Page 19 of Dead & Dating
Milo sticks his tongue out at me, his forked edge flicking out briefly in a gesture that's both childish and distinctly inhuman before he pulls it back. "Whatever. You love me."
I stand fully, straightening my suit jacket and making sure I look presentable. "Actually, I don't. But Vesper and Esme do."
Laughter fills the room, the sound wrapping around me in a way that I believe home would feel like. It's been so long since this house has heard genuine laughter, and I can't help but smile softly at the sound. I lean down and press a kiss to Esme's head, her scent washes over me again, anchoring me to this moment.
"When I get back, we'll talk, okay?" I murmur against her hair, breathing her in.
She nods, her hand reaching up to squeeze mine, her fingers small and warm against my palm. "Okay."
I pull back reluctantly, meeting her gaze one last time. Those blue eyes hold so much trust, so much hope, and it makes my chest ache. Before I turn and head for the door, I let myself memorize this moment—her face, her smile, the way she looks at me like I'm not a monster. I grab my keys from the hook by the entrance and step outside, the cool early evening air hitting my face like a slap of reality.
I unlock the car and slide into the driver's seat, sitting there for a moment as I stare at the steering wheel. My hands grip the leather, and I close my eyes, trying to center myself. The weight of what I'm about to do settles over me.
"What the fuck am I doing?" I mutter aloud, my voice echoing in the empty car.
My phone rings again, the sound jarring in the quiet. I glance at the screen, already knowing who it is before I see the name.Liora. I sigh, a deep, bone-weary sound filling the space as I start the car. The engine rumbles to life, and I pull out of the driveway, letting my mind wander.
The funeral is in two days. Just two days. And if I'm not able to pull this shit off, if I can't find a way to keep Esme here with us, we won't be able to save her. She'll slip away and I'll lose her forever.
I can't let that happen. I won't.
Chapter 11
Esme
I stare at the door, watching the space where Duske just disappeared, and I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong. He looked so tense, so controlled, like he was holding himself together by a thread. I want to go after him, to tell him that whatever darkness he's worried about showing me isn't going to scare me away. But I stay where I am, sandwiched between Vesper and Milo on the couch.
Then I feel something wrap beneath the blanket around my thigh, something warm and leathery that sends a shiver up my spine. I throw the blanket off and stare down at Vesper's tail wrapped around my leg, the appendage moving with a life of its own as it tightens its grip.
I laugh, the sound bubbling up from my chest. "I thought that wasn't supposed to come out."
Vesper grins, his hazel eyes darkening. "Duske isn't here, and no one's going to know."
I meet his gaze, my heart racing with anticipation. "Show me all of it. Not just the tail."
Vesper's expression shifts, something primal flickering in his eyes, and I watch in fascination as his body begins to change. His skin darkens, taking on a black, leathery texture that gleams in the dim light of the living room. Small horns sprout from his head, curling back slightly, and his eyes shift from hazel to a deep, dark red that seems to glow from within. His fingers elongate, talons forming where his nails used to be, and his clothes simply disappear, leaving him completely naked and utterly transformed.
I gasp, not in fear, but in awe. This is Vesper, the real Vesper, the chaos demon I fell in love with without even knowing what he truly was. And he's beautiful.
But then I feel another leathery tail wrap around my arm, and I twist around to see Milo grinning at me. His grin is almost devilish now, his eyes narrowed into slits with that orange hue flickering in them. His forked tongue darts out, tasting the air, and I can't help but lean in for a kiss.
His lips meet mine and I melt into him. His tongue explores my mouth, the forked edge teasing and strange and perfect. His hands fall to my waist, pulling me closer, and then I hear a grumble from behind me.
I pull away from Milo and twist around, my breath catching in my throat. Vesper is standing now, fully transformed, and the sight of him steals every coherent thought from my mind. I reach over, my fingers trembling slightly as I run them down his chest. His skin is warmer than I expected, and the texture is smooth and firm beneath my touch.
Milo presses his heat against my back, his body pressing against mine, and then his forked tongue runs up the side of my neck. I gasp, heat building in my belly, spreading through me like wildfire. My scent blooms, Vesper's nostrils flaring in response.
"You're not scared?" Milo murmurs against my skin, his breath warm on my neck.
I shake my head, unable to tear my gaze away from Vesper's transformed form. It's everything I never knew I needed to see. "Should I be? He's gorgeous."
Milo chuckles, the sound vibrating through his chest and into my back where we're pressed together. "I don't look like that. Not really. More like Halloween."
I frown, curiosity sparking as I start to twist around to look at him. I want to see all of them, want to understand every facet of who they are. But Milo's hand comes up to gently straighten my head, keeping my gaze locked on Vesper. "Just focus on him right now, okay?"
I go to say something, to argue that I want to see all of them equally, but then my fingers slip through Vesper. One second I'm touching solid, warm skin, feeling the heat radiating from his demonic form, and the next my hand passes right through him like he's made of smoke. My eyes widen, panic flaring in my chest as I reach out instinctively to catch myself, to find something solid.
And then I slip through reality itself.
