Free Beast (The Submissively Ever After Series Book 1) by Kim Faulks

lives, but mine.
    "Goddamn sonofabitch!" Mark growled. "He’s trying to kill us. He wants you for himself."
    The poison didn’t affect him like it had for the others, but Belle never seemed to notice. She tore her gaze from her lover’s eyes. Rage blazed as she focused on the man beside her sister. "You did this? You did this!"
    Lord Bête stood, dropping Beatrice’s head to the floor. There was a cruel look of hopelessness burning from his eyes, a resignation before a spark of anger ignited. "You. You did this! You murdered these people, and their father?"
    A harrowing snarl tore through the room. Mark shoved Belle from his side and climbed to his feet. "You think you can take all this from me?"
    I was caught in the undertow and sucked down to the murky depths of his greed as Mark lunged for the table. The carving knife sat in the middle of the table, well within reach. His hand was around the hilt, drawing the blade up at the same time his other hand went around Belle’s neck.
    The tip rested against the groove of her neck before I realized what was happening. I was caught on the sight of the blade and the pressure against her skin. Her pulse pushed her skin against the blade. A drop of blood welled under the steel and slid like a silent tear down the base of her throat.
    "Move, and I’ll cut her fucking throat."
    The way Mark held the knife and the deadpan expression was all the warning he needed. The mysterious host nodded, lifting his hands above his head in surrender.
    "Mark. Stop, you’re hurting me." Belle whimpered.
    The single drop of blood was greeted by another, then another, until the slow trickle found traction into the crease of her bosom. Belle didn’t truly understand who he was, yet. She didn’t recognize what he was capable of. But I could tell that Lord Bête understood. "What do you want?"
    A flash of panic swelled in Mark’s eyes. He shifted his gaze around the room, as though he struggled to put into words the entirety of his greed.
    "You have plenty of time, why don’t you think about it? You can rest your hand. No one’s going to do anything rash. Take all the time you need."
    The knife left her neck. The steel, coated with her blood, left her skin and hovered in the air. Mark’s gaze jumped from their host to Belle. "This contract, its bound with some kind of magic, isn’t it?"
    Lord Bête nodded. "Yes. Sealed by the blood you spilled. Sebastian was a good man, a faithful husband and father, right up to the very end, not to mention, my only friend. We’d known each other for a long time. He didn’t deserve to die cold and alone. But he’s part of the magic that surrounds this house now. He’s one with the forest and will forever remain so."
    Belle rocked forward. A whimper slipped from her lips. The tortured sound swallowed everything else. I felt my own tears cold against my cheeks, while inside I shook and shuddered, seething with hate. I turned, giving this grieving woman my back. I couldn’t stand to look at her anymore, knowing all she’d brought upon, not just herself, but us as well, with her careless love.
    She could’ve been anyone. She could’ve been me. I made the same mistake for love. I would’ve given anything for Gaige to love me—for us to have a happily ever after. But, he left me with a scar and a lifetime of torment. One which, in some sad way, I was glad to be rid of.
    Silent steps carried me to the man who whispered from the shadows, seducing me in the dark. Magic thrummed under every floorboard. I felt the power here, unrelenting. No matter how old or dark this house had become, the energy would never die.
    I raised my hands, feeling that same power through my fingers as I trailed his cheek. A nerve jumped near his eye. I moved close, brushing his arm against my breast, focusing on the amber liquor in his eyes. Who are you?
    "I need...."
    The moment was snatched away by those two words I’d come to hate. I dropped my hand and turned away.
    "I want you to