Page 48 of How to Seduce a Slender

“Approximately noon, I have a receipt for our purchase.” Before Smith could fully pluck it from his vest pocket, Aravis had it and was beckoning his secretary via cell phone. Smith watched the Lord Commander snarl and yet use the word ‘please’ before hanging up.

“Thank you for that.” He stuffed the crinkled paper back into Smith’s gloves.

“Aravis, why am I getting the sense things are worse than they seem?” Smith cocked his head to the side. Allowing himself the opportunity to snap it a full 90 degrees, his guilty pleasure. Aravis’ left eye twitched as he visibly swallowed a hard lump.

“There have been several murders in the last few months that are unexplained...and until Melody Deathless, they may have stayed unexplained or without cause for alarm.” Aravis’ voice dropped down into a deep rumble.

“What are you saying?” Smith stared at Aravis in bafflement. “Why was Sebastian not made aware of this? Do have any idea who they are?”

“I’m saying that there are two killers in King’s Fall, one is after Melody Deathless, and one is not. And because of her, I’ve been able to identify the two patterns. And while the first has been obsessing over her, they haven’t been active in any other way minus Mr. Bourgias.”

Smith exhaled heavily. “So, your priority is the active killer.”

“Precisely.” Aravis nodded toward the tunnel before lowering his voice. “But if I were able to pursue the inactive killer, I would look to the north of the city, past where those photos were taken. There are ritualistic symbols that don’t look benign. And if I were smart, I’d figure out what happened to Ms. Deathless the first time she was lost in the woods. I dug into my father’s notes for her case. And thereisa case. It was closed within a singular night, and no one dug into it more. I just can’t tell you why, but my father wouldn’t do that if it hadn’t been for the safety of little Melody. Have a good evening, gentlemen. I’m sure you can see yourself out.”

Aravis ducked his head and left the offshoot with a flap of his cloak. Like a creeping shadow, he disappeared into the inky dark of the walls. Smith glanced at Austin with interest. “How do you feel about a hike through the woods?”

“I’d love one,” Austin nodded, turning the photos over. They took note of the coordinates on the photos before leaving as well. Austin tucked the photos away with the brain jar.

Chapter Seventeen:

Melody

Content warning: extremely graphic gore

“Areyousure?Youneed not do as Smith says, Melody. I hardly do,” Agatha chuckled as she led Melody up the stairs toward Smith’s room. Melody held up her skirts as she took the steps slowly. Haggard breathing, her body rattling with effort, but she wouldn’t let anyone else carry her about. If Dahlia found her struggling, she’d immediately be babied about the house. As much as Melody knew the lady of the house meant well, she’d felt so proud about her excursion and ability to use her body…she couldn’t bear the thought of losing that ounce of accomplishment. What was a couple of steps and wobbly legs? Besides, resting in the bath would put meat back on her bones once more. A long, hot, bubble bath was just what the doctor ordered, or whatever they say.

“I did promise him I would,” Melody breathed, gulping down the oxygen at the top of the steps. Her once strong thighs were made of wobbly jelly. Her arms trembled holding up the fabric.But she would not be swayed!Melody flashed Agatha a smile, “Besides, it’s not like he asked anything extra of me. I was already supposed to be drinking water and eating full meals. A bath’s hardly a requirement.”

“Hmm.” Agatha squinted at her with question.

Melody waved off the questioning look. “I’m fine, Agatha, really.”

“Smith’s not…” There was a flicker on her face that made Melody’s stomach twist. Agatha patted down the front of her dress to distract her own hands. Finally, Agatha approached the subject. “Smith’s really a delicate person. He’s quite sensitive, you know, about himself, about his past. He takes things very seriously and he worries. Always fussing over everyone and everything until I’m sure it’s driven him mad. So, all I ask is that you don’t let him drive you mad with his intensity. He truly means well. And he’s very good to talk to if you need an ear.”

Melody’s muscles ached, but she still managed to put a smile back on her lips. “Agatha, you need not worry about me.”

“Hard to do, miss.” Agatha took up Melody’s hands tenderly and squeezed them. It felt like a brush of air across her skin.

Melody licked her lips nervously before the confession toppled its way out of her regardless. “I’m not used to being looked after or cared for. I’ve been alone for a long time, and I’ve been in a sort of survival mode for even longer. I wouldn’t worry about Smith driving me batty with his fussin’ over me. I think I could use a healthy dose of fussin’ and demandin’ if I’m being quite honest. I need someone to demand I drink water and take rest and eat, because I’m not good at taking care of myself.”

Agatha’s face fell to a soft, worried expression as she nodded. “I’m glad he’s filling a need.”

“He’s filling a lot of things,” Melody blurted out with a snort. Agatha’s eyebrows shot up. Melody wheezed, her face blistering. “Now, I didn’t mean—It’s not like we’ve—we haven’t! I was just meaning, you know, he’s making me eat too much and drink too much and—It’s not like that! Stop lookin’ at me like that!”

“I’m not looking at you,” Agatha ripped around in the air, tugging Melody’s hand to lead her to the room.

It didn’t stop the burning blush across Melody’s face. Her mind already returned to the graveyard. The brush of his fingers across her skin, the feel of his lips, the sound of his voice. She replayed it like a dirty little tape inside her mind.I’ve never…ever…in all my time…had someone like Smith.She’d been submissive to some before, she’d been dominating to others, but there was something about Smith. It just clicked. How badly she wanted him to growl in her ear about their deal again. If her legs didn’t feel like hot rubber, she’d run again. Leap over gravestones and let him pin her to the mausoleum again.

Her heart skipped a beat.Mine.Smith claimed her. And for someone without a home, that was enough to bring her to tears.

“I should probably tell you then that Smith’s favorite color is red.” Agatha flinched as they stepped inside the room. Candles exploded to life within the room. Melody eyed the banshee with confusion. A wheezing, ghostly breath was squeezed out of the floating woman. “Well, I know you enjoy the color red, and I thought it was rather fate that his favorite color is red, and he loves roses.”

“He asked me to draw him a rose,” Melody added in a single breath.

“And I bet he’ll cherish it till the date he fades into static,” Agatha chuckled sheepishly.

“Why…why do you look like a dog who dug food out of the trash? Is there something you’re not telling me?” Melody cocked a weary hip out.

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