Chapter 9
288 Vouchers
“Will this do?”
Rachel broke free from my limp grip, scrambling out the door in a near stumble.
Instantly, I knew I’d been deceived.
My heart skipped a beat, then hammered against my ribs as if trying to escape.
“Brother…”
I instinctively raised a hand to cover my mouth–but what difference would it make now? He’d known it was me all along.
Nathan strode toward me. Only today did I learn how impossible it is to flee when terror strikes.
Pathetic. Two lifetimes, two different bodies, not a drop of shared blood–yet he still had this hold over me.
Nathan must be furious. Furious that I’d stayed silent–alive and right here–refusing to reveal myself.
“You bite your finger when you’re upset.”
“When you saw me buying two coffees, you thought they were for Rachel and got so mad you bit into your mask. Pretty funny.”
“When you lie, you always twirl your hair.”
“You twirled it three times when you lied about Marcus being your boyfriend.”
“You wrinkle your nose when you’re scared of thunder.”
“Just like now.”
“Stella, how could you think I wouldn’t recognize you?”
Okay, I really am stupid.
Before I could say “I’m sorry“-Nathan suddenly laughed. A chilling laugh that sent panic shooting through me.
“Is it because you hate me?”
“Do you despise me?”
“Why pretend you don’t know me?”
“How can I beg for your forgiveness?”
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Chapter 9
288 iVouchers
The rapid questions left me dizzy, yet Nathan’s voice remained calm–calm as if discussing someone else’s affairs. But his eyes held a frighteningly intense darkness.
I stepped back until the cold glass reminded me–there was no escape.
Nathan offered what might have been a gentle smile.
“Would kneeling work? Or would you rather hit me? Better make it hurt, or we could do something you’d enjoy more? How about that new collar you bought?”
“You know I’ll agree to anything.”
“I’m better than those other men out there. More to your liking.”
“No one in this world could be closer than us.”
Desperate pleading filled Nathan’s expression.
“I’ve never cared for anyone else.”
“It’s only you.”
“So please, don’t throw me away again.”
One thought pierced through my mind in that instant:
Had he-
had Nathan gone mad?
He was clearly the cold moon in the sky, the divine deity seated high above–why would he say such things?
My mind couldn’t process it fast enough, yet I sensed something off in his words.
A collar. Right, when did I ever buy a collar? I only ever….
Something exploded in my head, shattering all coherent thought. I stared at Nathan, panic–stricken.
I only bought one in my past life–never used it. Before my brother died. Before our last argument.
“You-”
Nathan suddenly gripped my throat, cutting me off with a kiss–vicious yet lingering, as if trying to devour every- thing, yet impossibly careful.
The patter of rain fell softly.
It suddenly hit me-
I wasn’t alone standing in this rain, enduring the damp and muddy ground.
Nathan was just as stained as I was.
