Page 105 of King of Hollywood

“I want you…” Felix tried again, steadier this time, “more than I want my old life back. I want you more than I want to be who and what I was before I became this. I want you more than I want gray hair, or wrinkles, or to be a real person.”

“Nothing you’re saying makes any sense.” My hands felt sweaty and hot, my pulse racing. “And you are a real person. I don’t…I don’t understand.” Maybe I was blind. In hindsight, I totally was. I’d missed all the signs. But in my defense, why would a man who was rooted in reality the way I was, ever guess that such a fantastical conclusion was the truth?

“I’m not a real person,” Felix countered, and his eyes were wet. “Unless I’m…with you.”

When I’m with you, I’m not lonely. I don’t feel like a ghost.

“Oh.” The aching parts of me settled as easily as they’d been riled. I knew I still was missing something. The secret he’d kept. And as Felix’s tongue flickered out to swipe away the remaining blood on his lip, my brain began to whir.

One step, two steps, three steps.

I moved closer to him, because I needed him more than I needed my next breath.

Winnie’s words from earlier in the summer came back to haunt me.

“You can’t expect him to follow rules when you haven’t even told him what they are.”

“I want to be your forever,” I said for the second time since we’d begun dating. “I want to be your only forever. I want all of your attention, all the time. And one day—I plan to marry you.”

The cats were nowhere to be found, mysteriously not attempting to trip me as I crossed the distance between me and my target. The man that Felix had somehow paralyzed, still had not moved. He hadn’t turned to speak, hadn’t interrupted. Still as a statue, but more uncanny, because he was flesh and blood and he should not have been so…frozen.

If he’d had any self-preservation at all he would’ve run.

But he apparently did not, because he continued to stand facing Felix. Continued to stare at him, despite the fact that I was currently hunting him. Two steps more, and suddenly…the side of his neck became visible.

I nearly stumbled with a sickening lurch, my hands clenched into fists.

Was that…?

No.

No.

It couldn’t be—

But it…it was.

Without pausing my stride, I took in this new reality with a clarity I hadn’t felt before. The world spun, but the stranger’s neck remained painfully in focus as I stared at it. As I stared at the bite mark on it.

It only took me a second to recognize what it was, and who it came from—as Felix had left similar bruises all over my own body. I’d recognize the shape of his peculiar teeth anywhere. Only Felix had always been careful with me—only ever accidentally nicking me. And this man’s bite weeped. Blood slipped coppery red down his throat, drip, drip dripping.

I’d interrupted them.

Felix.

Feeding.

One quick glance to Felix proved my suspicions correct. The red that was smeared across his lovely lips was very obviously blood. I just hadn’t…realized. How hadn’t I realized? For a man who was rather intimate with the substance, I was apparently quite obtuse. And Felix looked… God, did he look perfect, especially now that I knew what was decorating his delicious mouth.

Gorgeous and feral.

A wild, wicked thing.

All lean powerful muscles—compact and useful. A predator’s build.

His eyes glowed luminous and red.

His fangs glinted.

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