Violet’s P.O.V.Focusing on the glorious buzz that dulled my senses, I undressed and followed Olive into the water. It was warm as it licked my skin, soaking into the ends of my hair that hung down my back.Eyes pelted my skin, but the only ones I paid any attention to were the ones that elicited a chill down my spine.Hael was watching, I was sure of it. Oddly enough, it made it easier to relax and have fun. I knew that if anyone were to approach me, either he or Cole would step in.The center of the lake, where the floating obstacle course began, actually wasn’t that deep. I was able to keep my head above the water by bouncing on my toes. We swam over to the trampoline just in time to see a familiar face go flying off the side.Holden appeared just a few feet from where he landed, a grin on his tanned face that showed every one of his straight, white teeth.“You guys came!” He beamed, swimming over to us. His broad shoulders stuck out from the water, packed with muscle that came fro
Violet’s P.O.V.That voice—that dark voice, promising pain and blood, melted the very ice that kept me prisoner, filling me with such visceral relief that my shoulders slumped.I gasped, not realizing I’d been holding my breath this entire time. My chest burned with each inhale, but my greedy lungs had been deprived long enough. Holden didn’t notice, though. He didn’t notice how I stumbled away from him, desperate to put some distance between us, or how my hands shook.He lowered his hand from my face, his eyes narrowed into small slits. “Perfect timing as always, Ashford, butting in on a private conversation. You sure know how to kill the fucking mood.”What the hell has gotten into him? I’ve never seen him act like this before.A blur of midnight hair and pale skin clouded my vision. I blinked, my eyes opening just in time to witness Hael’s fist colliding with Holden’s face. Holden staggered, and Hael swung out with his leg, bringing the football player to the ground.He began to ra
Violet’s P.O.V.For a split second, there was silence—pure, unending silence. It lingered between each tree, through the grass that tickled my ankles and clung to my wet skin. It even swallowed my ragged, pained breaths.Then, the pain came.It was quick, so quick that I hadn’t seen it coming. A body, hard with thick layers of muscle, plowed into me from behind. My feet skidded across the ground before coming up, my torso twisting as a set of arms snared my waist.I waited for the ground to come up and grab me, to crush what little air I had left from my lungs, but that never happened. Instead, I landed on that hard, muscular body. It had turned at the last second, taking the impact.He kept me from hitting the ground.That small speck of kindness meant nothing, though. Before it could fill me with any sort of hope, Hael flipped us over.I couldn’t breathe. Even though my lungs were free to suck in as much oxygen as they needed, they didn’t dare move. Goddess, what had I turned this m
Hael’s P.O.V.“Mark me.”The two words I whispered to the Goddess writhing beneath me had never felt so right. I’d say them again and again if it meant witnessing the surprise unfurl across her face, widening those pale eyes of hers. Eyes that made me feel as though I were drowning.She fluttered her pretty lashes, rose petals blooming across her cheeks.“You want me to—to…” My mate never could see her worth.The moment I saw her at the lake, I knew tonight would be the night I claimed her. I watched from the shadows as she slipped the faded t-shirt over her head, oblivious to how sensual and downright mouthwatering she looked.I had intended to be gentler, to try and make tonight romantic even though I had no clue how, but seeing Holden touch her had all but obliterated my plans. He ignored the very clear signs she was exhibiting, seconds away from taking something she did not want to give.I should have killed him.While I wanted to think of all the ways I’d torture him, it was ha
Hael’s P.O.V.“Hael, it hurts—it hurts so good. Oh god!” She gasped; her gemstone eyes blown wide. Liquid seeped from her pussy in waves, drenching us both. The little thing was so turned on she could barely stand it. Fuck, I could barely stand it.“That’s it, princess. Make me your God.” I was lost to her, drowning in her scent and touch. It filled my lungs, clouding my head so thoroughly that the words fell from my lips without abandon. Half of them didn’t make any sense to my lust-crazed brain, but Violet seemed to understand. She never failed to reply, indulging in all of the terrible things I told her I’d finally do to her.“Take it for me, take the pain like a good girl. You fucking love it, don’t you? You love this cock.”I had my fingers and tongue in her pussy long enough to know when she was on the verge of imploding. She tightened around me, her lips parting for her tongue to swipe across its surface.“Come on my cock, Violet.” I rasped, smoothing my thumb over her clit. It
Violet’s P.O.V.After Hael left, I began to thoroughly curse myself for being so stupid.The cause of my anger wasn’t from sleeping with Hael. No, I didn’t regret that in the slightest. If anything, my body was more than eager to do it again…and again.I’d been so wrapped up in his scent, drowning in his touch and the way he made my soul sing, that I hadn’t even realized we didn’t use protection.With my luck, I would end up pregnant my first time having sex.Cole, keen as ever, took one look at us and broke out into a shit-eating grin. Just as he began to raise his cup and cheer, Hael stepped forward with his patented death glare in place. It was a good thing Cole couldn’t see the mark on his best-friend’s neck. If he had, I doubt even a well placed threat would keep him from exploding.“Don’t even think about it.” He warned menacingly, completely oblivious to how my body reacted to his gravely voice.You’d think the soreness in between my legs would calm my libido for the time being
Violet’s P.O.V.Rubbing at my eyes until spots swarmed my vision did nothing to erase the ghost I stared at. That’s what she looked like. A damned ghost. She had on a lacey, white nightgown, the kind you’d see in the movie A Christmas Carol.How did she get here? I thought Cole’s father kept her locked away, caged like some kind of animal. Though, with what Hael told me about her, I couldn’t blame them for keeping her away from the public.I caught flashes of Cole within the madness, trying to urge her off the dance floor she swayed and twirled on. Just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, I saw the splotches of crimson staining her dress, crawling across the sheer fabric like a pen with a broken tip.She’s covered in blood, but who’s?Arianna spun, twirling as she snatched something off one of the tables. The people sitting in the booth were either sporting looks of concern and fear, or glares meant to kill.If only they knew who they were messing with, I thought warily.Another cra
Violet’s P.O.V.I grabbed the gun off the seat and held it close to my body, my finger on the trigger. For some reason, I didn’t feel as anxious with the gun in my hands. There was this comfort that spread through me, a safety that gave me an added boost of confidence.This wasn’t my first time handling a gun, that’s for sure. With nothing more than the moon lighting my way, I began to creep down the desolate road, praying more than anything that I was not too late.Five minutes of creeping, biting back both curses and whimpers whenever I stepped on something sharp—which was too fucking often—and I finally heard voices.Well, one voice specifically.“I don’t know what you want me to say! I’ve already told you; I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.” Mykelle snarled indignantly.Holding my breath, I stepped off the road and into the forest, darting from tree to tree. Somehow, I knew that the darkness was my friend in this situation, and that it was better to seek solace in i