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They’re just as hungry as the rest of us.

I follow Viktor through the trees, past two women getting their freak on in a coffin. The tang of iron gets stronger the deeper we dive into the shadows, walking past a pile of fake corpses. Then, there lies the real one. Not too far off from the morbid decoration, looking like it belongs there. Like it crawled away from the crudely piled heap of bodies.

It’s absolute carnage; the man is missing a leg, the top of his head, and his… Ugh, I’m going to be sick. Throwing my hand over my mouth to hold back the wave of nausea, I turn away. Who would chop off a man’s penis? Even the thought of losing mine nearly brings a tear to my eye.

“Nixon, get a hold of yourself. Do you smell that?”

“The despair leaking off the dead man with no cock?”

“No,” he deadpans. “Concentrate.”

The smell is faint, but there beneath the overpowering odour of the man is something lighter…sweeter. I focus on it, letting my eyes fall shut as I heave it into my lungs. It’s delicious, but with a kick that hangs around on the back of your tongue. I’ve smelled it before, but not quite.

My eyes snap open. “Mallory?” I ask, and Viktor nods.

That spiciness is distinctly Lennox, his uncle had the same lingering tang. They were either in on this together, or Mallory carries his blood in her veins.”

“How?”

“I don’t know.” Viktor looks down at the body, mulling over what the fuck to do. I know he won’t alert anyone except Nox, especially now that both him and his girlfriend’s blood is at the scene.

“Why do you suppose she went allLorena Bobbitt?” I ask, thoroughly impressed that little thing did something like this.

“I don’t know but she probably had a good reason.” He worries his bottom lip between his teeth, and I pull it free with my thumb.

Looking into his steely eyes, I ask, “What do you want to do?”

“Take it,” he gulps, guilt heavily marring his usually stoic face.

“Then we take it.”

“I’ll go get the car,” he resolves, shoulders slightly sagging. He feels the weight of death more than anyone I’ve ever known. Pair that with Lennox being wrapped up in whatever happened here, I’m not surprised he wants to take this body. He and Oscar were close, I’m sure he wants to protect Nox now that his uncle can’t. Unfortunately for Viktor, the truth can’t be hidden from the new police captain forever.

“I’ll be here,” I reply, rocking back and forth on myfeet, dipping in and out of the shadow cast by a big pine tree.

“Don’t eat without me,” he grumbles.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, sweets.” Viktor rolls his eyes at me, and I wink in return. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he turns away from me, heading off in the direction of our hearse. Before he gets too far out of my reach, I grab the collar of his shirt, pulling him back to me. Spinning him with supernatural speed, and slamming my lips against his.

Epilogue

Ghost

Three months later.

Fuck.

She’s so goddamn pretty, it stops my heart every time I lay my eyes on her. Through the glass, I watch her studying. Face set in determination as she absorbs everything she needs to know for her upcoming test. Mallory’s tearing through this online course at an alarming pace, blazing a path to the future she’s wanted for as long as she can remember.

I introduced her to Frank, the owner and director of Crystal Creek’s funeral home, mortuary, and cemetery grounds. He hired her on the spot, agreeing to teach her and lead her through the hours needed for practical on-site experience.

“The new generation doesn’t see the importance in caring for the dead,” he said, pulling me aside while Mallory inspected the preparation table. “But I see thegleam in her eye, it’s the same one my wife has. Mallory’s meant for this, thank you for introducing us.”

I nodded. “Thank you for being so incredible with my Uncle’s viewing and funeral.”

“He was a great man,” Frank said. “It was an honour to be chosen, and have such a great man and hero forever resting on our grounds.”

To prevent getting choked up from the memories and kind words, I called over to my little siren, her eyes alight with excitement when she turned to me. “So… What do you think? Want to work with this old fart?”