Page 71 of Petals and Fangs

“Wait, please. This is a lot to take in. I can't believe a vampire could be doing something like this,” I say, my voice full of disbelief.

“Believe me, Lily, this is a lot worse than you think.”

“I had a strong feeling that I had seen him before, but I just chose to ignore it. Certainly, not everyone is like you.”

“There are more vampires than you can imagine, Lily. The thing is you can't trust everyone you see. It could be a trick.”

“Am I surrounded by them?”

“The entire Rothschild Pharmaceuticals is run by vampires for vampires' sake. The only human standing among us is you.”

“So, that is why the FDA is after you, right? Now, I do know what type of substances and drugs you sell.”

“I told you that our business is unique. Our drugs are all clean. We don't sell them to just anyone. We have a system. The vampires who are allowed to purchase these products have been tested and verified by the company's system.”

“That's good, Ethan, but if the FDA has found out about the real substances you've been selling, then they will definitely put the company under a lot of stress. And then you'll have to be shut down.”

“We can't let that happen. We need to do something about it.”

“Yeah, but how?”

“I am working on it. But for now, I feel like a massive burden has been lifted off my shoulders because I know I won't have to hide anything from you anymore,” he says as he cups my face.

“It's not like I am going to tell anyone,” I say, placing my hands on his.

“I know,” he smiles.

“Ethan, you need to read that,” I point at the letter on my counter. He nods and reaches for it.

“You don't have to worry about Demetrius. He will never step foot in this place, not when I am here. He will be lucky enough to get out alive if he does something to you.”

“I know.”

“He is a tricky little creature. If he sent this letter, it's probably a sign of his evil intentions.”

“What does the letter say, Ethan?”

“Give me a second,” he says as he scans through the letter, and his expression suddenly changes.

“Is everything all right?”

“Yeah, he's just playing with me,” he says and throws the letter aside.

“Ethan, what is it?” I ask as I reach for the letter.

“Don't, Lily, just leave it,” he says, keeping his voice low.

“No, Ethan.”

I grab the letter and skim through it at first, then re-read it slowly and carefully.

'Ethan Rothschild. You are such a coward. You have no guts to show your face around me. You're hiding behind a pathetic, yet gorgeous, woman—a mere mortal. How pitiful. You are a disgrace to the vampire world. You are nothing but a pathetic excuse for a creature, and your little company is nothing but a shameful threat to our kind. I will have it burned down to the ground, and you along with it. You can't deny your nature forever. Soon, we will meet again, and then, you will face me.

Yours sincerely,

Demetrius Daire.'

“Why is he after you?” I place the letter down and take a seat. I feel like I had just read a death threat. My knees are weak, and I feel out of breath.

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