Page 17 of Blood and Magic
“Aw, fuck.” I rolled onto my side and stuffed my face into the pillows.
My phone rang again, chirping the same annoying sound that had pulled me out of my dream. I glanced at the caller ID and sent it to voicemail.
Liam can fuck off.
A knock at the door startled me, and I lifted my head.
“Yes?” My throat felt like I’d swallowed an entire volcano.
“Miss,” said Ellen, one of our family’s staff who had worked for us since I was little. “Breakfast is ready. Shall I bring you a plate?”
“No.” I groaned and collapsed back on my pillows, debating whether I wanted to get up and eat at the table like a normal person or starve until the hangover passed. Carbs would probably help soak up the drunk, so I got out of bed, changed into PJs, wrapped a robe around myself, and grimaced at the state of my reflection. My hair stuck out at odd angles; I hadn’t bothered to remove the pins that held the top bits in place. My mascara had smudged on one side, and big, heavy bags hung under my eyes like saddlebags.
Well, screw it.
My family was already gone. I had no one to impress. Stuffing my feet into slippers, I opened the door and shuffled down the hallway toward the stairs, gripping the railing for dear life as I descended. My head spun and throbbed in time with my heart, and my stomach rolled with each step, like I might vomit if I jostled it too much.
Ugh, I’m never drinking again.
Rubbing my hands over my face, I lumbered into the dining room…only to freeze at the sight of the person sitting opposite my normal spot.
Van…
Er…Mill…
He glanced up at my approach, freshly showered and dressed for the day. He wore his leather cut, proudly announcing him as a member of the Royal Bastards Motorcycle Club, which matched the black cowboy hat sitting next to his silverware. Mill ran the length of me with his gaze, his features maintaining the same cold, stoic marble he’d had when I first saw him yesterday.
Great. Just freaking great.
This would be my luck to show up hungover, disheveled, looking like hell, and here he sat, as gorgeous as ever. Of course, his eyes held a sinister darkness, and his cheeks had sunken in, making him seem malicious, like a monster from a horror movie.
“Morning,” he said with a hint of a growl.
Gulping, I stepped forward and cleared my throat to reply. “Good morning.”
He sipped his coffee, and I zeroed in on his soft lips curled around the mug.
Stop that.
I quickly glanced away as Ellen entered the room to pour my coffee. She set a plate in front of me, the smell of eggs and fried tomatoes making my stomach churn. I lifted the creamer and poured a tiny bit into my coffee before using the spoon to stir it, purposely ignoring how Vermillion stared at me. The silence drifted on.
Typically, the ranch hands didn’t eat breakfast with us, and since Orion had started, he and Sol had moved out to the manager’s cabin near the bunks on the back property. They rarely joined us for meals anymore. Seeing Mill had startled me, and as the deafening quiet continued, I wondered why he was here. By the time I set in on my eggs, I was anxious for someone to join us and break the tension. I swallowed down the protein-rich food and sipped my caffeine.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I finally met his gaze and raised my eyebrows.
“What?” I asked.
“What?” He set his coffee down and leaned back in his chair.
“What are you doing here? Why are you staring at me?”
For a moment, he said nothing, just continued the glare that had me itching to squirm in my seat.
He cleared his throat and set his coffee mug down.
“I thought we should set a few things straight.”
“Okay?” I stabbed another piece of egg with my fork and brought it to my lips, forcing it down, willing my stomach not to heave up everything I was putting in it. My headache had only worsened with all this talking, so I sipped my coffee.
