“N-no.”
Damien wraps his arm around my waist and begins to pull me away from Cillian. “Wait!” I cry as I fight against his hold. “Wait!”
Cillian’s lips curve up in the lopsided grin I love so much, and then he breathes, “Pop… pet.”
Damien yanks me up against his body and begins to carry me away. I watch as the light dims in Cillian’s eyes and his breathing stills, and then the distance between us grows fast as Damien carries me away.
“No!” I scream, devastating grief ripping through me. “Cillian!”
DAMIEN
Winter fights against my hold as I make a run for the plane. “Stop!” I shout at her, but she’s beyond the point of rational thinking.
Fuck.
I drag her up the stairs, and once we’re safely inside the plane, I push her down on a seat. She instantly darts up, and I have to force her down. Her eyes look feverish, her breaths too fast.
“Winter,” I snap to get her attention. Her eyes dart to mine, but only for a second. I manage to strap her in, and taking the seat next to her, I wrap my arms around her to keep her seated.
A whimper ripples over her lips, and then a silent cry tears through her. The sounds stab at my heart, the emotion foreign. Never has anyone affected me the way she does. Seeing her pain makes me want to kill. It makes an untamed possessiveness claw through my chest.
Her body keeps jerking, and she feels small and broken in my arms. Moving one hand behind her head, I push her face against my neck. Her breaths burst against my skin as she gasps through her sorrow.
Unable to stop myself, I press a kiss to her hair. My eyes find Demitri, where he shuts the door. Alexei instructs the pilot to take off, and then they both take a seat across from Winter and me.
I don’t let go of Winter. Deep down, I know I’ll never be able to let go of her. Instead, my gaze stays locked on my brother, whom I haven’t seen in months.
Only when we reach altitude do I slacken my grip on Winter. Bringing my hands to her cheeks, I lift her face to mine. “I’m sorry.”
She keeps gasping, her features torn with grief. Her pale skin and the crushed look in her eyes make her breathtakingly beautiful. It makes me want to rip my chest open so I can hide her there from the world.
I didn’t know the man well, but anyone could see the love between Winter and Cillian was special. She could cope with her father and brother’s deaths, but I’m not so sure about Cillian’s.
Winter gasps one more time, her eyes locked with mine, and then she stills. It looks like she switches off, and her features relax into a grim expression.
Slowly, I pull my hands back, and when she doesn’t dart up but instead slumps against the seat, I pull the phone from my pocket. “Here are the coordinates,” I say as I get up. I hand the phone to Alexei, and as he takes it, our gazes meet.
A slow grin spreads over his face, and then he pulls me into a hug. “Little fucking shit. Good to see you.”
I pat his back, and even though the atmosphere is loaded with Winter’s grief, I still chuckle.
Alexei pulls back, and I turn to my brother. We stare for a moment, and then similar smiles spread over our faces as we grip hold of each other.
Thank God.
Now we can stop running and plan our retaliation.
“Missed you,” Demitri murmurs.
“You too.”
When we let go of each other, Demitri glances at Winter. “How’s she holding up?”
I turn my eyes to Winter’s pale face, a blank expression in her eyes.
“Not good. She lost everyone.”
“She’s still alive,” my brother mutters, and when I turn my attention back to him, he grins, “Not bad for a first day’s job.”
Alexei comes back from the cockpit after informing the pilots of coordinates. He brushes past us then takes a seat opposite Winter. I sit down next to her and Demitri across from me, and then I watch as Alexei stares at Winter.
Slowly she lifts her head and settle her eyes on his.
“Blanco. You want revenge,” Alexei gets right down to business.
“I want them eradicated,” she grinds the words out.
“Your island. Is it guarded?”
“Yes,” I answer on her behalf. I tell them everything I’ve learned about the security.
“We’ll need our own men for an attack,” Demitri voices.
“Get on it,” Alexei orders him.
While Demitri starts making calls, Alexei pins Winter with a brutal look. “My condolences.”
She only nods slightly, her jaw tightening.
God, this woman is something else.
Is she even human?
Then again, I’d probably react the same to Demitri dying. First revenge, then I’ll grieve.
“Tell me about the diamond business,” Alexei orders.
Winter shakes her head, and then it looks like she realizes something bad as her lips part. “I… I know nothing. My brother was going to take over. Cillian… Cillian…” her voice grows hoarse as it fades.
The news makes Alexei’s lips curve, then he murmurs, “I’ll help for a price.”
“How much?” Winter asks, her eyes settling on him again.
“I’ll let you know.”
I can see Alexei’s mind working behind his dark eyes. His gaze snaps to me, and then his smile grows. “Not bad for your first contract. I’m proud.”
I only nod, then turn my attention back to Winter. My eyes scan over her, and seeing her bloody hands, I unfasten her seat belt and pull her up. I lead her to the restroom and opening the faucets, I hold her hands beneath the water, washing off Cillian’s blood.
Standing close to each other quickly fills the air with an intimate feeling, and I glance at her face. Winter’s eyes meet mine for a second before lowering to the basin.
For the first time since I’ve met her, she looks vulnerable. Up until now, I wasn’t allowed to feel anything for Winter. But for twelve months at least, she’s mine.
Having her so close to me, the anticipation begins to wake my body and heart. After I pat her hands dry with towels, I pull her to my chest and wrap my arms around her.
She stands frozen, and it has me murmuring, “I’m sorry for your losses.”
“I want them all dead,” she whispers, lifting her hands to my sides. I feel her grip hold of my shirt, and then she rests her cheek against my chest.
Winter… vulnerable and totally dependant on me.
This is what I craved. To have her at my mercy. I just didn’t want it to happen this way.
I pull a little back, and placing a finger beneath her chin, I nudge her face up until her eyes focus on mine.
“We’ll kill them all,” I promise. “By the time we’re done, you’ll truly be the Blood Princess.”
My Blood Princess.
Fire sparks in her eyes, and determination settles hard on her face. “No. I’ll be the Blood Queen.”
God, still so fierce.
It makes everything I felt for her at the academy return with a force. I’d love nothing more than to claim her mouth and taste the fierceness on her tongue but now’s not the time.
I’m going to claim the payment she owes me once we’re on the island. She will warm my bed during the nights, and in return, I’ll kill her enemies.