MASONShe’s run from me millions of times before and I have let her. I’ve always given her a choice because even if I’m a possessive motherfucker, I do not want to crowd her badly, she feels tempted to run every five minutes.Not. Any. More.I’m done giving Mira Fernandez a choice. I’m done making her feel like she can run from me and hide whenever she wants. I am done bending to her will.I am done spending nights alone craving her, thinking about her… almost going crazy over her.Now, I do not care if I have to forcefully implement the terms of our contract, but she’s coming home with me tonight.She can cry and argue and fight all she wants, but she’s sleeping in my bed tonight and every other night after that.No more crashing at Vanessa’s place. Her place is by my side, in my bed and I’ll be damned if I let her slip away one more time.I brace my palms on the spotless white walls as water rains down on me from the waterfall shower, washing away every single trace of blood and swe

MASONShe’s quiet…too quiet. And I don’t like it.I noticed Mira’s odd silence right from the moment I carried her out of Damon’s raised dome against her will.She’s silent and stiff in my arms, and I hate the fact that my anger might be slipping. I hate the fact that I might actually be reconsidering this whole “hurt her with pleasure until she submits" plot.I hate it when she ignores me. I hate it when those eyes are quiet and cold or firmly shut like they are right now.I want to be the centre of Mira Fernandez’s world. I want to be the reason her eyes light up with happiness in the morning and cloud with unmistakable lust at night. Call me weird, but I also want to be responsible for her tears. What can I say? I’m a jealous, possessive bastard.She’s completely stiff and unmoving in my arms, probably trying to stay still so I do not touch her again.Not on your life, princess.I trace my fingertips softly over the baby hairs on her arm, enjoying the way her breath hitches and sh

ANONYMOUS The dark haired lady knelt before the queen, tears streaming down her reddened cheeks.The queen stared down at her, her lips curled in a sneer.“You good for nothing, worthless human being! You can never do anything right. You almost ratted out all our asses because of your incompetence!”“I’m sorry, my queen. Please temper justice with mercy.” The lady sobbed.The queen looked away from her, focusing her attention on the able bodied men who stood guard at the building’s entrance.“Bring him to me.”Her sister watched in horror as the curtains were lifted and the man was unveiled. His face was caked in dirt and clumps of dried semen and he appeared pale. “Please… please, let him go. He’s done nothing to deserve this. Focus on me. Punish me instead!”The queen laughed…a long, loud cackle.“But I’m punishing you, you see.” Her face morphed into a mask of rage. “I’m punishing you by hurting him. Maybe this way, you’ll understand that your incompetence has consequences.”The

MIRA Mason’s expression transforms into harsh, cold granite as he turns away, bending down to pick his shirt. My heart lurches at the realisation that he’s trying to avoid my interrogations… this is Mason trying to run away.“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I ask as I position myself before the door, blocking his only way out of the room. He begins stalking in my direction after putting on his shirt and my chest jolts at the realisation that if Mason decides to physically remove me from the door, there’s nothing I’ll be able to do about it… and that might end us. Forever.When he just keeps coming, his dark gaze firmly fixed on me, I lift my chin and stare him down as I finally lay myself bare to him.“Do you fucking think this past few weeks have been easy for me? Do you bloody think I’ve enjoyed staying away?You know, Mason, before I used to think you refused to see your best friend for the psycho she truly is because you just really cared about her, but lately, I’ve had

MIRAMy temples begin to ache from the barrage of information I’ve just been dealt with and I massage them with trembling fingers.I barely register as Mason moves from his perch on the edge of the bed and crouches before.I feel the gentle pressure of his hands against mine and my eyes fly open, surprised at our close proximity.His beautiful eyes are narrowed with concern as he stares intently at me.“Baby? Are you okay?” He inquires softly.Without thinking, I flinch away from him, not looking long enough to see the hurt in his eyes at my obvious rejection.I’m too busy try to get a grip on my scattered emotions.“Don’t do that, Mira. Please.” He groans, his words tugging at the strings of my heart.I desperately want to fall into his arms and reassure him that everything will be okay between us. I desperately want to climb into bed with him, hold him close and forget everything he’s just said, but my troubled soul is not onboard with that plan. At all.“So all this time, Halloway