Page 12 of Ghoul Kisses

“Cut what out?” I ask in a flirty tone. The guy snaps his fingers, and I am cut from the trance.

“My oldest brother has the ability to manipulate women into thinking they want to fuck him,” Eric says. Embarrassed, I scoot my chair away from his.

“You’re a pig,” My cheeks are flaming; I want to slap him for taking advantage of me. Asshole.

“I was just seeing if my powers work on humans.” Nicholas smirks.

“Try it on another person, I’m not your guinea pig,” Breakfast hasn’t been served yet, and I already don’t like Nicholas.

“This is David, the middle brother. He is Odessa’s Mate,” Eric points to a guy that looks exactly like him. David nods his head and continues to chat with Odessa.

“What do you want to know about ghouls?” Eric asks. A servant sits a plate with eggs, grits, and shrimp in front of me. Another servant serves raw meat to the others: the smell of which makes me gag. I watch them eat the food and push my plate away, having lost my appetite.

“Do all ghouls live on Mercer Island?” I ask, keeping my eyes on his face. He chews his food a moment before he answers.

“No, we are scattered all over the world. I’m sure you’ve come across a few ghouls in your lifetime, you just don’t know it,” he says between bites.

“Why do you say that?”

“We can blend in with the human race. Everything around you is an illusion, Sarah,” he says calmly, wiping the corner of his mouth with his napkin.

Purple drapes hang over a gigantic window complementing the grey walls. A glass statue in the shape of a dove sits in the middle of the white marble table. The utensils click against the empty plates as the maid clears the table. Odessa, David, and Nicholas chat while leaving the room. There is no way I came across a ghoul. It is impossible, right? I try to remember people I met over the years.

“So you mean to tell me, if I go to a local shop, I will find a ghoul working there?” He nods. I feel like everything around me is unreal; like I’ve been sucked into a different reality.

“I’ll give you a tour of the mansion.” Eric stands up and leans against the table, waiting for me to join him.

He grips my hand; I feel an electric charge buzzing through me. Pulling away, I feel my cheeks heating up. I hate the way he affects my body. Every time I am around Eric, I feel more acutely attracted to him. I don’t know if that’s part of his powers, but I don’t want him having that effect on me.

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