Page 2 of A Sip of Sin

Rhys lowered his head, brushing his lips close to Munro’s ear. “Are you hungry? You can take whatever you need and leave the worries of discovery to me.”

Munro glanced at the clock, the seconds ticking by steadily.

Following his gaze, Rhys shifted, blocking his view. His shirt parted farther, showing off the lines of his waist. “You have time. A few sips and you’ll feel so much better.”

Munro licked his lips, tracing the throbbing vein on Rhys’ neck with his gaze. It would be so easy to take his fill or more, the gnawing in his stomach ceasing to memory.

“I don’t have enough time for what you want,” said Munro, slipping sideways to pass Rhys. He reached the door before Rhys’ voice halted him.

“You need to keep your strength to be ready for what’s coming.” Soft steps padded behind him as Rhys crossed the wooden floor. The worn surface from his pacing creaked in one spot, showing off the tiniest weakness in the structure.

“What do you think is coming?” asked Munro. Hairs prickled on the back of his neck where Rhys’ gaze brushed him.

Slipping around him, Rhys leaned against the door frame, partially blocking his path. “We’ve been playing catch-up for years. Sooner or later our secret is going to get out.” He crossed his arms, his lower lip curved into a pout. “We need to be ready to fight for our obscurity.”

Enough.Munro snarled, pinning Rhys against the wooden frame with one hand. The timber creaked as he leaned into the brutal touch, feeling bone beneath the thick layer of Rhys’muscle. Rhys’ eyes went wide, his mouth gaping as he winced at the sudden assault.

“Do your job, and there will be nothing for you to worry about.” Munro dug his nails in until they slipped through cloth and flesh. “We’ve known each other for centuries, Rhys. Don’t disappoint me now.”

Rhys flinched, blood draining from his face. It left him so pale that he nearly appeared like the vampires of legend who wilted at the mere sight of the sun. “Yes, Covi. I’ll make you proud.”

Munro drew his hand back, sucking the blood from his nails as Rhys stared at him. He licked his lower lip as the scent of copper filled the room. Thick rivers were still leaking from Rhys’ shoulder in a slow, intoxicating stream that darkened his shirt with a vermillion tide.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” said Munro, “I must go greet our guests.”

Chapter Two

Hollen

Hollen hummed the song under his breath, skipping over the next curb as the beat grew thick. He landed in a puddle of steeped leaves, the muddy liquid splashing up the sides of his shoe and wicking into his sock.

Wrinkling his nose as the cold sank through the layers into his foot covering, he glanced across the street, eyeing up each sign.

Flower shop. Boutique. Dress shop.For a lively town, it was quiet for a weeknight, with rain pounding on the sidewalk and a few brave souls quickly retreating from the storm to their cars. They left him almost alone amongst the buildings, soaked to the bone and shivering.Almost.

“What about that one?” asked Hollen, adjusting his earpiece as water soaked through his hood and beneath. He glanced over his shoulder as a man walked by with his dog, the umbrella above his head doing little to protect the soaked pooch. The dog shook its head as it passed, fresh droplets splattering against Hollen’s leg.

“No.”

Hollen looked back to the building, the open sign neon against the darkness. There was a smaller red-and-white sign next to it that was probably a help-wanted ad, but he couldn’t tell from the distance. For all he knew, they were looking for a dishwasher.

He glanced at his hands, his knuckles raw despite the lotion he’d just applied. His skin was usually tanned and perfectly soft, but one round in hot water and cheap detergent and the ruin seemed almost irreparable.

“Okay, maybe not.” He rocked on his toes, jumping back on the curb to get a few extra inches that he’d never gained naturally. “There’s a pizza place down the road. I bet they’re hiring.”

“I’m not going home smelling like pizza every night.” The answer washed over him, and he nodded. Pizza was fantastic, with the soft crust and gooey sauce that practically oozed spices, but there were other things in the world he’d rather smell like most days.

Hollen grabbed at the earpiece as it made a buzzing sound, a small shock zapping his ear. It probably wasn’t supposed to get damp, and it was completely soaked, the music cutting out.

After shoving it deep into his pocket, he started down the street, ducking his head. With just the rain, it was harder to focus, the overwhelming pattering sounding all around him. Puddles were filling fast on the flat concrete, his footsteps splattering in each one as he looked right then left.

“It would pay the rent,” said Hollen, shoving his hands into his pockets and seeking any smidge of warmth. “And I bet they have wings. I know you love chicken wings—admit it.”

He felt more than heard the grumble roll over him, a tingle wiggling against the base of his skull and along his chest that he’d become intimately familiar with over the last few months.

“No.”

Hollen let out a huff, tucking himself against the next building and putting his back to the brick. The sidewalk dipped away from the building, which gave him a better view of the potential workplaces. The man and his dog had disappeared, his reflection the only one in the windows for as far as he could see.

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