Page 19 of Hollyhocks

“I bet wherever he is, he is thinking of you now. Don’t you want to join him?”

Lily begins to sway. “I do. I do want to be with him, but…” She licks her lips.

I sneer with impatience through tight teeth. “But what?”

“Fitz. I think I know someone by that name.”

“You do. He’s mine, though. Taken.” I bite, wishing I could twist her neck and leave her limp body for all to see.

I have to be smarter than that right now. We are in public. Cops are around. Too many witnesses to prove my actions.

“Oh,” she frowns. “I didn’t know. It doesn’t matter. The love of my life just died.”

“That’s right,” I croon, sliding my hand away from her hair to grip the back of her neck. Tucking the strands behind her ear, I bring my lips close, so the full effect of my voice can finally get her to obey. “He needs you now. Go to him, Lily.”

“I’m scared.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t be. Death is quick. You won’t feel a thing.”

I lean away, grinning and then masking my happiness when Lily tilts her head back to stare at me. Tears run down her cheeks in fast drops and her bottom lip trembles.

Ugh, so many tears. Why? Just fucking go walk in traffic already.

Without saying another word, she sniffles and begins to walk out of the parking lot in her trance. I can’t hide my happiness. I didn’t need to lift a finger for this to happen.

If taking what I want means leaving death in my wake, then so be it.

“Lily?”

She spins around with hope in her eyes. “I don’t have to go?”

“You still do, but I want to let you know—” I lean over to whisper in her ear again “—If I can’t have him, then no one fucking can. If I can’t have him, I will burn this world to nothing along with everyone in it. I will gladly sit back and watch violence swallow the universe whole while my heart continues to beat for a man who has imprisoned himself in my blood. I do not care if you die. I do not care about your tears.” I dig my talons into her flesh until she gasps. “I will be the murderer of all souls if it means I get to keep the one I want.” I shove her away from me, getting sick of her scent.

Her aroma makes me sick. “Now, go on. I’m tired of knowing I have to breathe the same air as the woman who craved my mate’s touch.”

Lily nods in a daze, turns around, and heads to the busy traffic. There’s only one lane open due to the accident. A firetruck is flying down the road, speeding to get to the scene in time in hopes of saving a life.

“You should hurry. That firetruck is the perfect vehicle. When you see the love of your life again, wherever it may be, send him my regards, okay? Tell him I said, ‘Who’s the fucking bitch now?’”

“Bye! It was nice meeting you.”

“I hate you and just want you to die, Lily. Please—” I gesture to the road. “I don’t have all day.”

Finally, she inches closer to the main street. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes pull off to the side of the road to make room for the firetruck.

I tuck my hands in my pocket, waiting, watching, and Lily walks towards the firetruck before stopping in the middle of the road.

“Lady! Lady! Get out of the street. You’re going to get yourself killed!” someone yells from their car window.

“Get out of the road!” another yells to try and help.

Their help is pointless. It’s too late. See, if people truly cared, someone would get out of their car to help her, but that means risking their lives too. Not many would put a life before their own, not like me, not like what I’d do for Fitz.

I’d die for him.

Would anyone else do the same? No. Humans are selfish bloodthirsty creatures. I’m only doing what so many would do if they were in my shoes.

The firetruck honks its horn to get her to move but it’s too late. The hard smack of her body hits the front, her bones breaking from the force. I can hear every snap from here. Her body flies through the air, landing a good fifteen feet away from the impact before skidding further down the road.

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