Page 9 of My Dark Prince
A whimper bolted out of Briar Rose’s mouth.
Fuck.
I scrambled to cover it with my hand, burying the scream I knew wanted to escape. He’d said it so casually as if he hadn’t just upended my best friend’s entire world. And Briar Rose … She froze, eyes locked on mine but not quite seeing me. Her nails remained lodged into the flesh of my palm, drawing rivulets of blood down my wrist. I could see the confession slowly – ever so slowly – sink into her skin, claw past the lump in her throat, and drill into her heart.
A tear dropped from her cheek onto my knuckle.
Jason Auer wasn’t Briar Rose’s dad.
This stranger was.
Chapter Four
Oliver
It all made sense now.
The Auers resembled the aftermath of a lemur orgy – an explosion of bushy dark hair, pointy noses, bug-eyed stares, and short stature. It always astounded me how someone so stunning could come from what could pass as a pair of inbred shifter twins.
Meanwhile, Briar Rose carried the aura of a queen with her towering height, regal strawberry-blonde hair, and impossibly mauve eyes. Not to mention, she didn’t share a single personality trait with either of them. She loved old books and cozy nights. They liked new money and the blistering heat of their inevitable journey to Hell. She brought joy to every room she entered. They brought joy to every room they exited. She was good. They weren’t.
I stroked her hair with my free hand, wishing Philomena and Cooper – whoever he was – would leave already so I could gather their daughter in my arms. Briar Rose squinted real hard and quivered behind my palm, her mouth prying open, begging to cry out. She tried to unplaster my hand from her cheeks, but I held it firm.
I shook my head, pleading her to keep silent with my eyes. I wouldn’t put it past Philomena Auer to one-up the evil grandmother from the book we’d just read. There would be punishment if she discovered her daughter here. No question about it. I couldn’t risk it.
“Shh!” Philomena slapped Cooper’s chest with her purse. “Are you nuts? Someone could be listening.”
“One could only hope.” He raised his voice with purpose, pausing to take another drag of his cigarette. “Briar Rose is mine. I want to get to know her. I deserve to form a connection with her. I want to be a part of her life.”
“She was made in sin.”
“Shewasn’t the one who sinned. We did. So why should she bear the consequences?”
“She’s a bastard.”
“So is that husband of yours.” He tossed his cigarette to the ground, twisting it beneath his heel. “I see how he treats her. How you let him. It’s disgraceful. Jason’s an abuser.”
Jason. Did he know he wasn’t Briar Rose’s biological father? He must’ve known, or he wouldn’t be such a douche canoe to her.
Cuddlebug’s whole body trembled behind my palm, her teeth still in my flesh. Blood, hot and thick, rushed down her chin, dripping on her dress. I closed my eyes, quieting my breaths, pushing through the pain and fury. In another world, one without courts, cops, and consequences, I’d storm out there and give that woman a piece of my mind.
Never in my life had I exercised so much self-control to remain calm. But Briar Rose didn’t need a hot head right now.
I tipped her chin up, forcing her to snap out of it.
Please,I mouthed the word, careful not to make a sound.Stay calm for me.
Cooper’s silhouette glided to Philomena’s, stopping mere centimeters away from her face. “I want to be a part of that girl’s life.”
“It’s a done deal.” Philomena pushed away from him and began tramping about from side to side, clutching onto that empty head of hers. “The girl isn’t staying with us. We’re leaving her in Switzerland and moving to Argentina. It’s better that way.”
“Better for who? She’s living the life of an orphan because you’re too proud to let me take over.”
“You willnotmess this up for me. Jason is finally moving on from my little indiscretion.”
He kicked the barn wall, sending echoes our way and eliciting a sloppy snore from Sebastian that Philomena’s shriek drowned out. “Your little indiscretion is achildwith wants and dreams.”
“A by-blow.” She scoffed. “An illegitimate spawn – and an ungrateful one, if I may add.”
