Then, my gaze lands on a long table in the center of the room. Not a normal table, more like an elevated trough. My stomach drops as soon as I realize what’s in it.
There’s a female body stretched out under spotlights. Her skin is deathly pale, naked limbs arranged just so and partially submergedin viscous red liquid. No, that’s not… It can’t be… am I hallucinating?
My throat begins to close as I realize people are standing around it… staring… eating?
As I inch closer, faces come into view. A huddle of women, all tall and unnaturally thin, licking their lips that are stained deep red. I overhear a familiar voice and turn to see none other than Sienna Vale excitedly chattering to the woman beside her. “Try the blood; it’s delicious!”
What the fuck. What the fuck. What the fuck.
As I close in on the table, I catch bits and pieces of other conversations.
“It’s so realistic!”
“It’s pure art.”
“I wonder what’s on the inside.”
As I approach the edge of the table, I notice one of Sienna’s friends is holding up a large kitchen knife. She plunges the blade into the woman’s thigh before I can even think about what’s happening. My eyes go wide in pure horror. I clamp both hands over my mouth to keep myself from screaming.
She pulls the knife away, blood-red liquid filling the space where the chunk of flesh used to be. But it’s not flesh on her plate. It’s… chocolate cake?
The crowd is giggling now, dipping fingers into the pool of thick red liquid and licking them off. Plunging forks and spoons directly into the perfectly glazed frosting that looks so much like actual skin.
They act like it’s a joke, but every instinct in me screams that there’s something deeper behind it. I want to run, duck out before anyone recognizes me, especially Sienna, but I feel a hand on my shoulder before I can even move.
Then a slick, familiar voice is in my ear. “Isn’t it beautiful?” Luke murmurs. His voice is smooth as silk, completely unbothered by the events unfolding around him. “It was Sienna’s idea.”
I glance back toward the group of women surrounding the supermodel, then at him. “Are you two together now?”
He gives me a smirk that tells me he’s flattered by the question. “I guess you could say that… although we have more of an open relationship.”
“I see,” I reply, looking up at him through my lashes.
His hand still rests on my shoulder, and he gives me an assessing look, like he’s trying to solve a puzzle. “I’m surprised you came. Didn’t know Locke had a new lady.”
I huff out a single breath. “We’re not a couple. It was just one date.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Oh, in that case, come see what’s out back. That’s where the real fun is.”
Just then, a shadow falls over us and a hand clamps down over Luke’s on my shoulder. The pressure is firm enough that it actually hurts.
“Actually, we were just heading home,” a deep, possessive voice cuts in. Locke.
I jump at the sudden intrusion, and spin to see his dark eyes glaring at Luke. Luke still seems completely unfazed as a slow grin spreads across his face.
“Locke!” I say, trying not to sound too relieved.
Luke slides his hand from beneath Locke’s, though his smirk remains. “Just showing your date what real fun is. I’m sure this,” he says, gesturing to the surrounding chaos, “is a bit loud for your tastes, Locke. But some women actually prefer a little noise to the polite silence you offer.”
Locke’s eyes narrow. “She’s with me. That’s all that matters.”
“Right, right,” Luke says, chuckling.
He leans in toward me, ignoring the growing tension. “Just know the offer still stands. Something tells me you prefer some excitement to being leashed.”
Locke’s jaw tightens, and I make sure I’m positioned between them.
I turn to Luke again. “If I were you, I wouldn’t underestimate how much I might like a good leash.” I give him a playful wink. Then, turning to Locke, “Care to walk me out?”
