Page 8 of Surging Reef
Pharos’ growls competed with his rasping breaths. If he died here, who’d look after Pharos? He’d only found his home a few weeks ago. It wasn’t fair.
He never should’ve come to Surging Reef. When he’d read people died here, he should’ve taken it seriously, not as some cool, long-ago story.
“Hey, stop.” He didn’t move, didn’t try to push the skeleton away. If he did, he might tear his own throat out because he was pretty sure there were teeth buried in him. Fuck, would he turn into a monster now? What did ghouls look like?The teeth, though. He’d only seen them for a moment, but…vampire?
They weren’t real.
Cold replaced his soul as life left him.
The skeleton didn’t stop, but maybe it slowed its swallows. He wasn’t sure.
“If you kill me, you have to take care of Pharos. He deserves better than to starve to death in a lighthouse.” And Kazimir didn’t think there was any dog food here. His hands shook as he placed them on the skeleton’s shoulders.
Only the shoulders didn’t feel skeletal anymore.
The hold on his hair gentled, and Kazimir could move his head a fraction to make it more comfortable.
The skeleton was solid against him, and Kazimir wished he could look at it.
Pharos moved closer, and Kazimir moved one hand from the skeleton’s shoulder to ward him off. “Stay.”
The skeleton stilled. Kazimir wouldn’t say he tensed, but there was awareness in him.
Then he licked Kazimir’s throat, making him shiver. So weird.
He did it again and again. When he was done, he slid down a fraction and rested his forehead against Kazimir’s sternum.
“Erm…” He slid his fingers over his throat. Two bumps but nothing else—no blood, no scabs.
* * * *
Ashby breathed hard as life came back to him. He could feel the blood rushing through his body, his heart beating a little too fast.
Seconds went by, minutes, then the body underneath himlet out a shuddering breath.
Ashby raised his head and looked at him. Dark hair, a nose with a little bump on the ridge and lips pressed into a thin line. Attractive despite not being classically handsome. Human.
Another growl filled the room. Ashby looked over at the source and almost laughed. It was a small dog—not the tiny being-carried-in-a-handbag kind, but small. It was limping as it circled closer, and Ashby noted the pink cast on its back leg. Fuck, he’d thrown it, hadn’t he?
He wasn’t a huge fan of dogs. He didn’t dislike them, but he’d never wanted to take on the responsibility of caring for another living being. It didn’t mean he wanted to hurt it.
“Stay.”
Ashby almost jumped when the man underneath him spoke. He hadn’t been about to move, but he didn’t mind staying. It had been a long time since he’d held anyone close.
Then he realized he was talking to the dog.
How much blood had he taken? Was the man too weak to get up? He should speak. What did you say to someone you’d attacked?Hi, my name is Ashby and I’m a bloodoholic?
He didn’t normally attack people. Seduction was a better and safer approach. The circumstances hadn’t allowed it this time around.
He cleared his throat, and the man’s eyes widened before focusing on him. He’d been focused on the dog until now.
“I’m Ashby.” He didn’t think the man knew. It would surprise him greatly if Anne had hired a human to come here.
When the man didn’t respond, Ashby changed position only to hiss. The chain was still attached to his leg, and it was still made of silver.
Maybe he was strong enough to break it now before his strength drained away again. He flew off the man and grabbed it. The way his palms burned and blistered had him snarling, but hetried to yank it. No success.
