Page 36 of A Kiss From Death (Oath of Vengeance #1)

“ Y ou should have seen Winston’s face when I told him there was an orange shortage in Lunaria,” Des wheezes next to me, snuggled under the covers of my bed, same as me.

Each night, she shows up with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and two books tucked under her arm.

We read in my bed, shoulder to shoulder like inseparable sisters while giggling over the books.

I don’t know where she finds them, but at this point, I’m so invested, I don’t care.

Anything to take my mind off this cruel world is welcome.

Each night with her heals me the smallest amount.

We nibble on the strawbana bread I bring from Knead It and plot new ways to annoy Winston.

“I wish I was there to see it. I’m sure he acted like the world was ending.” I laugh softly while knocking my shoulder into hers, sending her into another fit of hysteric giggles.

Holding her palm to her chest, she tries to calm herself.

“You would have thought the pants he was wearing were on fire. I eventually had to tell him I was kidding because he started to have a panic attack. Can someone say dramatic !” She sings out the last word at the top of her lungs, and I have to cover my ears before she ruptures my ear drums.

She winces. “Sorry. Sometimes, I forget how to use my inside voice. I’m just a girl with a big personality.” She pulls me into a tight hug that constricts my breathing and plants a big sloppy kiss on my cheek. Pulling away, I drag my hand down my face, wiping the spit away.

“Too much?” she asks.

“Too much,” I respond with a laugh.

“But you still love me?” she pleads with big pouty eyes.

I playfully roll my eyes. “Yes, I still love you.”

She beams back at me, and I can’t help but get swept up in her positive orbit. She’s everything I wish to be one day: strong, independent, loyal. She loves fiercely and is unapologetically herself. She’s my hero.

She lets out a loud yawn next to me, stretching her arms above her head. “I think it’s about time this rollie pollie rolls on back to her own bed. I have a date with the rest of this book…and maybe my hand.” She wiggles her fingers, and I groan as I shove her out of my bed.

She skips to my door, laughing the whole way, and then turns serious. “Always and tomorrow?” she questions me.

I nod back with a genuine smile. “Always and tomorrow, Des.”

She strides out my door, humming to herself, which echoes all the way down the corridor.

We started promising each other ‘always and tomorrow’ each night because this friendship is eternal, but each day is not guaranteed.

It’s a reminder that there is no end to us; there’s always a tomorrow, whether it’s in this life or the next.

Pushing my covers off, I slide my boots on and throw a cloak over my shoulders, pulling the hood over my head.

Slowly, I open my door, looking left and right for any Vanquishers.

Luckily, this end only houses me and Aeron, and, as hoped, his Vanquisher must be using the bathroom. The hallway is left empty.

I sneak out into the hall, quiet on my feet as I make my way to the library I spotted earlier.

I guide myself by memory, since I don’t have a light to lead the way, rushing through the multiple hallways to the entrance of the castle.

Crossing the piano, I tuck myself into the shadows when I hear feet approaching.

Once they pass, I leap into action, traveling the small distance to the abandoned hallway and out of sight.

I wrap my hand around the weathered handle of the library door and let out a yelp when it burns my hand. What the…? Trying again, I reach forward, hoping it was just my imagination.

“I wouldn’t,” a deep, gravelly voice threatens behind me.

I feel the sharp blade of a dagger pressed against my neck, even with the fabric of my cloak between me and it. I would recognize that voice even in death, plaguing me for eternity.

Hade .

He’s like my shadow, inescapable no matter how hard I try. If I didn’t know any better, I would think he was stalking me.

I freeze, trying to come up with a way out of this mess. I know I shouldn’t be out unattended, especially trying to sneak into a place not meant for me, but this was my only chance to solve the riddle.

Gripping my shoulder, he spins me around, shoving my back against the door, and presses his dagger harshly to the dip of my neck. “I should have known it was you, Nightmare . Always getting into trouble instead of minding your own business.” His face is serious. “What are you doing here?”

Every time he’s in my personal space, my brain forgets how to work, and so instead of answering him, my logical response is to spit on his boot. It was obviously not the correct response, though, and I know it—not that I would ever admit that to him.

A wicked smile blooms across Hade’s face, which makes me equally excited and wanting to piss my pants at the same time. I am well and truly fucked .

