Page 148 of A Taste of Bliss

We spread out into groups around the fountain of the Cascada Monumental. Evan and Grim come with Dericia and I as we take up positions out of sight behind a large gazebo.

Simon, Amelia, Shaun, and Pinkie are across the way from us, also getting into their hiding spot, covered by a grouping of trees and bushes. Bell, Stormy, Benny, and Taser are roving, ready to use our comms to tell us when Jordan’s arrived.

“I still don’t get how we’re even certain Jordan will show up,” Reese mutters from our crouched positions.

“You’ll see,” I tell her, though my eyes are on Grim. He’s also not totally convinced this will work. Pisces may be two for two when it comes to his lure, but as Grim pointed out when I laid out the plan to him, maybe it only worked because I’m his mate.

Pisces stands out in front of the fountain, watching the many sprays of water jet out of the pond.

“We’re right here,” I say into our comms. He looks to his left, towards where he knows we’re just out of sight. He gives a single nod but says nothing.

He takes a seat on the ground, sitting cross-legged before the fountain, eyes closing in concentration. His face lifts up towards the stars almost in silent prayer, and his bottom lip curls inward for a moment.

It takes several minutes, the hum of his lure magic building subtly. And then Pisces’ eyes snap open.

“I’ve got him,” Pisces says into his mic.

“We’ve got the entrances covered,” Benny says. He and Taser will use their vampire speed to pick up on wherever Jordan enters the park, Benny having unlocked the rest of the gates just in case.

Minutes tick by and I wonder if Jordan will be sleepwalking like I was the first time Pisces lured me. If that’s the case, it could be a while before he shows. Reese shifts beside me, letting out a yawn.

“You know you didn’t have to come right?” I ask, reaching out and clasping my best friend’s hand.

“Proving Jordan is behind those murders and capturing him was the only way to free your mate. Of course I’m gonna be here.”

I hug her tightly, feeling that earlier ache soothed by her. “I’m so grateful for you. I know lately it’s been so weird, but?—”

She stops me. “Don’t even worry about it. If best friends can’t handle one little hardship, then they have no business calling themselves best friends.”

“I love you,” I say, grinning.

“Love you too.”

“You two about done?” Taser says into the comms. I hadn’t realized ours were picking up the conversation.

“We’re done.” Reese laughs.

“Good, but just for the record, I love you all too,” Taser says. “Since we’re being sappy and all.”

“Oh, it’s sappy time?” Simon asks. “Well, in that case?—”

“Save it, mate,” Benny interjects. “We’ve got one psychotic vampire entering the park. Heads up, he’s not sleepwalking, and he looks pissed—confused but pissed.”

It becomes evident why it’s taken this long for Jordan to arrive, as he makes his way down one set of the monument’s steps. His movements are jerky, obviously against his will, as the lure deposits him in front of Pisces. To Jordan’s knowledge it’s just the two of them.

“Who—?” he starts to ask but stops when Pisces turns around. Jordan’s confusion and anger melt into amusement and he laughs, the sound making my skin crawl, but the usual fear that accompanies it is noticeably absent. “A siren lure, interesting. I thought that was just a rumor.”

Pisces doesn’t respond. It’s a ploy to get Jordan to keep talking, enough to incriminate himself.

“So what? You were feeling a bit hungry and decided you want a bite of vampire? Or—” he pauses, cocking his head to the side, “—is this supposed to be pay back for feeding off Bliss?”

Again Pisces doesn’t respond.

“You know you and her will never work, right? A Born fae with a Made? Keep dreaming, siren boy.” How does Jordan even know about Pisces and I? I file that question away for later, but the thought that maybe Jordan has been keeping tabs on me really creeps me the fuck out.

“Seems to me like you’re projecting,” Pisces says, a smirk appearing on his face. “You know what I think? I think it eats you up at night that she’s not your mate.”

Jordan’s amusement falls away. “Succubi are bottom of the food chain anyways. Someone like me needs a higher class of fae for a mate.”