Moments in Dark Promises that actively destroyed my soul or had me inwardly/outwardly screaming my fool head off, part 1:
The color in the world around him had faded significantly. He tried not to be alarmed, but the white flowers were now dull. Her hair wasn’t a rich black but softer gray. Her lips, always so red, had faded in color. The vibrant shades weren’t fading over time, like they did with most Carpathians; they were being wrenched from him all in one night. (Keep in mind that this happened on Gary and Gabrielle’s wedding night, which is beyond screwed up tbh).
Something hit him from behind and he caught the attacker with one arm behind his back, circling the small waist and nearly hurtling the featherlight body toward the gate of the monastery. At the last moment he realized his attacker was his own lifemate. Simultaneously he heard the low protest of his brethren and Andre’s sharp command to stop. (Lifemates aren’t supposed to attack each other, it’s like the biggest taboo ever, but Aleksei was fighting Gary and he hadn’t expected this, like in a million years, from himself or Gabrielle).
“They deserve death.” Aleksei made it a statement, but he knew he didn’t want to kill her. He wanted to keep her. He wanted the prince to perform a miracle for him. He thought Gabrielle was his miracle, but he was wrong and the bitterness in his mouth, in his mind, had turned to an ugly, dark flavor. He planned every move in his mind. The speed he would need to kill Gary and then Gabrielle. His brethren would end him when he went into the thrall and he would still have his honor. Still. He waited. For a miracle. (I have no words for this. My heart dropped to my knees, y’all).
She shook her head, tears spilling down her face. “No, you don’t understand. I refuse. I refuse to be your lifemate. I love him. I’m his.” Fury filled him. He’d spent centuries looking for his woman. Centuries of bleak loneliness. Hope faded, and all he had left was his honor. Carpathian women knew their duty. They understood what could happen when a lifemate was stripped of his other half. She dared to love another man? Choose another man? She was his. His reward. His anchor. His only hope. She had no right to refuse him. (Holy shizzballs, tune back the possessiveness please sir).
His breath hissed out and his eyes went flat and cold. Hard. Terrifying. His hand wrapped around her throat and for one moment she thought he’d actually break her neck. Or strangle her. (There is no ‘thought’, Gabrielle. You tipped this nutty man to the edge and he contemplated murdering your silly-dilly ass).
Her heart nearly stopped beating when he transferred his hold from her throat to her hair. He bunched the long strands in his fist, and there was nothing gentle about the way he twisted his hand so that his grip wa anchored to her scalp. He turned and walked rapidly in the opposite direction, forcing her, by her hair, to go with him. (tHE DISRESPECT--)
He shoved the woman away from, down to her knees. She had brought him to this. She was Carpathian and she knew the consequences of her actions to her lifemate should she betray him. Even her tear-streaked face couldn’t stop the rush of fury at her. She would not only bring him down but she would be indirectly responsible for the deaths of innocents he would kill should he turn. And he would turn if he didn’t finish this and make this treacherous wench fully his. (BITCH--!)
He tried to shut down his emotions so her tears wouldn’t get to him, wouldn’t soften him, but his fury was too great, the darkness taking hold of him so firmly he feared if they didn’t complete the binding he would lose it and kill her and as many others as possible. Because of her. This harlot. She put them all in danger. “Take off your clothes.” (mIKHAIL JUST FUCKING LEFT HER W/THIS NUTJOB, OMG, WHAT A SHITTY PRINCE)
Deliberately he remained fully clothed, so that she was completely naked and helpless in his arms. He wanted her to know there was nothing she could do. Nothing. He controlled her. He would have control of her life for eternity. She didn’t deserve kindness or love. She deserved humiliation and to serve his every need. Her blood was exquisite. He hoped the rest of her was as well. (The amount of archaic thoughts this dinosaur has is too much).
