Page 33 of Twisted
“What is that?”I can’t help but ask, seeing a tattoo on his chest.
“Oh, this?”He looks down as he carefully shrugs the shirt down his injured arm.“It’s the Malus family crest.”
Going against my better judgement, I reach out and run my finger along the outline of the coat of arms.The crest is divided into three sections, with the letter M in the section along the top and center.There’s a raven and a sword in the other sections, and the whole thing is adorned with vines and thorns.
“Wow.”
“You’ll probably get a necklace with this on it soon,” he goes on.
“Malus means bad in Latin,” I start, “so that can’t really be your last name.”
“It’s not,” he tells me with no hesitation.“Xavier changed it when we had to register.”
“Oh.”I nod, knowing a lot of vampires got to call themselves whatever they wanted when it came time to get their government-issued IDs.It’s not like there was any way to prove who they were or weren’t.
My fingers slip down his chest and I shake myself.Right.The burn on his arm.I pull the fabric down and look at it.
“You should put something on it so it doesn’t get infected.”I step back.“But it doesn't look horrible.”
“Thanks.”His eyes linger on mine and he slowly inhales as he buttons his shirt back up.“Good luck tonight.You at least look the part.”His lips twitch into a forced smile.
“Thanks, I think?”
“You’ll need it.”He winks and then leaves the room, closing the door behind him.I let out a shaky sigh and go into the bathroom, gripping the counter and leaning forward.I didn’t think I’d start to have feelings for anyone again after Ryder, so it’s on brand for the chaotic mess that is my life that the first person to give me butterflies is my brother-in-law.
“I…I don’t even know what’s going on tonight.”
He presses his lips together and shrugs.“Be glad you’re at least aware you don’t know what’s going on.Maybe?”
Our eyes lock and that same knowing feeling passes through me.
“Yeah, I guess,” I say and take in a slow breath.Devon lets his eyes linger on my face for a moment and then leaves.Letting out a sigh, I perch on the edge of my bed and close my eyes, trying to focus on my breathing.
Suck it up, buttercup.
Marco’s voice echoes in my head.Not showing emotions is a hallmark of a good hunter.We’re raised like warriors, little demon-killing machines who listen to what the Order says without question.But now Xavier’s voice is also echoing in my head, and I’m starting to look forward to actually having some time alone with my vampire husband.
“Husband,” I whisper and hold up my hand, looking at the rock on my finger that could sink a fucking ship.“Fuck, that sounds weird.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
I jump at the sound of Xavier’s voice coming from the open door.
“You need a fucking collar with bells,” I huff, shaking my head.A smile plays on his lips and I hate how handsome he is.It’s not fair how some people get everything in life: good looks, money, power, and in his case, immortality.And right now, dressed in a dark, expensive suit with his hair effortlessly swept back, he looks like a walking red flag that would break your back and your bed frame and leave you begging for more.
“Now where’s the fun in that?”He speeds into the room and extends his left hand.I notice he’s wearing a ring too.“You look stunningly beautiful,wife.”
“Thanks.You, uh, did a good job picking the dress.I was surprised.”
“Mabel helped,” he tells me.“Though I knew that color would look good on you.It brings out your eyes.”
“Most people would have put me in a green dress, then.”I take his hand and he effortlessly pulls me to my feet.His large hand is cool against mine, long fingers encasing my whole hand.
“Blue complements, not competes.”
“Yeah, that is true.”I’m standing right in front of him, breasts moving with each breath.And he’s completely still.I can’t sense any emotions coming off him like I can with humans.It’s unnerving as well as calming.Does the dark magic inside him cancel mine out?
“Before we go,” he starts and slides his hand down my arm, making me suppress a chill.Not just because his touch is cold, but because his fingertips brushing over my skin like that feels so damn good and I can’t help my mind from wondering what it would feel like if he brushed them over the rest of my body.
