Page 36 of Dead & Dating
I step forward as well, shadows beginning to dance at my fingertips. "And that's why I decided to have a little fun with your soul. After all, you gave it up so easily. And the demon you gave it to gave it up with just a little bit of a trade."
Liora backs up until she hits the wall. "That deal should be null and void!"
My grin widens. "Unfortunately, it's not."
I twist my hand, manipulating the chaos energy that now includes a piece of her soul. We all watch as Liora clutches her chest, her eyes going wide with sudden, overwhelming terror. The fear I'm pouring into her is primal, the kind that makes her lizard brain scream danger in every possible way.Everythingwill terrify her.Everything.
Esme leans forward. "What are you doing to her?"
"I'm letting her feel the terror you felt."
Liora screams, pure terror in her eyes, the kind that comes from facing something incomprehensible and knowing there's no escape. The mere idea of darkness will render her unable to think of anything else. It’ll take time to fully consume her but once it does, she won’t be able to do anything else than curl into herself.
Esme hums as she studies her sister. "I really thought you poisoned me. That was the only explanation for falling down the stairs like I did."
Liora's words come out in gasps between screams. "He gave me the donut to give to you! I don't know anything more! It was supposed to have worked, you bitch!"
"Well, killing me made me the perfect Omega for my men, so you didn't do shit, Liora. I hope you enjoy the rest of your terror-fueled life."
Liora stumbles toward the door, still clutching her chest, and pulls out her phone with shaking hands. She dials 911, and when the operator answers, she screams into the earpiece, each wordmore incoherent than the last. I don’t even have to tell Esme to move to a safer spot, out of the way so that we don’t confuse the general public. Within minutes, police sirens wail in the distance.
When the officers arrive, Liora all but admits to them that she killed Esme. The words tumble out in her panic, confessions mixed with terror-induced rambling. The officers exchange glances, clearly unsure what to make of the situation but unable to ignore an admission of guilt. One of them meets my eyes, mouthing ‘did she just admit to murder?’
"Ma'am, you're going to have to come with us,” another one of them mentions.
I hold back a laugh as they lead her away, the bitch still screaming with every step. I usually enjoy these moments but for some reason, that feltstrange. Maybe I’ll be happier when it’s truly over and her last heartbeat passes.
Once they're gone, Esme turns to me. "How long does that last, that terror?"
I grin. "Forever, until her heart gives out. She'll probably be sent to a psych ward, but it'll be worth it."
Milo comes up behind her again, bouncing on his toes. "I'll make sure to check on her, give her a few things to be scared of to hasten the process."
Esme's expression shifts to something contemplative. "It doesn't feel like enough."
Duske moves in closer, wrapping a strong arm around her waist and kissing the top of her head. "She's promised to Lucifer when she gets down there. He needs a new plaything."
Esme's eyes widen. "So she gets to have sex with the devil?"
Duske chuckles and then swallows the sound. "Dove,no. Lucifer tortures his playthings. He uses them as examples. She's going to suffer every goddamn day for the rest of eternity."
Esme grins, the expression genuine and satisfied. "Oh, that's perfect then."
More laughter echoes through the house that used to be hers, the place where she died, now the place where her sister's fate was sealed.
Chapter 23
Esme
I run my fingers across my new bonding mark, tracing the intricate design etched into my shoulder. The pumpkin and scythe are intertwined in a way that's both playful and permanent, a physical reminder of the men who chose me. The skin is still slightly raised, tender to the touch, but not painful. Just present, always there, always reminding me that I belong to them and they belong to me.
Milo presses a kiss to it, his lips gentle against the sensitive skin. The touch sends a pleasant shiver down my spine, warmth spreading through my chest. We're still packing up the house a few days later, and I'm sad to say goodbye to this place despite everything that happened here. But at least now I get to make sure that all the things I wanted to keep are coming with me. Mom's china that Liora tried to throw away, the photo albums from our childhood, the little knick-knacks that hold memories I'm not ready to let go of yet. Even the living room furniture is coming with us, and I couldn’t be happier.
Vesper leans against my bedroom door, watching us with those hazel eyes that always seem to see right through me. I look up at him and can't help but smile. He's been different since the bonding, softer somehow, like he's finally allowed himself to relax now that I'm truly theirs.
I step up to him and wrap my arms around his waist, burying my face in his chest. He smells like sweet darkness, that intoxicating scent that's become as familiar as my own. I tilt my head back to kiss him, pouring everything I feel into the gesture.
"I love you. I love you so goddamn much."
