The Greek Chorus freezes in horrified silence, too appalled to react.
And then—
Absolute. Fucking. Mayhem.
The shadows convulse, writhing and seething, trying to shove her off me. One coils tighter around my ribs, practically radiating a silentNope. No. Just no.while another retreats so violently that it nearly yanks me backward.
I school my expression, but the shadows don’t bother.
Vesna doesn’t notice the shadow rebellion. Or she doesn’t care. She probably just assumes they’re part of the whole “moody shadow man” aesthetic, right alongside the accent and the three-piece suits.
She’s too busy preening in a dress that probably cost more than Aurora’s entire wardrobe and book collection combined.
Aurora deserves gowns like that. Not the lukewarm meat standing in front of me.
The vampire is lovely, I’ll admit, in the same way an Elios filter is lovely. Both are cheap, empty, and polished just enough to sell lies to women who deserve better.
She’s tall and thin with shiny chestnut hair that falls past her waist and light brown eyes the color of butcher paper. Her facial features are sharp and pale, accented by the iridescent violet lips that all vampires obtain through their diet of souls. She wears a sheer satin gown with a plunging neckline that accents her small, perky tits, and shows off the tattoo of a winged menace placed right over her heart. The dress leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination.
But between her vapid personality and her utter disregard for life of any kind, Vesna is lackluster, to say the least.
“Ah, you flatter me, Ezra. I knew you were coming tonight and wanted to see you again. I remember the last time you were here. You’re very handsome, and the way you handled Renato made me want to get on my knees for you. I thought we might have some fun tonight since my husband is out of the country and I’m all alone. It gets quite lonely here,” Vesna whimpers.
Her violet lips curl into a wicked smile, framing her fangs.
She’s talking, I think.
I wouldn’t know.
I’m currently being strangled by my own shadows.
When she stands on her tiptoes and nips at my neck, they lose their fucking minds.
One slaps at her face while others claw up my jaw, recoiling with silent, seething horror. The rest just vibrate, trembling with pure, violent indignation.
I peel her off me as gently as possible, and she pouts, somehow playing the victim in a situation she caused.
Meanwhile, the simp collective won’t stop losing their ever-loving shit.
“Vesna,” I say slowly, swallowing down the urge to vomit. “I’m honored by your words, but I’m only here to collect the notes Renato left and to get the location of my sibling and your vampire. I’m determined to pay my debt, as promised.”
I flash her a forced smile, while a shadow drags across my stomach in a motion that can only be described as dry heaving.
“Oh, you needn’t bother with any of that, Ezra. I will cancel your debt if you spend the night with me. You’ll no longer be obligated to rescue Luca. You’ll have your notes and can go home in the morning, provided I am fully satisfied.”
Vesna steps closer, brushing her tits against my chest.
The off-off-off Broadway poltergeists recoil like I just canceled opening night. A tendril curls tight around my collarbone, flexing beneath my skin. The rest cinch around my gut, so tight it aches.
I close my eyes and inhale slowly. Violence won’t solve this, even if it would be fun to remove Vesna’s limbs and make her beg me to put her back together. But I need those notes. I must get home to Aurora.
“You flatter me, Vesna, but Renato holds my debt, not you. I’m afraid I must honor the deal I made withhimto mediate the release of his son. A new deal with you does not mean I’ve honored my deal with Renato. I would appreciate not being treated like a goddamn fool.”
I grind my teeth until my jaw pops. The absolute audacity of this disgusting woman is almost sad.
My shadows seethe. They curl tighter, sharpening under my skin, begging to be turned loose.
One coils near my ear. Not playful. Not teasing. Just cold.
