Page 442 of Once Upon a Fable

I’d rip his cock off and tear out his heart—

My eyes snapped open, my hands wrapped around the wrist holdingme down, and I let go of everything.

It was so easy.

Too easy.

The guy went flying across the room and crashed into the TV as I swooped to my feet with balled hands. It’d taken no effort at all. A simple flex of power. A dark decision to no longer be the victim.

He wasmyvictim.

He would pay for every fucking thing I’d endured.

The guy rolled onto his hands and knees just as the TV toppled from the table and crashed to the floor in a splinter of glass.

I didn’t recognize any of it.

Where the hell am I?

I blinked at a coffee table with neatly stacked maps and climbing pamphlets in front of me. A sparkling kitchen in the morning sunshine existed behind me.

Everything seemed small and strange and—

“Who the hell are you?” the stranger stood, brushing off TV glass from his jeans. A small trickle of blood appeared in the corner of his mouth.

I was past words.

I was nothing but fists and fury.

He’d trespassed.

He’d entered this place where—

Gemma!

Her face and wonderful kindness shoved its way past my anger. Memories flooded me from yesterday. This was her place. This was her living room. I’d cleaned it last night and—

“You gonna answer me, asshole?” The man splayed his legs a little as if readying for war. His hands came up. “Where’s my sister? What the hell did you do with Gemma?”

I crouched, ready to strike.

My instincts overtook me.

I couldn’t control them.

Couldn’t get the possessiveness to fade.

Some part of me knew this was Gem’s brother. I’d seen him on the video. He meant me no harm. He meant Gemma no harm.

But fuck, the blood from my dream was still in my nose.

Jareth’s voice howled in my ears.

My body burned from his unwanted touch.

No one. Fuckingno onewas allowed to touch me without consent again.

Darkness descended over any rational sanity I had left.