Page 194 of Nightshade

“What is this?” I asked in a shaky voice.

At the click of the door, I spun around to find Van Croix setting the lantern down on a small bistro table, the legs of each chair holding cuffs.

“This?” He smirked. “This is the result of too many punishments. I grew to like them too much.”

“You … hurt women here?”

“No.” Reaching out for one of the cuffs, he gave a light yank. “Ordinarily these contraptions would be for me.”

“Ordinarily?” My heart pounded in my throat, and I swallowed back the dryness.

“I will not let you leave, Farryn.”

Panic exploded inside of me, and I rushed toward the door. “No!”

As easily as if I weighed nothing, he lifted me up and hoisted me over his shoulder. Across the room, he carried me to the bed and laid me gently down on the bedding.

Screaming, I kicked and flailed my arms. “You cannot keep me against my will!”

“I can, if you’re foolish enough to put yourself in harm’s way.”

With little effort, he managed to wrangle my arm into a cuff attached to one of the bed posts.

A new flare of distress washed over me, and I kicked out, the force of my foot to his chest having absolutely no effect.

He cuffed the other wrist.

Click.

“Let me go! Let me go!”

In a raging temper, I kicked and writhed in the binds, and screamed until my voice went hoarse.

He dragged a finger down my cheek, his gaze remorseful. “They say if you love someone, really love them, you set them free.” The gentle stroke became a hard grip of my chin. “I’m far more selfish than that. I’d sooner chain you to my bed for an eternity than let you leave this world to fuck some lowly human in the next.”

“You’re psychotic.”

“Yes. I am. Make no mistake, Miss Ravenshaw. I am both unreasonable and non-negotiable.”

“Somebody, help! Help me!”

“No one can hear you.”

“This is criminal, you know. Holding me against my will.”

Fists planted at either side of me, he pushed forward, balancing himself over top of me on outstretched arms. “Where do you think you are that anyone cares about what’s criminal?”

“Why are you doing this?”

Eye riveted on my lips, he traced his thumb over their surface, his touch carrying the hum of electricity that tickled my flesh. “I thought I made it clear before. I would go to any lengths to protect you, Farryn. Even if it means holding you against your will.” He licked his lips and leaned in to kiss me. “Do you honestly think I could stand idly by and risk losing you again?”

“I would’ve stayed with you.”

“Would you? Knowing your father might be in danger? Knowing what you know about the church? Because I couldn’t, if that were you on the other side.”

“Then, take me yourself. What happens if you return there?”

“You die anyway.” Lips pressed to a hard line, he stared down at me with fury burning in his eye. “And by the fires of hell, if I lost you twice, all of Nightshade would burn for it.”