Page 22 of The Forbidden Villain
“It fits you.”
Her softly spoken words break my heart because she speaks to me like I’m a human…not a psycho needing to be watched by everyone and shoved medication down my throat every second. Raising my eyes back to her, I repeat, “My name is Lavender.” I lift my hand and tentatively tap on her collarbone. “You?” I shake my head at how bad all of it sounds and huff, deciding to try another language to keep my cover intact.“Quel est ton nom?”
“Je m’appelle Aileen.”
Everything inside me goes still at this as fear envelops my body, and, snagging my hand instantly, I step back as panic overtakes me.
Aileen.
The innocent girl who’ll be collateral damage inhisplans.
And if she’s here, it means he will come here soon, and the thought awakens such rage within me, my mind becomes blank while only thoughts of my abuser and almost rapist remain.
“Aileen,” I repeat, and she nods. “Aileen Scott.” I whisper her full name while clenching my fists, and before she can react, I wrap my hands around her throat and push her hard against the wall.
The only way I can save her from him is if she stays away from me, because his attention…is a curse that would destroy any woman.
And while my brother might be a monster…he isn’t the kind of monster who would rip apart her soul.
A loud thud echoes through the space, pulling me away from the unwanted thoughts, and that’s when realization hits me. Idropped my book on the floor, earning myself even more glares from everyone. “Sorry,” I mouth to them, picking it up and then getting up swiftly. “Whatever happened in the past is between your sister and me. If you have a problem with that, I suggest you take it up with her. Right now, if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to do than listen to your insults.”
Before he can say anything else, I dash toward the darkest part of the library, where most of the lights are out of order, and as a result, it’s the students’ favorite place to make out. They prefer to engage in such things after eight, though, so it will provide the perfect spot to calm down enough to control my stabbing tendencies, which want to pierce Levi with something sharp to remove the smug look from his handsome face.
And the fact that I still find him handsome is, in itself, a disturbing fact. Maybe my body has been deprived of basic human needs for so long that any proximity awakens unknown desires.
Placing my hand on my rapidly beating heart, I rub the spot back and forth as I reach the—ironically—fairy-tale section, and sliding my fingers over the thick books, I sigh in resignation.
None of them piques my interest because all fairy tales preach one thing only.
The greater good would conquer the evil villain, while true love prevails, ending in a happily ever after, with the brave prince or knight saving the princess.
Lies, all lies.
In reality, no one would come to save you, and if they do…they’ll ask for compensation, and sometimes the price might be too high to pay.
Ancient Greek myths and Norse mythology are different. There’s no greater good there. In fact, sometimes the myths are downright unfair, but they also contain a lot of wisdom.
Humans are cunning creatures who will betray you when you least expect it if it fits their interests. And gods know how to exploit their greed in their favor, using us all as pawns in their chess games against each other as they fight for dominance.
I blink when I notice a book with modern psychoanalysts’ takes on fairy tales and snag it. I might as well read something while hiding out in here, then I turn around only to gasp at seeing Levi standing in front of me. “What are you doing here?”
I step back, hitting the bookshelf and rattling it a little as his muscular chest blocks me from getting away from him when he steps forward, his eyes flashing with an odd yet mesmerizing heat.
Thrilling sensations travel all over me, flushing my cheeks, and I bite my lip. I muster up all the calmness when I say, “Step away.” I put the book between us, pushing against his chest, which ripples under my touch. I quickly pull it back, and my palm burns at the contact. “Levi.”
“Facts aren’t complicated, Lavender. They’re quite simple.” I gasp when he wraps his hand around my throat, his thumb brushing over my rapidly beating pulse point and causing goose bumps to spread all over them while the air hitches in my throat. “That’s their beauty and ugliness. They have no color gray in it.”
His wrists flex, cutting off my oxygen. Fear flips my insides, only for me to gulp for breath when he loosens his grip, his eyes drilling their stare into me when something else glazes over them. It’s an emotion I don’t recognize, and somehow I want to see more of it while at the same time dig a hole to protect myself from him. “Did I choke you right now, Lavender? Or was it complicated?” Another brush of his thumb while my heart beats so wildly in my chest, I expect it to jump out of my rib cage so he can cause more damage to it. “Answer my question.” His raspy voice should be forbidden because of how hypnotizing hesounds in the moment. I should scream for help because what he’s doing is wrong and malicious.
However, my fear pales compared with the anger and adrenaline crushing into me in waves, demanding an outlet for all the pent-up emotions rocking inside me, and pressing my head harder against the bookshelf, I fire a question of my own. “Would we be even then?” He places his arm above my head, caging me in, and I hold the book between us, at least creating an illusion of a barrier. “Would hurting me finally sustain your thirst for revenge?” The muscle in his cheek twitches, his eyes turning blank, and he steps closer, the tips of his boots bumping against mine.
His masculine scent mixed with strong perfume and tobacco envelops me, pulling me deeper into the twisted web he creates around my mind, tricking me into going along with whatever he wants because that’s how temptations work.
They become too irresistible, and by the time you realize what’s going on, it’s too late.
You’ve already accepted the devil’s offer and end up trapped in his hell.
His deep timbre glides over my skin, the invisible caress leaving burning sensations across my flesh to my despair, confusing my already exhausted mind.
