đź–¤ Chapter 9: Queen of His Hell
From the novel: Owned by the Devil
By C. Amara Vale
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Zara had never fired a gun before tonight.
Now, her hands were steady. Her breath slow. Her eyes sharp.
She stepped over the fallen body in the hallway without hesitation, the weight of the pistol firm in her grip. Damien's voice echoed in her head—Aim for the head.
She didn't plan on missing again.
The mansion was eerily still, like the house itself was holding its breath.
She passed the cracked mirror in the hall and paused.
A stranger looked back.
Hair wild. Eyes dark. Lips parted in a snarl of defiance.
Not the girl Damien had claimed.
Not prey.
Something reborn.
Something lethal.
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Footsteps echoed below.
Zara ducked behind the banister, peeking over.
Two men. Neither were Damien's.
She didn't wait for names.
She fired.
One bullet hit the railing. The second struck true.
The taller man went down with a gurgling cry.
The other bolted.
Zara chased.
He made it to the foyer before she tackled him from behind. The gun flew from her grip as they hit the marble floor hard.
He slammed her back into the ground, straddling her with a sneer.
"You're just a pretty face," he growled, grabbing her jaw. "That's all you ever were—"
Her knee connected with his groin.
He doubled over with a scream.
She scrambled for the gun.
He reached first.
She kicked his hand away and grabbed the weapon.
One shot.
Silence.
Blood pooled beneath him, warm and thick.
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Her breath came in gasps as she stood.
The foyer reeked of gunpowder and death.
She didn't care.
She turned toward the front door—
And froze.
Damien stood there.
Soaked in rain. Eyes wide. Gun raised. Chest heaving.
For once, he looked stunned.
Then slowly…
He smiled.
Dark.
Proud.
Possessive.
He walked in, stepping over the dead man like trash.
"You were supposed to stay in the room."
"I got bored."
He laughed once. Deep. Low.
Then he was in front of her, grabbing her bloodied hands, inspecting her with a strange hunger in his gaze.
"I leave you for one hour, and you turn into a fucking goddess of war."
Zara tilted her chin. "You're not the only devil in this house, Damien."
He kissed her like he believed her.
Hard.
Desperate.
Dangerous.
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If she can survive his enemies… can he survive loving someone like her?
To be continued...
By C. Amara Vale
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