Page 71 of Your Coffin or Mine
George’s cute little face turns red as a beet as he clutches his chest, giggling like a young schoolgirl. “That would be lovely.”
“Traitor,” I whisper-hiss back.
“Later, darling.” He gives a jaunty wave and walks away with his beanie poof dancing in the wind as he goes.
Chapter 23
VLAD
“Aubrey?”
She rolls her eyes, muttering obscenities under her breath, and I can’t help the irrational jealousy that spreads. She would tell George what’s bothering her and seek his help, but not me?Why?
The only person it could possibly be is that infernal male I wish would die a horrible death. The fact that he touched her before I did is enough to make me want to decapitate him. The moment she became mine, his grave was dug for hurting her at all—the fool just continues to move up his own expiration date.
“It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“I’ve never thought you were incapable.” The notion that she will not trust me rankles.
We walk for a few moments in silence, and she clears her throat. “Can I ask you a question?”
I’m going to regret this. “What do you want to know?” I take her hand in mine and pull her along toward the castle.
“How old are you?” she blurts. “We’ve been sleeping together for a week, and I don’t even know how old you are.”
“I’m twenty-nine.”At least, I look that old in human years.I am actually over centuries old, and haven’t aged a day since I matured.
I dislike that I have to keep the truth from her, and it is becoming harder to repress this need I have to be around her always. It’s bad enough she seems to be pulling away because she knows so little about me. I frown with the knowledge that there isn’t much I won’t do to keep her in my bed and in my arms.
“Now, how is the shithead causing you stress?” I ask, batting my eyelashes. I just want her to open up on her own.
She laughs as she says, “That didn’t last long.” Her lips twitch, curving up slightly for a brief moment. “Chad posted a picture of me with a friend, but it’s not very... appropriate? I guess that’s the best word. People are upset and so my phone has been going off like crazy ever since.”
“So they are upset that he posted a picture of you?”
She groans. “I guess it is time I tell you about Chad.”
“Mmhm.”
I slide my hands into my coat pockets and gesture for her to walk with me, nodding toward the pines near the back of the estate. She follows my direction, and the snow crunches beneath our boots to leave behind prints.
“I met Chad in college, and now that I think back, I’m pretty sure it was totally set up by our parents,” she begins, talking with her hands as she walks. “Anyway, I’d started up a blog and video, not thinking it would turn into anything. I was making these shorts of the beach where my parents and I went on vacation, wanting to use them to set up a sort of online real-life travel guide. I stupidly agreed to let him help after they—him, and his parents, I mean—showed up there randomly.” She scoffs, her nose scrunching up. “What a joke. But we managed to make a business of it, sightseeing beaches and playing on romanticthings. He was such a gentleman at first. He wanted to take things slow, he said. Flash forward two years and I discovered him cheating.”
Her shoulders droop, her demeanor completely at odds with her normal self. Her shine dulling.
I nudge her arm with mine, trying to distract her, and the smallest appreciative smile curls her lips. “Go on. I’m listening.”
He will never touch her again, if I have any say in the matter. He has never deserved her radiance, not if he was this willing to dampen it, and I am more than greedy enough to covet her shine like she is a precious jewel.
“I had even stupidly agreed to marry him, if you can believe it. I was so caught up in sponsorships and ratings, I couldn’t see straight. It’s so silly, and I would have been absolutely miserable if I had gone through with it.” Snow scatters from her uncovered hair as she shakes her head. “He has to know it wouldn’t have worked out. I just don’t think he was expecting me to move on so quickly.” Her whole face spreads into a smile, only for it to quickly fall. “But there’s no telling what our parents have been saying to him in the meantime—they’re not exactly the greatest.”
A frown furrows my brows. “Your parents aren’t against him after everything?”
Her lips flatten and pain gleams in her gaze. “No. My parents have a business deal with his, so they’re still pushing for it despite my feelings and what he’s done.” She throws her hands up, her fingers rigid with frustration, only to drop them to her sides as she sighs in defeat. “Pretty shitty of them, right?”
I clear my throat, swallowing down a plethora of colorful curse words. “What can I do to help?”
She bites her lip, and her cheeks flush as she looks away with a panicky laugh. “Actually, you’re already doing it. The party will give me enough content to last a few weeks for sure. I mean, no one is going to blame me for wanting to tell people about thisplace, and the stuff with Chad will all blow over eventually. I may lose some followers, but it’ll be fine, I think. So long as he doesn’t post more incriminating pictures.”
