Jeffrey’s mouth thinned into a flat line. “Many would say that you didn’t have a choice either,” he argued, “but there was a time when I made a kill that I shouldn’t have.” He took a deep breath, as though to compose himself. “It was before I worked for Andrew, when I was working for a more mi
A week after our discussion at my apartment, I sat on Andrew’s lap in his home office as he read reports about the latest vampiric attacks. I tried to not look at the computer screen, worried that images of the victims might trigger one of my attacks. Fortunately, the Newton’s cradle on Andrew’s des
“I am well aware, but my girlfriend has not had the displeasure of dealing with your kind beyond the most recent threats to her life, so I believe she might be in the dark still.” I nodded, trying to not let my ignorance make me embarrassed. Mr. Barone grinned. “Innocence, how adorable.
Five minutes later, Parker entered the home office. “He is gone, Your Highness,” he said. Andrew released a small breath of relief. “Thank you, Parker. You are dismissed.” With a nod and a bow to each of us, Parker departed the room, leaving Andrew and me alone once more. Andrew
A couple days after Andrew introduced me to the Special Guard, Lily called me to tell me that she was in town for a few days. She was looking to get out for a few hours, and she wanted to catch up on everything that she had missed while traveling the world. We arranged to have a girls’ night out, wi
George Black spoke into the microphone sewn into the neck of his shirt. “White Wolf and company have been secured. Has the target been apprehended?” There was silence as George Black listened to his earpiece. “Very good,” he said. “White Wolf and company on the move.” He turned his a
The sniper was tight-lipped. Even under interrogation, he refused to budge, not answering a single question, let alone telling the police whom he served. There was nothing that they could offer him, not protection or leniency, that would get him to talk. Fortunately, the tattoo on his neck gave
The day after Bianchi was arrested, Andrew and I ate dinner at the mansion. We had pot roast, steamed carrots and broccoli, and pumpkin pie to celebrate the crime boss’s imprisonment. With Bianchi off the streets—at least until his trial—I could breathe a sigh of relief. Mostly. There was st
That night, long after the last of the guests had left for their rooms, Andrew and I returned to the presidential suite to find that the staff had decorated it in preparation for our stay. All the décor, right down to the bed sheets, had been switched out for matching red and gold pieces. The light
Andrew’s eyes met mine as I approached the altar. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He looked so handsome in his classic black tuxedo that I could hardly wait for after the reception to be with him. As I took my place across from Andrew, I handed my bouquet to Lily. The priestess bega
One month later, I stood in a suite at a private beachside resort, admiring my wedding dress. It hugged my curves in all the right places while still gently brushing against the ground like a low-hanging cloud. Crystals glistened in the room’s fluorescent lights, and the train flowed behind me effor
“Let’s continue this in the bedroom,” I said, breathless. Andrew nodded his agreement. I pulled Andrew to his feet as he stuck the ring box back in his pocket. Then I dragged him back to the bedroom, leading him by the tie. Not that he needed to be dragged; he would have followed me anywhere by th
Andrew texted me and said his flight was delayed by a few errands he had to run, so I waited. And waited. I waited for an entire day, and even began to worry that Andrew had changed his mind. Then I heard a knock at my door. I leapt off the couch and rushed to answer it. Stopping just short of the
Noah left the next day. I took him to the airport, we exchanged a hug and a brief farewell, and then I watched him walk through the gate. That was the last time I ever saw him. With a heavy heart, I returned to an empty apartment. All our furniture and my belongings—what little I still had—were the
Sensing the urgency in Noah’s voice, I leaned in closer. “What is it?” I asked, trying to suppress the anticipation in my voice. Noah’s grip on my hands tightened. “I’m going to study financial law in the human world.” I froze. My heart thumped hard against my ribs, so hard that I thought th
The nightmares did not stop. In fact, they got worse. By the end of that week, I was having at least one every night, and it was showing in behavior during the day. I could scarcely stay awake. At my new branch of Ever After Weddings, I had to sneak off into the breakroom whenever there were no cu
I dreamt of the Lunar Festival. Noah and I walked hand-in-hand through the stalls, enjoying the sparkling lights and the company of our new pack mates. Yet something was off. I could feel a chill in the air, a foreboding that I could not quite shake off. “We should get out of here,” I said, tryi