He tsks. “You’re looking for answers to the riddle, aren’t you?” he questions, but there’s no uncertainty about it. He knows exactly why I’m here, and he wants me to know it.

Prick.

My lips thin, and I narrow my eyes at him, but I don’t answer.

A velvety chuckle escapes deep from his chest, making my legs quiver. “Haven’t we already gone over this? I always get what I want. So, are we going to do this the easy way or the hard way?”

My heartrate kicks up to a roar as the blood rushes to my ears. The ground is starting to spin, or maybe it’s me—I can’t tell the difference anymore. My stubbornness holds true, though, as I remain silent. A small part of me wants to find out what exactly the hard way would entail.

Grunting, he takes a step back from me, and for some reason, I feel slightly disappointed. “Hard way it is,” he states, which has my heart fluttering back to life.

“You’re looking for answers to the riddle because you’re hoping it can help your odds at winning the Crucible.

You’re a scared little girl who’s in over her head, and you’re freaking out, looking for the easy way out, like always.

You’re hoping you can find your answers in the library behind you. ” He lays out the facts with certainty.

My cheeks heat with embarrassment. I hate that he’s right, the way he can always read me like an open book. “You know nothing about me, so don’t act like you do,” I grit out.

“I beg to differ, but you know what I do know for sure? That you need information. That it’s potentially life or death for you.

I also know that door you tried to open is sealed with my magic.

I’m the only person in the entire castle who can unlock it for you.

So, what I do know is that you need me.” His wicked smile could make even the strongest of men cower in fear.

It’s worse than I thought. Of course, this would be sealed by the Empress’ right hand.

Why wouldn’t it be? Nothing in my life has ever been easy, and it’s not going to start today.

I’m willing to do just about anything to get inside this room, though I still plan to play my cards close to my chest. Slowly, I shake my head, denying his very accurate description of my desperation.

His sinister smile grows larger, taunting my thoughts and out of control heart. “Beg me.” His whispered words suck all the air out of the room.

“Please?” I say between gritted teeth, feeling it burn all the way out.

He cups his hand to his ear pretending he didn’t hear me. “Couldn’t hear ya. What was that?” he asks, feigning innocence.

Rolling my eyes, I say it a little louder and with a little less attitude. “ Please , Hade.”

He ponders for a second, and then the playfulness drops from his face. “Kneel,” he commands in his Cardinal voice, leaving no room for questions. My mind sputters, not sure I heard him right.

“On your knees, Nyxi. You’ll do as I say, and I’ll grant you chaperoned access to the library.”

I hesitantly shake my head, but the look he gives me makes my shaking, traitorous legs slowly lower to the unforgiving floor. I’m kneeling in front of him, fully at his mercy. Adrenaline pumps through my veins, making me break out in full body sweats.

His sinister but seductive voice cascades down from above. “Clean your spit from my boot,” he says casually.

Is he serious? Reluctantly, I reach a shaky hand forward to wipe my spit away, but I stop when I hear him tsk.

“With your tongue, Nightmare .” He smirks down at me, and fuck me, if I’m not turned on and pissed off at the same time.

I hate giving up control and feeling beneath someone, but I also feel powerful knelt before him, as if I’m just as in control.

I can tell by the way his chest heaves in time with mine that he’s holding on by a thread, and I’m the one doing it to him.

Knowing this is my only option, I lean forward and ever so slowly lick the tip of his boot all the way to the laces. It’s gritty and dirty, but surprisingly, my stomach also flips with excitement that I nervously stash away to ponder another time.

I look up and watch as he quickly unclenches his fists. “Again, you missed a spot. Eyes on me this time,” he commands, though his words have turned breathless.

Narrowing my eyes, I lean down, holding firm eye contact as I swipe my tongue across his boot while simultaneously flipping him off. His eyes close briefly, and a low growl escapes his throat. He’s crumbling before me, and all I’ve done is lick his shoe.

Leaning back up, I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him, making my mood known.

I may be feeling things I’m currently confused about, but that doesn’t overpower the feeling of being thoroughly done with his little game.

He towers over me from down here, and I wonder what it would be like to curl up in bed with him.

Would he take up the entire bed? Would it feel like I was drowning in his embrace?

Would he be firm from his muscles, or would I melt into his body like a dream?