Page 38 of Unhinged Obsession

Elijah wipes my cheek with his thumb, and then he tilts his head just slightly. He’s exposing the side of his neck to me like an offering.

It takes me half a heartbeat to understand what he’s asking for. The Society’s lipstick. My mark that I’m supposed to leave on Elijah to ensure everyone knows he belongs to me.

My heart pounds so loudly I can barely hear the murmurs spreading through the room as I step closer, resting one hand lightly against the front of his robe before rising onto my toes. My lips brush the warm skin beneath his jaw, and when I pull away, the perfect imprint of pink lipstick remains against his neck.

Elijah looks down at me with an expression so full of affection that it almost undoes me before he turns my hand over in his, lifts it carefully, and presses a lingering kiss across my knuckles. It isn't part of the ceremony. It isn't something the Society requires. It's simply Elijah reminding me, in front of everyone who has ever tried to control us, that this has never been about their traditions.

It's always been about us.

"They've witnessed enough," he says, finally turning his attention toward the Elders. “Say your last piece so we can leave.”

Ah, the short-tempered Elijah Moretti I know and love more than anything is emerging.

Another Elder steps forward as Elijah’s father walks over to the side, clearly looking through our marriage agreement. He says another few words in Latin, which we all repeat, finalizing our unions.

Elijah’s mouth dips to mine to seal it with a kiss. When he scoops me up to carry me out of this hellish place, I look around at the weary faces and realize how lucky I am to escape this life.

ELIJAH

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Ican walk, Elijah,” my wife says to me, kicking her feet a little as we cut through the old cemetery on campus. It’s a quicker way to get to the barn, and after our victory, I wanted her to be able to see Beau before I take her back to my room and rip this dress to shreds.

“I know you can, but I can also carry you,” I tell her, and I feel so fucking light. I feel like I've won the lottery. Like nothing can possibly hurt us ever again.

I’ve clearly put the thought out into the universe too quickly because I look up and see someone wearing a Saints mask standing behind one of the decaying mausoleums. They quickly duck behind a stone statue of a weeping angel, and that’s when I set Blair down.

We’re going to end this shit tonight.

I don’t know who is clearly following us, but I don’t believe for a second it was any of the dim-witted Saints who were in the Choosing ceremony with me tonight. Could it be an Elder? Possibly, but with the checkmate I served them with Caiden’s signature tonight, I highly doubt that too.

Bradford is dead, and Annabell looks like she’s about to give birth any second, so I’m fucking lost when it comes to who could be trying to harm us. And what is it that they want? They’ve never asked for anything or really even demanded anything.

I truly think this is some sick game of a miserable person who has nothing better to do, and probably nothing to lose.

“I’m going after them.” I hand Blair my knife, because I don’t want her getting hurt when I take this fucker down. I lean down and kiss her gently, pulling my phone out to text Ben and Noah to get here immediately.

Blair grabs onto my hand, and I look down at her to make sure that she’s okay.

“Don’t leave me,” she says. “I won’t slow you down. I don’t want to be without you.” I can see that she’s scared, and that puts me in even more of a rage than I already am.

No one has a right to put fear in my wife, and I’m going to choke the life out of them when I get them in my hands.

I rub my hand down the back of her head and try my best to comfort her. “You don’t ever have to worry about that, baby. I won’t leave you ever.” I see her posture immediately lighten, and that gives me a little reprieve from the anger coursing through my veins. “Noah and Ben are on their way. We’re going to take care of this tonight, and you’ll never have to worry about it again.”

I know she doesn’t want to be away from me, and I hate that idea too, but I can’t say I don't wish I had a safe place for her to stay right now. Someplace that I knew for certain that she couldn’t leave and put herself in danger, and no one could get to her.

No such place exists, and my wife is safest with me at all times. I’ve learned that the hard way when she left my room to come to the Saints’ meeting. That could have gone a terrible way; she could have been killed or hurt, and I wouldn't have known until it was too late.

Blair Moretti stays with me at all times.

“Scared to come find me?” an eerily familiar voice calls, and I see the look on Blair’s face that she recognizes him too.

“Jonathan?” Blair blurts out, and I tuck her in to stand behind me because what the actual fuck is going on right now.

I dial Noah and leave the phone open without saying anything and stick it in my pocket. I ditched the stupid fucking robe I had to wear to the Choosing ceremony at the very beginning of our walk, so my gun is easily within reach in my waistband.

“Get out here, motherfucker,” I call to Jonathan. I don’t want him anywhere near Blair, but I also don’t like the fact that I can’t see where he is or if he’s armed.