Page 21 of A Kiss From Death
“The mighty Cardinal. Can’t wait to see if the rumors floating around Fallout are true. For your sake, I hope they aren’t. You can stop by my room later for a measure, and we can set the rumors straight—if you want, that is. You know what they say: everything always has a slice of truth to it,” Aeron spews cooly.
“My name is in their mouths, so it sounds like I’m winning.” He huffs, then grabs my arm, spinning me abruptly and pulling me towards the door. “Wish I could say the same about the name Gavis, unfortunately for you.”
I’m forced to follow Hade down the long hallway back to my room. “What was that all about?” I question while trying to keep my feet under me with the brutal pace he’s setting.
“Someone needed to set that cocky fucker straight. Today, that man just happened to be me,” he grunts.
“Uh huh, sure,” I say on a breath. “Because it sounded to me like you guys were having a pissing contest over who got to escort me back to my room.”
“I think the Fire Water has gone to that pretty head of yours.”
I give him a feline smile. “I think this pretty head of mine has never been clearer. And since when do you compliment me?”
He continues dragging me down the hallway, attempting to look calm and collected. “Since never. When did I compliment you?”
“You just said I had apretty head.” I look over at him as the side of my mouth tugs up a smidge.
“That wasn’t a compliment, just a statement. Trust me, you would know if I complimented you. It would be far grander than that. I don’t take words lightly. I can count the number of times I have complimented someone. It would rival the stars on the clearest night in Lunaria.”
“That’s a high standard to hold yourself to. I might just make it my life’s mission to see it happen. Add it to my long list of things to accomplish.” I trail off, thinking of Theo and why I’m here. Before my brain can spiral out of control and get sucked back into the dark corner of my heart that harbors all my pain and heartbreak, I pin Hade with a devious look.
“So, what’s up with all the growling?”
“Growling?” He’s taken off guard. “What do you mean?”
“You know, that noise you make every time you’re annoyed or angry? Which is, like, all the time. You should really try and lighten up, you know. I can see wrinkles starting to take up permanent residence on that pretty face of yours from all the scowling.” I can’t help but tease him as my drink hums happily through my body.
“I do not.” His face turns serious, but I can also see a hint of worry behind his mask of indifference.
Checkmate.
I giggle to myself and then point at him. “That, sir, you absolutely do. You could become a professional growler at this point. I bet you could make a pretty coin too.”
Hade growls then huffs at his realization of what he just did yet again, and then he growls in annoyance.
I throw my hands in the air. “Wait, don’t tell me. You didn’t know you do this…often? You need to lay off some steam. I’ve heard sex works wonders.” My giggle turns into a boisterous laugh, and I feel lighter than I have in months.
“My steam is just fine, thank you very much. Let’s get you to bed before you wake up the whole damn castle.” The side of his lip inches up the smallest amount, and my breath hitches in mythroat. His smirk reminds me all too well of a certain smile that will forever be imprinted on my brain.
“Do that again.” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop myself.
“Do what,Nightmare?” he questions me honestly, no malice behind my nickname for once.
“Smile for me again,” I ask, holding my breath in anticipation.
“Only because you asked nicely, and you won’t remember this in the morning.” He slows his steps and pins me with his beautifully tragic polar eyes, giving me a genuine, unguarded smile that thaws the smallest sliver of the ice around my cold, mangled heart.
Its beauty embodies the first flake of snow, a one of a kind snowflake you want to treasure forever but admire from afar so you don’t destroy the moment and ruin it.
“Thank you for that.” My voice is barely a whisper.
“Don’t go soft on me now, Nyxi.”
My name tumbles off his lips like a sonnet and takes me by surprise. He never calls me by my name, and now, I don’t want him to call me by anything but. The way he enunciates each letter, as if handling my name with care…he makes it sound special and treasured.
“Never.” I grin up at him and shove my shoulder into his side playfully.
“You better shove harder than that tomorrow, or you won’t make it past the first round.” He’s suddenly serious, almost on edge.
