Page 18 of A Kiss From a Revenant
I can practically hear his horrid thoughts. He’s thanking his good fortune for coming across such a sight. A lone woman—beautiful and alluring—in need of help along a secluded road. In his haste to have her, he will not realize that a monster lurks in her shadow, ready to strike. She commands me to kill, and I am all too happy to oblige.
The hunger inside me roars, needing to spill his blood this instant. Still, I wait for her signal—ever the humble servant.
“I’m sorry,” Nory says, tears pooling in her eyes. Ever the convincing actress. “It’s just I’m all alone and I don’t know?—”
“Hush,” Peter purrs. “You are safe now. I’ll escort you back to town.”
Nory swipes at her eyes with the sleeve of her scarlet gown. Her cloak has fallen entirely off her shoulders, and the gown molds to each supple curve. Lord Peter takes notice, as do I. Nory smiles at the man, but there is an edge to it that the other man is all too happy to ignore.
“Really?”
“Of course.” His eyes turn heated as his hand raises to touch her cheek. “My, what a beautiful young woman you’ve turned into. I remember when you and my wife were just girls.”
Anger flashes in her verdant gaze, but she remains composed. I want to flay him alive for daring to touch her soft skin. She is mine—the only hands to touch her will be mine.
“T—thank you, sir.”
With a sigh, Lord Peter’s hand drifts lower and locks around her upper arm. Nory’s eyes go wide at the touch, and she gently tries to pull back.
“Lord Peter?”
“Hush now, my sweet. Now, don’t you want to show me a little gratitude for my help?”
“I—no. Stop!”
Nory shoves against his hold. Her small hands connect with his chest, but it is of no use. His other hand wraps around her back, pinning her to him.
“Be quiet!” he hisses. “Don’t make a sound while?—”
I can stomach no more and launch myself from the treeline. The frosty grass crunches under my feet, but neither one of them notices I’ve moved until I am upon them. With a roar, I ripthe man from Nory. He cannot get a word out before I have him pinned to a nearby tree. His eyes are wild, and I let mylifefireroar into an inferno. The flames bathe his face in harsh shadows.
“I—I?—”
The man blubbers in my grip, the scent of urine covering up the potent smell of his fear. My eyes go to Nory, who stands nearby. Her eyes are wide—not in fear but in excitement. Her gaze locks with mine, and she nods.
“Do it.”
I snarl, pushing his head back. My lips find his ear.
“You will die here. The birds will feed on your corpse, and you will become nothing.” Lord Peter fights me, but it is of no use. “No one will remember you.”
Lord Peter jolts towards me, and there is an odd pressure in my stomach. Pulling back from him slightly, I glimpse the polished handle of a dagger now protruding from my abdomen. Nory gasps as I wrap a hand around the blood and pull. Dark blood coats the sharp end.
I chuckle darkly before tossing it into the ground beside me.
“Foolish mortal,” I hiss. “I cannot be killed. Not like that.”
The other man’s eyes go wide with fear—his final expression as I sink my teeth into the fleshy skin of his neck. I drink down his putrid blood. His vile soul has tainted it, and compared to Nory’s, it nearly makes me gag. Still, I drink and drink until he goes cold in my arms. Once I’ve had my fill, I drop him.
His body hits the ground with a thud—his eyes open towards the moon, but he sees nothing.
Turning from his body, I nearly tumble into Nory. She’s close—almost as close as she was to me the previous night. Her eyes are wide with worry, not for Lord Peter but for me as she gently touches my wound. My hand comes down atop hers, and she shivers.
“Are you alright?” she asks, eyes staring up at me in wonder.
“Fine. Already healed.” I press her hand to the closed skin in confirmation.
Nory sighs, her shoulders sagging.
