Bloodshed (Order of the Unseen, #1)(54)

Letting out a shaky breath, I stammer, “I—I didn’t think you meant that literally—”

“Are you forgetting what they did to you?” Damien asks, lightly taking my hand and pushing up my sleeve, exposing my wrist. My heart drops. He grazes the pad of his thumb against my bare skin, tracing the faded scars. “They deserved the pain. Every excruciating second of it.”

Shaking my head, my mouth falls open.

My breathing hitches.

Goosebumps rise on my skin.

“That doesn’t mean they deserved to die,” I shakily say, exchanging anxious stares with all of them.

“But they did,” Jensen speaks up.

“They did deserve to die, Quinn,” Micah also lets out. “Anyone who hurts you deserves to suffer.”

“You can’t just play God like that,” I scold them.

“Baby, if God is real, then God is me,” Damien smugly states. “And if given a chance, I’d do it again,” he callously continues, every hint of humanity draining from his eyes. “We all would. We’d do anything for you. Kill for you. Hell, even die for you.”

Holy shit.

My heart pounds.

“I know that must sound crazy,” he rushes out, framing my face with his large, tattooed hands. “And I am. I’m batshit fucking crazy for you, Quinn. You’re more important to me than you could ever fathom. I just need you to trust me.”

“We just met,” I dismissively urge, confused out of my mind. “How am I supposed to trust you?”

“Let me protect you,” he instructs. “Let us protect you.”

“Protect me from what?” I demand, backing away from him as his arms fall to his sides. “I’m a big girl, Damien. I can take care of myself. I always have.”

“Quinn…” he rushes out while I head for the door. “There are things you don’t know. Things I can’t even begin to explain.”

Suddenly, I freeze, my fingertips lightly grazing the doorknob. Turning my head, I lock my eyes with his. “Like what?” I demand. “I don’t understand—”

“With time, you will,” he speaks over me, now standing only inches away, towering over my small frame.

“That’s exactly what I need,” I firmly tell him. “Time. To think. To wrap my head around all of this.”

“And that’s fine,” he replies a little too quickly. “Whatever you need.”

“This is crazy,” I anxiously babble, more to myself than to him. “Literally insane. How am I not running in the other direction? How am I not terrified of you?”

“Because we’re connected,” he says under his breath, as if his statement has some deep, powerful meaning behind it. “All four of us.” He lightly strokes my cheek with the back of his fingers, stepping closer, closing the small space between us. My eyes desperately search his. Unexpectedly, he presses his palm against my chest, right over my heart. “I know you feel it.”

I do…

I feel it deep in my soul.

That unexplainable bond, ever since the first moment I set my eyes on them at the party. Masks, and all.

Taking in a deep breath, I stare helplessly into Damien’s menacing blue eyes. “I do feel it,” I admit in a whisper. “I don’t know how, or why… but I do. Like I’ve known you for years.” I hesitate, fixing my gaze on Jensen and Micah, watching from the end of the hallway. “All three of you. I can’t explain it—”

He traces his thumb over my parted lips, lowering his gaze to my mouth as he leans in. “And you don’t have to,” he rasps.

“Tell me why you’ve been watching me,” I demand.

His face hardens.

“Fine.” I step back. “I’m leaving—”

“Wait,” he breathes, pulling me against his chest. “I didn’t think I was good enough for you. And… fuck… I still don’t think I am.”

Taking in a small breath, I try to find the right words, yet nothing comes out.

“You’re so pure.” His jaw clenches tight as he looks away, avoiding my eyes. “I didn’t want to ruin you, Quinn.”

“Why would you think that?” I ask softly, placing my hands on his chest.

“We’re known around here,” he mutters, stroking my cheeks with his thumbs. “Chaos tends to follow us everywhere. I figured that watching you from a distance would be safer for you. Bringing you into our world was completely off-limits. But then I saw you at the Halloween party. That’s when I realized I was wrong.” Finally, he lifts his head and stares into my eyes. “We were wrong to believe that you were safer without us.”

Glancing over his shoulder, I fix my gaze on Jensen and Micah.

“We care about you, Quinn,” Micah tells me.

Jensen nods. “This world isn’t as safe as you think it is,” he lets out.

“I feel like I’m completely in the dark,” I murmur against Damien’s touch.

“We will guide you through the darkest of nights,” he says, as his lips lightly brush mine. “Always, Quinn.”

And he kisses me.

Really kisses me.

A kiss so sensual, and tender, it sets my soul on fire.