Page 139 of Bite Marks & Broken Hearts

Seb released my thumb with a soft pop. “Yes. The effects are even more powerful.”

“Ah, so that’s why you like my blood so much.” I aimed for lightness but failed.

A flash of thunder across his face. “Flynn.” He caught my face between his hands, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Your blood sang to me even before you got yourself marked by that cambion. I meant what I wrote in my diary you so boldly peeked at.” His thumb traced my bottom lip. “That night at Wilde Card, watching you dance… I wanted you right then. Especially in that ludicrous jumper with all the holes.”

“Hey, that jumper was expensive.”

“I’m afraid you got severely scammed, angel.”

My heart warmed at the endearment, but then Seb’s phone, lying near a chimney pipe, vibrated, making me flinch. I almost asked him not to get it, wanting to extend this perfect moment a little longer.

Tutting, Seb reached for it. He held it above him, the notification clear on the screen:

Felix

Can I turn the rooftop cameras back on now? And how about a little warning next time?

A burst of pure, gut-wrenching mortification shot through me before I descended into hysterical laughter, clutching my sides as tears formed in my eyes. “Oh god,” I wheezed, rolling onto my back. “How traumatised is Felix going to be? He’ll never look me in the eye again.”

Seb groaned, throwing an arm over his face. “I should buy him a new computer. Or five.”

Seb’s laugh rumbled through his chest. I shifted, sitting up to see London’s skyline stretching out before us, a tapestry of twinkling lights that seemed to mirror the stars above.

“Come on,” he said, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple. “Let’s get you into the actual warmth and start grovelling to Felix.”

“Fine,” I sighed dramatically, but made no move to get up. “But I demand hot chocolate as compensation.”

“Hot chocolate,” he promised. “And then we’ll face Felix together.”

“My hero,” I teased, but the words felt more sincere than I’d intended.

I tugged my clothes on slowly, trying not to wince as almost every part of my body ached. Then we made our way down the narrow stairwell, my legs still wobbly. The old floorboards creaked beneath our feet, a familiar symphony I’d grown oddly fond of. At the bottom, Seb pulled me close for one more lingering kiss that made my toes curl against the carpet.

“Perhaps we should face Felix first.”

“No, definitely hot chocolate first,” I insisted. “I need fortification before dealing with that particular horror.”

As if summoned by his name, Felix’s voice crackled through the ancient intercom system. “I can hear you, you know. And yes, hot chocolate first. I need time to bleach my brain, anyway.”

I buried my face in Seb’s shoulder, caught between embarrassment and uncontrollable giggles. “Sorry, Felix!”

“No you’re not,” came the dry response.

“No,” I agreed, meeting Seb’s dark eyes. “I’m really not.”

Seb’s answering smile was worth every bit of embarrassment we’d face. Worth everything.

The comfortable silence lasted a mere second, until Seb went rigid beside me, his whole body tensing like a cat about to pounce. His head cocked to one side as he stared down the corridor.

My laughter died in my throat. “What is it?”

“The phone in my office is ringing.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “And it most certainly shouldn’t be.”

28

Sebastián

The phone’s ring pierced my skull with crystalline clarity. Flynn’s blood coursed through my system, heightening every sensation to an excruciating degree—the mechanical whir of the rotary dial’s spring unwinding, the clatter of brass bells striking their dome.

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