He's A Monster

Kiss It All Better

Marshal's Perspective POV

"One problem in your story, brother," Vincent murmured.

I narrowed my eyes, not trusting the tone in his voice.

"Your love came back to you."

He released my hand, stepping back, head bowing like a dog caught in guilt.

"Danielle?" I called, my voice breaking on her name.

I turned. She was standing quietly at the doorframe. Her curls tumbled messily around her shoulders, her small hands hanging at her sides. Her lips trembled as she stared at me.

"You came back," she whispered.

Something inside me broke. I softened, every ounce of anger bleeding into need. My gaze traced her delicate nose, the quiver of her lip, the warmth I thought I'd lost forever.

There were no words in her head, only the quickening of her heartbeat, the rush of blood that called to me like music. I thought of cupping her cheeks, of pulling her close, of kissing her--softly, desperately.

"You said..." Her eyes flickered down, shy. "You said you love me?"

She is adorable, brother, Vincent's voice echoed through my mind, laced with mocking laughter.

I ignored him, lowering my hand to her cheek, my palm fitting perfectly against her skin. I bent so our eyes met. "I wouldn't say it if it weren't true, love."

Her lips parted, but before she could speak, I leaned in and pressed my mouth to hers. Her nose brushed mine, her eyelashes tickled my cheek. Her hand slid up my face, warm against my colder skin, and for one perfect second, I let myself believe.

A scoff cut through the moment.

"Okay, you two. This is cute and all, but I'm supposed to be the bad guy here, not some sentimental wreck watching love blossom." Vincent's smirk was infuriating.

Danielle laughed against my lips. I turned back toward him, still smiling faintly.

"Marshal," Vincent said. "I think we should introduce ourselves with... less violence."

I nodded, Danielle's hand brushing mine.

"I'm Vincent," he continued. "Your older brother. A mess, clearly."

A short laugh escaped me. "Marshal. Your younger brother... also a mess."

He extended his hand, hesitant. I took it after a pause, my skin prickling at the contact.

"This is Danielle," I added, though my jaw clenched. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

"Bits and pieces," Vincent said, smirking. "Like how she stalked you for a while."

"I did not!" Danielle's voice shot up.

"Did too."

Her hand warmed in mine, she was blushing.

"I did not stalk--okay... maybe a little."

"Hah. Best stalker ever. Cameras and everything."

"I did not stalk him that way!"

"Yeah, you did."

I lifted my hand to silence them, amused despite myself. "I don't care what she's done. As long as she's in my life, I'm okay."

"Awh," Danielle breathed, smiling up at me.

But my eyes narrowed when I looked back at Vincent. The thought slipped unbidden into my mind..if he ever tried to take her again, I would kill him. Slowly.

A shock of energy shot up my wrist, burning like fire beneath my skin. Half of me wanted to accept him, this brother I never knew. The other half wanted to rip him apart piece by piece.

I clenched my jaw. Focus on Danielle. She's safe. She's safe.

Danielle's Perspective POV

The brothers spoke, their voices weaving together in a strange harmony of sarcasm and fragile truce. I tried to smile, tried to pretend everything was normal. But something deep inside me trembled.

My hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Then the pain came.

It struck like lightning: sharp, merciless. My back arched violently, my body slamming against the floorboards. I gasped, clawing at the wood as heat shot through my veins.

"Danielle!" Marshal's voice broke somewhere above me. His presence pressed against me like an anchor, but it wasn't enough.

My hips lifted from the floor, my head thrashing side to side. My teeth ached, no, burned, my gums pulsing as if something alive writhed beneath them. I screamed, the sound raw, cracking.

"Make it stop!" My voice tore from my throat, desperate.

Through the haze, I saw Marshal's terrified eyes as he dropped to his knees beside me, his mouth moving, words lost to the pounding in my skull.

Then I turned my head and saw Vincent.

He stood with a twisted smile, his eyes glowing faintly, watching me unravel.

Fuck.