Adrian lingered by the door, frozen when Selene’s eyes met his; invisible strings seemed to draw him inside.
Damien rushed into the ward, his fury dissolving the moment he saw Selene. He took her hands and held them as if afraid she might slip away.
“Selene, the twins are fine,” Damien said. Relief choked Selene; she gasped as tremors ran through her battered body.
“You scared me, darling. It’s all right. Everything is okay–breathe, Selene.” Damien scanned her anxiously while she clung to his arm and tried to steady her sobs. scanned her anxiously w
Adrian could not bring himself to step closer. Despite the burning pain inside, Selene gathered her strength and rose with Damien’s support.
“Why?” Her eyes blazed with fury as she spat the word, throat raw. “How could you?!”
came; she screamed, tears streaming.
Not
“How could you even think of killing my children–your children, you disgusting bastard?!” Adrian stood motionless as hatred filled Selene’s gaze; the look cut him to the core.
“What right had I to ask for anything? Tell me!” she continued. “When I saw you hate our twins I left without asking for a penny of support, yet you hunted us down like a predator! If you want to kill me, then do it–but why my children?!”
“Because I thought they were Damien’s!” Adrian barked, teeth clenched. The confession staggered Selene and Damien both.
“What did you say?” Damien demanded sharply.
“I said it’s his fault! You must have shared his bed, so how could I leave it be-” Adrian
began.
Before he finished, Selene stepped forward and slapped him hard. Adrian raised a hand to his stinging cheek, mouth opening and closing.
“Falling in love with you was a curse, Adrian. I would never have fallen for a man like you if I hadn’t mistaken you for Damien. All those letters, saving me from the wreck, your lies–made me think you were capable of love. But you aren’t.”
Adrian stumbled back, stunned by the slap and her words; he stared at her with dangerous intensity.
“If you’d tried to murder me today, I would still have forgiven you, but you tried to steal my happiness-
“It was a fucking mistake! If I didn’t kill what I thought was a dirty seed, how could I
1/219.7%
the core.
“What right had I to ask for anything? Tell me!” she continued. “When I saw you hate our twins I left without asking for a penny of support, yet you hunted us down like a predator! If you want to kill me, then do it–but why my children?!”
“Because I thought they were Damien’s!” Adrian barked, teeth clenched. The confession staggered Selene and Damien both.
“What did you say?” Damien demanded sharply.
“I said it’s his fault! You must have shared his bed, so how could I leave it be-” Adrian began.
Before he finished, Selene stepped forward and slapped him hard. Adrian raised a hand to his stinging cheek, mouth opening and closing.
“Falling in love with you was a curse, Adrian. I would never have fallen for a man like you if I hadn’t mistaken you for Damien. All those letters, saving me from the wreck, your lies–made me think you were capable of love. But you aren’t.”
Adrian stumbled back, stunned by the slap and her words; he stared at her with dangerous intensity.
“If you’d tried to murder me today, I would still have forgiven you, but you tried to steal my happiness-
“It was a fucking mistake! If I didn’t kill what I thought was a dirty seed, how could I
have taken you back, Selene? You must understand I did it for you. I thought they were Damien’s and would have died, but I would never let you suffer. I already planned a perfect life for us.”
“What do you mean?” Selene interrupted, voice shaking as he spoke of harming her babes.
“Do you trust that man will love you, Selene? He is already promised to Melissa Sinclair and our father will marry him off. He wants you as a kept woman–the very thing you despise. The only man who will keep you by his side is me.”
“Shut up, you bastard! You have spread enough lies!” Selene spat.
Adrian’s smirk twisted into a snarl as he watched Damien hold Selene protectively. “Get your hands off her, Damien. This is between us.”
Selene breathed shallowly, watching the man she had once loved become unrecognizable.
“Why do you think I sent Cassandra to the wardens, Selene? It’s all for you, baby!”
Adrian insisted.
Chanter 30
2/2 20.0%
14:28, Sat, Sep 27
4.20
Sinclair and our father will marry him off. He wants you as a kept woman–the very thing you despise. The only man who will keep you by his side is me.”
“Shut up, you bastard! You have spread enough lies!” Selene spat.
Adrian’s smirk twisted into a snarl as he watched Damien hold Selene protectively. “Get your hands off her, Damien. This is between us.”
Selene breathed shallowly, watching the man she had once loved become unrecognizable.
“Why do you think I sent Cassandra to the wardens, Selene? It’s all for you, baby!” Adrian insisted.
“Cassandra? What are you saying?” Selene whispered as his mask began to slip.
“I know I took harsh steps–spreading those morphed images–but believe me, baby, it was to wake you from the fantasy of a happy life with my ‘good‘ brother, Damien. I knew losing the children would be devastating, so I planned for Cassandra to give her pup to you.”
“Baby, I arranged healers to drug Cassandra every day. They would force her into premature labor so you could have a child quickly. I wanted the child healthy when it came to you so it would be taken from her-”
Selene struck him again; the slap landed harder. The room fell into tense silence. Adrian did not flinch; instead, he began to laugh, tears streaming down his face. “You are a monster!” she cried.
“Monster?” he echoed, the laugh bleeding into sorrow. “You have no idea what a monster looks like, Selene.”
“I am not the monster–this man is!” she snapped, glaring at Damien with bloodshot
eyes.
“I messed up, Selene. I fucked up. I tried to abort the twins thinking they were his. How did I not realize? Those little ones felt familiar every time I held you. They are my flesh and blood. I nearly killed my own children.” The truth hit Adrian like a physical blow; nausea and guilt washed over him.
Selene lay back, exhausted and trembling as the reality settled around them.
Chapter 31
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.