Page 19 of All Your Bloody Lies

“Monday afternoons. Do you need them in person?” Harper interjects.

As much as I would like that—so I can see her face if she’s lying to me—with this new issue, I can’t risk my only outlet being targeted. Since I don’t like weighing Sydni down with my fucking problems. “No. Send me a calendar invite tomorrow.”

The sound of a notebook closing came with a sigh from her, “Revenge is exhausting. You haven’t taken a break since you began this… journey, Xeraphine. Six years. Maybe taking a break would help, but, we will talk more next week.”

I don’t respond and hang up the phone.

“Kairhyse…” I grit my teeth. I’m so angry. So. Fucking. Angry.

Twodays later, and I finally get a call from Sydni. I don’t think I’ve ever dialed her number but once, even if these last two days have been tempting me to do so.

“Phiny-bear!”

The sound of the subway approaching makes me take a few steps forward. I stop at the yellow risen mark, a warning to stay back until the train has come to a full stop.

“Hey,” I say with a drawl. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

She releases a soft squeal, “I’m a pleasure?!” I regret saying it nearly immediately as the last word spills from her over-exuberant lips.

I stay silent, and she clears her throat. “Sorry I didn’t call you sooner, work has been overwhelming.” The train comes to a stop then, and as the passengers filter out, I make my way in. “You came up at work the other day, and it’s been hectic. They put a call out for you and a male, which I’ve been sifting and trying to redirect.”

She had been a bank representative before I helped move her into a more fulfilling career opportunity. While selfish of me, Sydni has a natural talent and has helped a lot of people. Now, she was a dispatcher for the City of Sidence.

“The male…” She was pushing.

“What about him?”

“His description, by the Goddess.” I had tried my damnedest not to think about him and how stupidly attractive he was.

His skin was a light shade of ebony, with silky, slightly wavy hair pulled over one shoulder, exposing the other side that was shaved. The sharp features of his clearly shaven face, from his jawline to his nose, fucking Beyond, I wanted to sit on it. Fluffy dark eyebrows that complimented his piercing crimson eyes.

The scar on his right eye is a tattoo because I know Vampires don’t succumb to mutilation of their skin. I can’t help but be curiousas to why he would do that.

I saw the tattoos on his neck, and suspected that there were more. His hand, the one that grabbed me around my throat, had the marking of Achille.

“What about him?” I finally respond.

“Uhhh—” she drew out the word for so long I was at the next stop before she finally continued, “is he not as delicious as he sounds? “

I roll my eyes and lean against the pole. There are plenty of seats, but I have to stay on my toes. I know I am being followed, but I don’t want to make it obvious that I am aware of it. That and these trains can get packed pretty quickly. I refuse to be suffocated and confined in a sea of people. Talk about an anxiety attack—I need to be able to escape if a rush of bodies comes in, which I can't do if I’m seated.

“Yes, he was delicious looking, Syd. Doesn’t make him not a dead man.”

Though, unlike his partner, I may feed on him first. His scent of cinnamon and spice, and a lingering fruity flavor, is glued to my tongue. Which I can’t tell if I’m angered about, or okay with. It’s not distracting, but I doubt I’ll enjoy feeding on anyone until I’ve had it.

“Too bad,” she coos, “can I still come over t—”

“Shh,” I cut her off. “If it’s on my calendar, yes.”

“Can you confirm if it’s on your calendar?” I can tell she has that stupid-ass smile on her face.

“When I get home, yes, I’ll text you.” I end up just hanging the phone up. I’m aware she called me to let me know of my name coming up at work. If there was anything else, we could talk about it over text.

Speaking of, incoming text message.

Buzz. Buzz.

Insatiable.

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