Page 43 of Bony Bony
“Allthat’s here is fleeting.”Hegestured outward. “Youcan walk away.Embracea destiny you were meant to have.”
Iarched a brow. “Whatwould you know about my destiny?”
“BecauseIsee the power in you.”Heraised his hand in a fist. “Powerthat you’re not tapping into the way you should.”
Mynose wrinkled.Power.That’swhat my mother chased.Whatthe sirens wanted.Whatdemons wanted in trying to seize control ofSalem.
Ifthere was one thingI’dlearned in all these scenarios, it was that power could overshadow what you truly needed—true friends, acceptance, love…
“Idon’t need that kind of power,”Ireplied and crossed my arms.
“Whynot?”Hemotioned at the brick exterior of my club. “You’restuck here.Icould give you the world.Giveyou the gift of never aging.Makeyou immortal.”
Neveraging?Immortality?Warinessslithered like snakes inside me. “Whendid that become part of the conversation?”
“It’spart of it now.”Hiseyes gleamed with an unearthly glow he hadn’t revealed before.
Warningbolts fired within.Mymuscles turned taut. “Whatthe fuck are you anyway?Somekind of vampire?”
“You’dbe forever young and beautiful the way you are now.”
Didhe know about the age curse?Theway he was talking led me to think he might. “Haveyou been spying on me?”
“Ilike to watch you,” he admitted with a leering gaze. “You’dnever grow old with me,Gianna.Neverdie.”
No.Hellno.Ihad no desire to become immortal, even with the scare thatI’ddie of premature old age.Growingold didn’t scare me, as long as it was withSebastian.WhenIpictured him with gray in his temples and peppering his beard, my heart panged.Forgetsilver fox, he’d be my silver wolf.I’dbeen so heartless to treat him the wayIhad and regretted every snappy thingI’dsaid.Ididn’t want to be forced into the darkness and have a relationship likeNovaandDiego.Iwanted the oneIhad withSebastian.Onein which we walked hand-in-hand on the shore beneath the sun.Onein which we shared delicious meals together.Onein which we spent nights together in our home.
“Idon’t want that,”ItoldZane, backing away.
Hesneered. “I’mgiving you the opportunity to leave this bland world behind.Youcould have fame and fortune with me.”
“Areyou seriously that delusional?”Isnorted. “EverythingIwant or need is here.”
Heshook his head and wagged his finger. “You’remaking a mistake.Youhave a voice that’s meant to be heard.”
“Enough,Zane.”Iraised my hand, palm forward.Hisinsistence was pissing me off. “Itold you my answer is no.Now, you need to leave.I’mgoing back inside.”Iturned to head inside, but he grasped my wrist.
Iturned and snatched my hand from his grip and then backed away from him. “Don’tgrab me, asshole.”
Henarrowed his eyes. “Where’sthe necklaceIgave you?”
Shit, whatNovasuspected had to be true.Itipped my chin up and demanded, “Whythe hell did you give me an enchanted necklace?”
“Whereis it?”Hisvoice lowered in warning as he slithered closer.
“Ithrew it into the ocean,”Ilied, forcing myself not to look toward the club.Noway wouldItell himNovahad it and put her in any danger.That’swhatIshould have done to that damn necklace to begin with—buried it deep in the ocean floor.
Hiseyes glowed with a crimson sheen that was as eerie as a clown creeping out of the shadows. “Idon’t think you’re telling me the truth.”
Allmy instincts flared as the sense of imminent danger surged.Istood straighter, projecting a confidence thatIdidn’t yet feel.Notthat a vampire wouldn’t scent my fear. “Thisis my club,Zane, and you need to leave.”Ipointed across the parking lot and braced myself for his next move. “Now.”
Zane’slips curled into a smirk. “I’llbe the one who decides when that happens.”Hereached me in two more steps and grabbed my upper arms. “Andwho comes with me.”
“Letgo of me, you sick fuck!”Iattempted to twist out of his grip.
Heopened his mouth and fangs extended.Freakingfangs!
“Help!”Myshout wouldn’t be heard by anyone inside the brick building, especially with the music playing so loudly.Theonly chance would be if anyone happened to be in the parking lot on the other side of the building and could hear from that distance, but that was questionable.Thisback door was for staff or as an emergency exit.
