Page 39 of Of Mercury and Mist

Then I pierced her lip with one, singular fang, her delicate cry causing my fingers to flex against her waistline. She wiggled some more, trying to escape, rubbing against my chest as I moved a hand to smooth along her lower belly. Her sudden panic filled the air, and I took in a long sip before I licked the bead of blood that’d formed when I pulled my mouth back, catching it before it dripped down her chin.

It was so much better with her fully conscious, so much sweeter with her physically here in my arms and not separated from her body. Her blood hit me like a shot of heroin, every cell of my body bursting into song. I felt whole, complete, and the sickness took me body, soul, and spirit. There would be no cure for this infection called love.

I guided Ashley onto the sofa seat at our table, having her enter first. A waitress brought me a mixture of cabernet and blood, and a glass of white wine for my companion.

“Leave the bottles,” I instructed our server.

“Yes, Sir,” she responded, laying small menus in a pile by the beverages.

“Are you hungry?” I asked Ashley as she watched our waitress walk away.

She ran her index finger down the thick paper of the cardstock menu, her eyes seemingly unfocused. “I don’t know,” she answered, her voice small and thready.

It felt like I was going to lose her as my wariness grew more and more. I wanted her forgiveness, though she was the one at fault. Why she’d done something so dumb as try to steal, I couldn’t fathom. All I could do was hope the evening went well and pray to keep her a little bit longer.

“Have you eaten anything today other than at the park?” She shook her head at my question.

“If you don’t order, I will order for you,” I stated, before taking a sip of the blood wine. It was good but couldn’t hold a candle to my pet’s nectar.

Multiple times, I’d fantasized about bringing her here, spoiling her and indulging in her. Never in a million years did I imagine it would be under such shaky circumstances. I wanted to strike out, rip someone’s head from their shoulders or tear their still beating heart from their chest. But I refrained. No one would’ve stopped me if I gave into my baser instincts, here.

The chances of pushing this woman even farther away were much too good if I let her see the animalistic side of my life. She would’ve seen it eventually; eternity was a long time.

Suddenly, Ashley snapped to attention, alerted to something in the distance, toward the front of the room.

THIRTEEN

Ashley

Between the execution-style murder, Micha’s biting of my lip, and the decadence of the restaurant, I was in a daze. I snapped out of it when I spied a familiar head of long, white-blond hair that appeared by the front door. The man looked just like Samuel, from my dream. Blinking a couple of times, I refocused my gaze, but the apparition had disappeared inside the crowd.

Josiah and the man I’d seen in Micha’s office soon strode through the front door, halting my search for the elusive figure.

My blood had run cold, rushing to my feet, after the body collapsed on the floor and I hadn’t been able to form a single coherent thought since. Micha was pawing at me with the same hands that had callously ended a life, behaving affectionately in his rough manner, until he’d caused me to bleed. My head was still spinning from his kisses.

Murder wasn’t foreign to me. I’d seen my fair share of homicide in the past, but here in this fancy restaurant rather than a parking lot or street corner was so out of place I couldn’t reconcile the act with my surroundings. Between that and Andy’s gossip, I was in over my head.

And now Micha was acting like nothing had happened, trying to get me to order food and plying me with wine while being tenderly attentive.

Josiah and his friend, Kiam, were getting closer and closer. The crowd scurried out of the way as if they were blocking living gods, the two men’s appearance screaming money and ultimate power. It didn’t help they were insanely good looking, though each in different ways. Their wealth and beauty gave them more authority than anyone should ever have and were why I was in this whole mess to begin with. I’d been offered the biggest paycheck of my life, and I’d been taken in by how attractive everything and everyone were that I didn’t hesitate when offered the job.

Micha grabbed my hand, placing it on his thigh as I witnessed the crowd parting for Josiah and Kiam, and I slapped him away. I couldn’t handle it when I knew I was essentially here for some kind of verdict. Why else would Josiah have come back without Della?

Much to my surprise, Micha failed to retaliate when I hit him. Not even a growl. Instead, he almost seemed nervous, though I couldn’t say I’d ever witnessed anything other than utter confidence from the man. He seemed on edge, his shoulders tense, and his fingers were twitching.

My survival instinct told me to run away, but where was I going to go? If I climbed over him, he’d easily lock me in with the dog collar he’d fastened around my neck. If I went the other direction, surely Josiah or his companion would stop me. I was stuck and somehow had to make it through the evening in one piece.

Angling my back to Micha, I fumbled with my clutch and pulled out my cellphone. I really wanted to text Della asking if she had Stockholm Syndrome. I had so many questions for her. But she was such a control freak and most certainly in love, I had to assume she knew what she was doing.

She’d had her life super organized and focused when she met Josiah, dedicated to taking care of her father and operating with precision, carefully doing whatever she had to for survival. Was she with Josiah because he’d threatened her, and she went along with it? To preserve the balancing act she’d been subject to for so long?

As much as I looked for reassurance, I knew her boyfriend had moved her into his mansion and even hired round the clock care for her dad in the home. She literally didn’t have to worry about a thing anymore. Not that I was aware of. He was perfect for her in so many ways.

The company she kept left a lot to be desired and I could only assume her boyfriend hid much from her.

Money could buy anything—including alibis and body bags. I’d hung out with her and Josiah several times in the past, but I’d somehow been blissfully unaware of the true nature of these men and Della never said a word. I’d known they were ruthless, but not the extent I was currently experiencing.

Micha stood up to greet his best friend. They hugged before Josiah kissed him on the forehead while he held him close, displaying a little more care than I’d expected between them. With their stations in life, I expected more formality, more... I don’t know what I’d expected. Perhaps some type of alpha male display of testosterone—not the blatant love between the two rich monsters.

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