Page 38 of This Ravenous Fate
Mr. Saint shot her a fierce glare.
Mr. Wayne’s smile wilted a bit. “We’ve paused on that venture since Miss Gray’s untimely passing.”
For a moment, Elise considered bringing up Theo Smith. But her father spoke first, “I recognize that look, my pearl. It is the exact look you gave me before you told me about the Quinns’ plans to work with the Harlem reapers all those years ago.”
The pain his words stirred in her was so intense, she had to look away.
Mr. Wayne looked thoughtful for a moment. He regarded Elisewith a gentle pity that only made her more nervous. “Reapers corrupt everything they touch. I’m funding Dr. Harding’s research on how their proximity affects humans. He believes they are spreading a poison we have yet to fully understand. But if we can find out what it is, maybe we can put a stop to it before things get worse around here.”
Elise’s lips parted with surprise. America had been drowning in the damnation of reapers for generations. Perhaps someone like Stephen Wayne, with his money and genuine promises, was not so bad. Maybe he could create new light in this darkened world.
“Darling,” Mr. Saint addressed his wife in a soft tone. “I think today is a lovely day for you and Elise to explore the new shops. You haven’t spent enough time together lately.”
Elise cleared her throat. “I have to meet with Layla to continue our investigation. I’m sorry, Mother.”
But Analia Saint nodded her understanding. “Next time, my love.”
Elise turned back to her father, who gave her a smug, tight smile. “Good job,” he said.
***
The gun at Elise’s hip made her feel like an impostor. All Saint members carried guns, and while Elise knew she would need to do the same as her father’s successor, the weight of such a deadly weapon never felt normal.
She was waiting in the alley across the street from the HotelClarice. Not quite on reaper territory, but not in Saint provinces either. She pulled her gun out, finger poised on the trigger just like Sterling had taught her.Always be prepared.
Minutes passed, and still there was no sign of Layla. Elise was beginning to wonder whether she should walk into the hotel when a shadow passed over her. She looked up, free hand blocking the sunlight from her eyes. She could have sworn someone was in the alley with her.
The silence became a deafening roar as she peered around. Finally she lowered her gun. She closed her eyes and slumped against the wall, exhaling. She traced a cross over the gun’s handle once, twice, then again and again until it felt right.
Then she felt the air move beside her.
“Miss me?”
Elise scrambled away from the wall, gun raised. Layla stood facing the barrel. She had her hands on her hips and grinned despite the gun staring her down. Elise lowered her weapon and glared. “I almost shot you.”
Layla said nothing, but slinked closer to Elise, who glared and stepped back until she hit the alley wall. Still, Layla closed in, moving into Elise’s space, their faces now inches apart.
Elise used the last bit of space she had to shove the gun into Layla’s chin, but the reaper didn’t flinch. She kept smiling. Elise was aware of how close they were, how Layla bracketed her arms on either side of her, forming a cage.
The reaper’s warm breath feathered against Elise’s collarbone,and her heartbeat quickened. But not from fear. She stared Layla in the eye, her stare only dipping when Layla’s lips parted. The contrast of the sharp fang peeking from behind her pillow-soft lips made Elise’s breath stall in her chest. And she continued to watch her lips as they moved to form words.
“I don’t think you did, actually,” Layla said. She eyed the revolver, then dragged her gaze up Elise’s face slowly, as if studying her design.
Elise finally met her eyes again and almost immediately, Layla backed off.
The instant relief of pressure nearly made her drop the gun. Elise followed Layla out of the alley, her hands a shaky mess on the handle, now slippery from her sweat. “Next time,” Elise muttered.
Layla shot her a sideways glance. “Would it be so bad if you did shoot me? You could leave me to bleed out on the cold ground. You did seem to enjoy doing that the first time.” Layla’s tone was surprisingly light.
“I wasn’t the one…” Elise’s jaw tightened. She stared ahead, already counting down the minutes until she could be alone again. “I would never leave you to die on your own. In fact…” The words came to her in a heated rush. “I’ve been dreaming of what it would be like to squeeze your heart in my hands. I want to feel your last beat of life seep between my fingers.”
Layla stopped walking then. Her dark eyes roamed over Elise’s stony expression and the corner of her mouth twitched. “You might be more reaper than me.”
Elise chose to ignore that insult. They continued down the street,Layla following closely behind her long strides with shorter strides of her own. Her mind raced as she tried to remember what she’d meant to tell Layla, back before that little game in the alley took place.
Finally it came to her. “Stephen Wayne joined my family at breakfast this morning—”
“I’m bored, Saint—”
