Page 64 of Sin

My grumbling continued as I reached the large wooden door, its pointed arch and oversized iron handle all that was left of the Bavarian castle I once called home. Ah, the good old days. Back when all I had to worry about was being the first to successfully kick off the apocalypse. Now, strangely, I was supposed to stop it.

One constant I’d banked on in my long life was my purpose. The other was that I bring death to all things. Now, for the first time, both of those constants had been tested. No wonder I was feeling so out of sorts.

Stalking down the rows of expensive wines from across the world, I zeroed in on my goal—the beautiful bottles of amber liquid nestled in a special case. Perhaps I should get a lock to keep Sin out. He knew exactly where to come to find the precious commodity, and eventually he would have done exactly that. Selecting one, I uncorked it and refilled the decanter, my nose picking up on the distinctive notes of brimstone and hellfire mixed with peat.

More than ready to enjoy a glass, I returned the bottle to its resting spot and turned, only to stop dead. A splash of familiar flaming hair peeked out from around the corner, spilling across the floor in a way that felt unnatural. Instinct screamed at me to go to her, and the sight that greeted me when I rounded the tall wine rack had all my senses on alert. Merri wasn’t supposed to be in here, but more than that, she shouldn’t be curled up on her side like a child hiding from a monster.

“Wildflower?” I called, forgetting myself as I used my secret nickname for her.

When she didn’t so much as stir, I set the decanter down and crouched in front of her. I’d been alone, so I hadn’t bothered with my gloves, which meant I couldn’t even give her a shake.

“Merri,” I tried again, louder this time.

Her skin was deathly pale, dark circles ringing her eyes, but she blinked and finally focused on me. “Hi, Daddy,” she whispered. “I didn’t think anyone would find me here. No cameras.”

The instant her eyes locked on mine, I was nearly knocked over by the wave of lust that accompanied them. Her power was unchecked, searching and needy. I scrambled away from her.

“Control yourself,” I snapped, terrified of what might happen in my ungloved state.

“I’m trying,” she said, her voice wobbling. “It’s been so hard.”

She could say that again. I wasn’t a stranger to arousal, but the reaction my body had to her was painful and immediate.

Slowly pushing herself up to a seated position, she rested her head in her hands and let out a soft, defeated sigh. “I’m starving. Sin was right. The camming was barely keeping me going, and without it...”

Fuck.

This was my fault.

It had been three days since the attack. Three days since my edict against Merri’s sole energy source.

She continued with the most pathetic look on her face. “You guys don’t even jerk off. At least when I was atIniquity,I could snack on the surplus sexual energy from patrons. This is like living in a convent. Except a convent is probably more horny. You know the nuns are getting off to thoughts of hot priests.”

I would have laughed if she didn’t sound so forlorn. And frankly, she looked terrible. I’d seen hospice patients who looked healthier.

“Come on, wildflower. You can’t be down here. Let’s get you to your room and sort you out.”

She stared at me in shock for a heartbeat before nodding and reaching for me. I was at a loss for all of two seconds, knowing the last thing I could do was give her my hand. Pulling myselftogether, I offered my fabric-covered elbow instead, fighting a groan as the heat of her palm radiated through my shirt.

“I’m not contagious, you know. And I might be desperate, but I already swore not to feed from the unwilling,” she muttered, her steps unsteady as I led her from the little room.

“It’s not me I’m protecting. It’s you.”

“Ah, the classic it’s not you, it’s me speech,” she mused with a raspy bark of laughter.

“I’m glad you see things my way.” I hated the way her words affected me, making me wish things were different, thatIwas different.

It had been ages since I’d let myself fall into the deep pit of yearning for casual affection and physical contact. Hel had all but burned it out of me after that absolute shitshow of a relationship. Or so I’d thought. Until Merri showed up and sent my carefully contained life tits up.

I stared down at the crown of her head, at a complete loss as she snuggled into my arm like a kitten.

Fuck.

I couldn’t give her anything she wanted or needed. All I could do was hurt her.

Punching the elevator button, I waited none too patiently for the car to descend so I could get her safely tucked into her room and away from me. Forgetting my gloves was a mistake I wouldn’t make twice. As Merri had proven once again, just because I planned on spending a night alone didn’t mean I was going to get my wish. She had a way of turning up at the most inconvenient and unexpected times.

“Finally,” I growled when the elevator chimed its arrival and the door slid smoothly open.

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