Page 65 of Bite Marks & Broken Hearts

“The fish interpretation was clearly secondary.” Priya waved her hand dismissively. “The romantic energy is much stronger. See these swirling patterns here? Classic signs of passion and—”

“Really fascinating stuff about the fish, though,” I cut in, desperately avoiding Seb’s gaze. “ProperJawsvibes. Very scary. Much more likely than any… other interpretations.”

Seb’s low chuckle sent a rather delicious shiver down my spine. “Priya’s readings do tend to fixate on romance. Last month she told Kit he’d meet a mysterious dark-haired stranger who’d sweep him off his feet.”

“And he did!” Priya protested.

“He fell down some stairs and a paramedic with black hair helped him up.” Seb’s gaze lingered on me, a hint of mischief playing across his features. “Though I suppose we shouldn’t dismiss Priya’s romantic predictions so quickly. After all…” He stepped closer, and my breath caught. “Herobservationsabout new connections have proven rather accurate lately.”

My stomach instantly exploded with rabid butterflies. The word choice wasn’t accidental—he was definitely referencing our conversation from the other night. But just what was he playing at, flirtingonce more?

Priya’s eyes darted between us, her eyebrows climbing steadily higher.

“Right!” Seb straightened suddenly, breaking the moment. “I need to head out for a few hours. Priya, you’re still able to stay until I return?”

“Of course.”

“Where are you—” I clamped my lips shut.

“Just a meeting.” Seb shrugged on his coat with fluid grace. Tonight’s skinny tie was slightly different—a sleek, dark silk that caught the light when he moved.

My heart stuttered. A meeting?Right.With who? He’d said he didn’t date humans, but what if he had a throng of vampire lovers? Some eternally beautiful creature who shared his darkness, understood his hunger in ways I never could?

The thought of him with someone else—someone supernaturally special and far more sophisticated than me—left me feeling hollow, like someone had scooped out my insides with a rusty spoon.

I was so very mortal and very ordinary. What could I possibly offer someone like him anyway? A boring, average human who’d barely left their tiny fishing village for the past decade.

Not that it mattered. He’d made it clear nothing could happen between us. Even though he kept flirting, the absolute dickhead. Still, watching him straighten his collar, about to leave to meet a mysterious someone… it filled me with nausea.

“Well, I’ll be here later!” I cringed at my desperate tone. “You know… because I sort of live here.” Until they sorted the demon problem or I died. “For now.”

Smooth Flynn. Real smooth.That’ll definitely make him forget whatever vampire sex god he’s rushing off to meet.

Seb pressed his lips together, clearly fighting a smile. He fussed with the coat on his arm, smoothing the fabric down. “I’ll try not to keep you waiting too long.”

My heart did a little flip at his words, though his tone remained neutral.

“Good luck with your meeting,” I managed, aiming for casual and failing spectacularly.

He turned and strode out without looking back, his footsteps fading down the corridor.

“Well, well, well.” Priya’s voice dripped with amusement. “Those tea leaves are never wrong.”

13

Sebastián

The London streets blurred past as I hurried towards my meeting with Greaves. A week without proper sustenance had left me raw, desperate—a state I despised. It had been torture, rationing what little blood I had, and now hunger clawed at my insides, making me eye every human who passed by.

I’d been avoiding Flynn on and off for days. My gnawing emptiness made it impossible to be near him without imagining biting into that sweet neck of his. His scent permanently lingered in my memory, though some of that could be the fault of keeping my cinnamon bun close to me.

I’d already decided that tomorrow, it was surely my turn again to be with Flynn all day, as long as I obtained at least ten blood bags tonight.

Besides, I needed a replacement bun. Not only had I had several more licks of my current one, it now had a Freddy-sized chunk missing from it.

What a surprise,I chastised myself. Because I was thinking about Flynnyet again.

My traitorous thoughts kept drifting against my will to Flynn at any opportunity. His laugh. The way his fingers always seem to find mine when he passed me something. His magnetic energy. The way he’d felt in my arms when he pressed his head against my chest. The trust in his eyes before Eliza’s attack shattered it.

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