Page 86 of Cursed Lifeline

Swallowing hard, I manage to ask, “What does it have to do with me?”

“It has everything to do with you,” she seethes. My jaw sets harshly. Smiling at me sweetly, she says. “You’ll find out all you need in due time. For now, be ready to train come morning.”

“I won’t be used as a tool,” I insist, even though I know my outburst could cost me.

For over a century, she’s obtained immortality by sucking my immortal life from my body any way she can. If her presence here tonight is because Esme’s alive, I’ll do whatever it takes not to succumb to the powersheholds over me and take the slayer’s life again.

A light, menacing chuckle escapes her lips.

“No,” she whispers. “I have other plans in store for you this time.”

She trails her red fingertips down my chest before studying me like the toy I am, then turns to leave.

“The plays the thing,” I call after her.

She stops. Her back stiffens.

“No matter how hard you try and hide, all will be found out in the end.” When she doesn’t respond, I warn, “Though you think you move in silence, sometimes the quiet is louder than you think.”

“My confidence rests in silence,” she hisses, “it’s your insecurities that are loud.”

A vexed huff leaves my lips. Out of the corner of my eye, she turns and studies me with a bewildered expression.

“What do you know?” she demands. “Tell me or I’ll…”

“So full of artless jealousy is guilt, it spills itself in fearing to be spilt," I chuckle sarcastically. When she stays silent, my head turns her way. “You’ll find out in the end. I’ll make sure of it.”

Her gaze turns lethal. Infuriated, she takes a heated step forward but then suddenly stops. Something I’ve said gets to her, and she turns bitterly on her heels and angrily stalks out of the room.

As the door slams shut, and I’m once again left to the lonely despair that’s intent on killing me slowly, I close my eyes and smile to myself. Even though I made her believe the worst, the truth is, I know nothing. Nothing but the welcoming peace I drown in night after night. One with a warm and inviting smile, a touch that feels like home, and a gentle voice that whispers…

I’ll be waiting for you.

Thirty

Felix

song a little party never killed nobody | Fergie, Q-Tip & Goonrock

Long Island, New York

“He’s a bootlegger,”the older woman whispers to her friend as they sit on their stools at my bar. “I heard he shot the police chief’s son in cold blood for not allowing his last delivery through customs.”

My glass pauses as I raise it to my lips and listen closer. Shot him? No. But he deserved what he had coming.

The two women behind me have no clue who they just sat down next to. Instead of making it obvious, I swivel my chair in the opposite direction of where they’re standing and lean back to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“That isn’t even the worst of it,” her friend hisses. “I heard he rotates two women. One comes in the morning. The other at night.”

“Shh,” the first lady whispers, “Keep your voice down. I heard that too, but there is no telling if it’s true.”

I catch the eye of one of the women in question, and she gives me a bold smile from across the room as Alfred guides Esme and Evangeline through the crowd. Though Alfred escorts them both, his attention is glued to Evangeline.

Esme blushes as I undress her with my eyes. Setting my glass down, I straighten the lapels of my tux as she maneuvers through the crowd with such grace no one would be able to tell that under that prim and proper facade is a cold-blooded killer. Caelum, Silas and Celeste follow close behind, mingling with the New York City elite who have gathered tonight at one of my elaborate parties.

“That’s not all,” one of the ladies whispers behind me. “Three men are living with him, too. Between the two women and the four men, including Mr. Caldwell, there is no telling what goes on here behind closed doors.”

“Are you implying...”

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