Page 9 of Midnight Whispers

His head whips in my direction. “We agreed not to talk about it. Ever.” He narrows his eyes.

I look away from him, knowing he’s right and also knowing it’s for the best. Then I spot Rapsody standing in the distance, and I smirk. “Hey, Rapsody,” I call, waving. “Why don’t you join us?”

Kol stiffens and looks at me as though he’d like to slit my throat.

She hesitates, holding a small canvas and paint. But she sits beside me, which I’m sure will piss off my brother, arranging her dress so the fabric covers her bare legs.

I eye the paints. “You’re a painter?”

Her cheeks pinken. “I don’t know if I’d call myself a painter, but I enjoy it. I find it relaxing. Helps to clear my head.”

Kol scoffs.

“What?” she snipes, her voice full of attitude. Who would have thought she had it in her to challenge my brother? She’s so sweet and innocent.

“Own it. You’re a talented painter,” Kol says.

Her forehead creases. “How would you know?”

“I was in the conservatory this morning and saw your paintings.”

I laugh and shake my head. “I love being right.”

Rapsody turns to me. “What do you mean?”

“Ignore him. He’s drunk. And high,” Kol says.

Her eyes focus on the bottle of booze in the grass. “Are you guys celebrating something?”

A caustic laugh leaves my mouth. “Certainly not. It’s a shit day for us Vosses, second only to the day that our mother was murdered. And today…” I lean in and look her in the eye. “Today is especially shitty for me.”

“What happened?” Sweet thing. She appears genuinely concerned.

“Called off my wedding.” I rest a hand on her knee for the sole purpose of pissing off Kol.

“I’m sorry.” She places her hand over mine and squeezes.

“You could help me feel better, Rapsody. I can think of some ways you could help me forget all the?—”

“Cut it out, kid.” Kol’s voice has the bite of a whip across bare skin.

I laugh. My work here is done. I remove my hand from under hers, reach into my pocket, and pull out a joint. “Want some?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “No thanks.”

“Suit yourself.” I hold out my hand out to Kol, who places a lighter in my palm, and I light the end of the joint.

I inhale, then exhale and offer it to Kol, who waves me off.

“You two are no fun. I’m gonna go see if I can find some trouble. Get my mind off things.” I get up off the grass and wobble before finding my equilibrium. “See you two lov—see you two later.”

I stumble up the hill then over the rest of the grounds. By the time I reach the manor, I decide that I’m going to have the driver take me to Tits & Tassels, the closest strip club. I haven’t been there since I was a teenager with a fake ID. Maybe more drinks and some naked flesh will get my mind off the wasteland that is my life.

Chapter

Five

CINDER

---