrant?” I ask for the tenth time.

“Busy,” Demo says… for the tenth time.

I look at Naya. “Do you know what’s going on?”

“Swear on my life, I don’t.”

“Swear on your life… then tell me why Lia is acting weird.”

“Tyrant sort of attacked us both.”

“Attacked?” I call out.

My heart monitor beeps louder.

“Deep breaths,” Demo warns me.

I lift my right middle finger at him and don’t even bother looking his way.

“He’s defending you, that’s all,” Naya says. “He’s looking for whoever did this to you. Someone tried to kill you, Sera. And it’s not really the first time either. The night of the party…”

“Why would he attack you and Lia? You two would never hurt me. Right?”

Now I’m instantly second-guessing myself. That leaves me feeling like I want to cling to Demo now.

“Never,” Naya says. “I think he assumed some kind of jealousy over you. You were claimed. Lia and I never were and never will be. It doesn’t bother me at all. But he wanted to know. He sensed something in my voice so I told him about Lia being a bitch to you.”

“Fuck,” I whisper. “You said that was because of her period.”

“It was. That’s how she gets. But she does have a violent streak.”

“Lia couldn’t have…”

“She didn’t. We were together that night. But Tyrant wanted to make sure. He scared the fuck out of her. To be fair, she tried to run. You never run from these guys. Ever.”

“Very true,” Demo says as though he’s part of the conversation.

“Listen to me, Sera,” Naya says, touching my forehead and hair. “You can’t stop Tyrant from doing anything. Nobody can. All you can do is rest. Know that you’re safe here. I promise.”

Naya kisses my forehead. Then my nose.

“Fuck off, Naya,” Demo growls.

Naya steps away from me. I have no idea how far that would have gone. Naya leaves the room. Now I’m stuck alone with Demo.

“Are you going to tell me more?” I ask.

“Nothing more to tell. What that whore said was the truth.”

“I’m Tyrant’s claimed one ,” I say. “You have to do what I say, right? Or else I’ll tell him you were mean to me. I’ll lie.”

Demo moves from the end of the bed along the right side of the bed.

“Do you remember the first time we met?” Demo asks.

“Probably not. You’re not memorable.”

Which is a complete lie. Demo is like eight feet tall and looks like he’s about three hundred pounds of solid muscle. He’s a monstrous beast of a human. He’s scary. Really scary.

“Tell me if this brings back any memories,” Demo says.

He lifts his right hand and shows it to me.

“What?” I ask.

He curves his hand as though he’s gripping something.

“This is how I met you,” he whispers. “When I wrapped my fucking hand around your throat.”

I suck in a breath.

“You’re Throat-Guy ,” I whisper.

“What?”

Demo is Throat-Guy . The guy who was in my bedroom. He and someone else were the ones who kidnapped me. Dragged me from my bed. Threw me into the hallway. Took me out of my house and forced me into the vehicle that took me to Sinners Academy .

“Oh, fuck,” I whisper.

“I guess I was the first to really have my hands on you,” he says with a smile. “Before you were handed over to Tyrant. Don’t worry, Serafina, I’m not here to scare you or threaten you. I just wanted you to remember me. We have a history.”

“You’re all fucking insane,” I say. “And one of you is trying to kill me.”

“So you think it was one of us? Got any names in mind? Any evidence?”

“Well, let’s see, you and someone else kidnapped me,” I say. “Tyrant is a fucking psycho. And I’m going to be forced to married Des.”

“Normally guys would just want to fuck a woman, right? But to kill her? You must have some deep dark secrets.”

“And you must be a complete and total idiot. I’m a nobody. I’ve always been that. I always will be. Being Tyrant’s claimed is the most famous or whatever I’ll be.”

“What about getting attacked? Almost killed? That’s a heck of a story to tell too.”

“You’re right. I’ll be sure to share that on my wedding day to Des. That is, if I’m allowed to speak on my wedding day.”

“Get some more rest,” Demo says.

“Like, that’s it? You guys are all okay with this?”

“With what?”

“This entire life you all live.”

“As opposed to what, Serafina? The life you think you’re going to live? The one society gives you? Don’t be so naive. I know you got hit on the head, but tell me logic still exists. You know everything in life is all bullshit. You’re above it now.”

“Kidnapped. Forced to marry someone after being used by someone else. I’m winning, huh?”

Demo takes a deep breath. “My only job right now is to protect you while Tyrant is away. Your only job is to rest.”

“So what happens if someone comes through that door and wants to hurt me?”

“I’ll kill them.”

The three words are so smooth coming from Demo’s mouth. I swallow hard. I’m still far from used to being in the presence of those who murder so easily. Without guilt. Without remorse at all.

“You’re not afraid of what will happen?”

“To me?” Demo grins. “You really don’t understand much. Nothing can happen to me. Or to Tyrant. Not unless the orders come from far above. That’s all I can say right now. Again, you just need to fucking rest.”

“Oh, is that all? Fucking rest ?”

I try to mimic his deep voice but I sound like a chain-smoking frog. Demo laughs at me. The hospital door suddenly opens and I look to my left, eager to see Tyrant. I’m talking heart racing eagerness. I’m talking…

Oh, fuck, I have feelings for Tyrant, don’t I?

I can’t have feelings for Tyrant. This can’t happen. Or the feelings can’t be real. Worse yet, it’s not Tyrant that just entered my hospital room.

It’s my future husband coming to check up on his bride-to-be.

Demo almost jumps over the bed. I’ve never seen a man that big move that fast before. He’s beyond the other side of my hospital bed, charging right for Des.

“Slow the fuck down, Demo,” Des orders. “She’s my wife.”

“Not fucking yet,” Demo says without hesitation.

He takes a swing at Des but Des ducks down. Demo’s right fist thunders into the wall.

“Big swing for nothing,” Des says. He looks at me. “Oh, you look like hell right now. You better not have any visible scars for the wedding. I’m not marrying some fucking Frankenstein lookalike, you know?”

Before Des can say anything else, Demo grabs him by throat. They struggle a little bit. Des is insanely stronger than he looks. The two bounce one wall to another. Des is saying something about a throne. About where he stands next to Luc. I can tell Demo knows what he’s doing is wrong yet it’s right because he promised Tyrant he’d look after me.

“Stop it!” I cry out. “Demo! Let him go! Right now! Before anything happens to you!”

Demo growls and pushes Des away. Des coughs and rubs at his throat.

“Thanks for calling your pet off of me,” Des says.

“You tell anyone what Demo did and I’ll have him kill you,” I say.

Des laughs. “We’re going to be good together. I love a woman with a little bit of fight. You can talk like that to me when I have you tied up. How’s that sound?”

“Get out of here,” I say. “Now!”

I don’t know what else to do so I scream. As loud as I can. I press the button next to me for the nurse. It’s the only thing I can think of. And it works.

In a matter of seconds, there are three nurses in my room, checking up on me. More than that, they make Des leave. Demo too. I don’t want Demo to leave but I can’t be near Des. I can’t see him. I can’t hear his voice. I can’t stand the reminder of me being forced to marry him.

So I keep screaming. I start thrashing too.

I keep going until one of the nurses injects me with something that calms me down and puts me to sleep.