All Chapters of Consumed By Darkness: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

LeahMy body ached all over as I turned on my side. My skin was clammy, the shirt clinging to my damp body. My throat parched, my head pounding with a persistent throb. I thought I was going to die last night. The room was dark, except for a little light that slipped through the gap of the tightly drawn curtains.I blinked, seeing a figure sitting in a chair across from the bed, watching me.My heart raced as I sat up. "Liam?" I whispered.He didn't respond. When he stood up and moved toward the window, I noticed he was taller. Too tall to be Liam. He yanked the curtains open. The sudden light made me squint, and I turned my face away.My heart dropped when I saw the tattooed, bare back. It wasn't him.I kissed Liam last night. I remembered his hands, rough and possessive all over my body. The warmth of his body pressed against mine. His voice.I swallowed hard, a sickening realisation creeping up my spine.Aiden turned to face me, his expression unreadable. "You look disappointed,

Leah The servant girl, Amanda, she had said her name was, had grown surprising comfortably around me. Too comfortable. I hadn't taken her for the talkative type at first. She would bring me food, linger longer than necessary, and make small talk like we weren't strangers a few days ago. I appreciated her efforts. They didn't lift my mood, but they were better than being alone or worse , having Aiden around. They were the only times I didn't feel like I was losing my mind. She offered me a cup of tea. "I added honey," she said. "I thought you could use something sweet." I managed a faint smile. "Thanks." I took a small sip. It was warm and sweet, like she said. My chest ached with memory of home. I missed my family. Amanda beamed, almost proud of pulling a smile from me. She glanced at my legs propped on a pillow. "It's almost healed." She pointed out. What's the point, though? I was still trapped. "When it's better, I could show you around. There is a pool on the roof and..."

Aiden She threw the torn pieces at me and turned to leave. I grabbed her arm, yanking her back. I arranged this meeting to show her what kind of asshole her precious ex-husband really was. He didn't give a damn about her. Never did. Yet here she was, crying. Tears for a man who wasn't me. My nails dug into her arm, but the anger wasn't enough to mask the bitterness I felt. It pissed me off how easily he could still control her emotions without even trying. Even after he hit her, he threw her out into the rain. She had waited for him like a fucking fool. Beaming like an idiot when he entered. I clenched my jaw. I was going to sever every last fucking tie she had to him. She tried to pull away, but I tightened my grip, dragging her closer. She always did pointless things like she didn't know how this would end. "Let me go!" She yelled, hitting my hand. "Let go, you bastard!" She was shaking. Her green eyes red with tears. She was breaking in front of me, and I knew how much she

AidenI gestured to the stool by the counter. "Sit."She didn't move.I shook my head, chuckling. "You like being told what to do, but you never actually listen."I lifted her easily. She was leaner than the last time I touched her.She stiffened for a moment, then let me place her on the island. Her legs dangled off the edge. "You must love it when I do it for you?" My hands slid down the curve of her legs, resting at her bare feet. They were cold."You shouldn't be walking around barefoot," I said, rubbing warmth back into her toes, absentmindedly. Her body jolted when my thumb brushed a certain spot.She gasped and clenched the edge of the island.My eyes flicked up to hers, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth like I had just discovered a gold mine. "Sensitive here?"I drew a circle along the arch of her foot. Her toes curled. Her breath hitched, lips parting. She bit down on the reaction.I leaned closer. "Guess there are still things about your body I haven't learned yet."

AidenFreya scowled as I closed the door behind me. She sat on my desk legs crossed like she owned the place. The kid I slapped downstairs stood up immediately pale and jittery as he tried not to meet my eyes."It's rude to keep a girl waiting, Aiden," she purred.I ignored her and nodded toward the kid. "Is he important?"She leaned in and whispered, "Just someone Julian asked me to babysit.""Get out," I said.He hesistated, glancing toward her. Freya shrugged. "Don't look at me. He is the boss here."When his eyes met mine, he stumbled over himself as he bolted out.She hooked her legs around my waist as the door closed, pulling me closer. "You shouldn't have hit him," she said, locking her arms around my neck. "He will go tattling to Julian. He has a soft spot for that one."I unhooked her legs and arms. "Talk."She pouted but complied. "The gambling spot in the red district got hit. A bullet grazed Julian. Five of our men killed."My jaw clenched. "When?""Last night. While you w