Page 9 of Blades of Obsession

“Fine,” I finally agree, playfully rolling my eyes as Skye squeals in victory.

“I’m getting laid tonight,” she declares, biting her bottom lip with a determined glint in her eyes.

“And what if Rhett doesn’t like you?” My question is serious. The last thing I’d want to deal with is a heartbroken best friend.

“He was obviously flirting with me, and now he’s invited me to a party, so of course he likes me. My plan is simple. Get a little tipsy, not too drunk to where I don’t remember the glorious event. Then, with my newfound liquor confidence, I’ll tell him exactly what I want. He gives off big dick energy, it’ll be great.”

“Hm, sounds foolproof.” I chuckle at her description of her plans.

Even though there’s a small worry creeping into the back of my mind. If she’s off hooking up with Rhett, that means I’ll be left alone for most of the night.

Chapter 4

BLADE

If this motherfucker calls me one more time… “It better be something important,” I answer the phone, irritation creeping into my voice. Everyone knows I hate annoying ass phone calls—they invented texting for a reason.

“She’s already here,” Rhett blurts out. I sit up straighter in the back seat. “I told her infuriating friend ten o’clock, but they showed up early.” His voice is slurred, and I can tell he’s already drinking, which means he’s useless when it comes to watching out for Amelia right now. The man can’t hold his liquor to save his life.

Fuck.

We’re sitting in the drive-thru line, but my mind is a pesky bitch, clouding with everything that could go wrong while I’m not there. “Forget the food,” I mutter, turning to Rhys. “Back out of the line.”

Without a word, he shifts into reverse, and within seconds, we’re tearing out of the parking lot and racing towards the mansion.

It’s an off-white stone house less than ten minutes from campus. Every Serpent from freshman to senior year is required to house there and train on the skills they’ll be using after graduation. From the outside, everyone at Crestview thinks it’s aregular old frat house. It might as well be with the raging parties they throw.

If it were just members there tonight, I’d feel a little more at ease, everyone who lives in the house already knows they’d get their dicks cut off for touching her. But there are regular students at the party too. Meaning any one of them could try something stupid.

But not to worry, tonight is the night.

The night she’ll be claimed.

The night she’ll officially be mine.

I can feel the excitement buzzing in my chest at the thought, like an electric current that won’t quit. After all the waiting, the planning, it’s finally happening.

I’d spent the last few days obsessing over how to go about doing this. Should I corner her when she’s alone, somewhere quiet where there’s no escape? Or maybe surprise her with a grand gesture—flowers, some fancy gift? But that didn’t feel right. I’m not usually the romantic type, so I don’t know what girls like beyond flashy gifts. But Amelia, I can tell she isn’t the type to be swayed by a four thousand dollar purse.

In the end, I decided to keep it simple. Just how I like things. Casual, unassuming, and just a fun night out with a friend. Or so she thinks. Manipulating her friend to lure her in was almost too easy. Most girls are easy to manipulate. Just dangle what they want right in front of them, close enough for them to get a taste, but just out of reach so they feel that little sting of missing out. Then conveniently leave out the messy details, the downsides they’d rather ignore anyway.

For the next hour, I sit in the shadows of the party, my eyes glued to Amelia’s every move. Fuck, she’s gorgeous even across the room in the dim lighting.

I’m hypnotized, entranced by the way she moves, gradually loosening up and settling into the scene. Of course,she’s not going buck wild, but I can see her slowly letting go. The smile on her face never leaves—the real one, not the fake one she wears when she’s nervous. That smile. It does something to me, tightens my chest as if I’m just learning how to breathe again.

It almost makes me feel bad that I’m about to ruin it all for her tonight. Almost.

Most guys with my level of possessiveness would lose their minds over the revealing dress she’s wearing. But I don’t need to. I have a knife and I know how to use it. Nothing would satisfy me more than gutting an unlucky fucker who touches her. Watching his organs spill out on the ground before I stake his head on a stick.

Shit, I’m getting hard.

To my absolute fucking delight, she shuts down every guy who asks her to dance anyway. My muscles tense each time someone tries, and a lot do, but they’re all met with a small smile and a shake of her head. She has no idea that simple rejection is saving every one of their lives tonight.

I watch as she scans the room, presumably searching for her friend. When she doesn’t find her, she lets out a frustrated groan. It’s a good thing I’m known for planning ahead and kept her friend occupied outside by the pool. Amelia pulls out her phone, types a quick message, and starts heading for the front door.

Fuck. She’s leaving already?

Okay, new plan.

---