Page 65 of A Taste of Bliss

I can definitely see the appeal of that.

We continue to sit in silence—surprise, surprise—and I realize I’m no longer shivering. I hold up one of my arms, indicating the hoodie. “Thanks. This was really nice of you.”

He bobs his masked head in acknowledgement. The lower part of his face, the part uncovered by his mask, is in too much shadow for me to see if he’s making any expression with his mouth. I realize I also can’t tell what color his hair is. There’s a strap that secures his mask, but underneath it is some sort of thin material covering the backside of his head. It probably keeps his hair in place underneath the mask.

I stop myself from sighing this close to him. No tears tonight. I’ll have to come up with a much better plan.

The doors on the balcony open, letting a cascade of song, chatter, and bustle out into the empty outside air. I look up and see Amelia, Reese, and the others—including, to my surprise, Grim—descending the steps to the garden. I turn around, as Wrath slinks off into the shadows back the way he came.

“Bliss!” Amelia comes to my side, clutching my hands in hers. “Are you okay? We were looking everywhere for you!”

“I figured you left and went home,” Reese adds.

Tubbs and Taser each take turns giving me a hug, but for some reason I can’t keep my eyes off the spot Wrath disappeared into. He’s met my sister’s band before, but I guess maybe he isn’t too social?

“I just needed to deescalate that whole situation in there,” I say, waving my hand around. I look over to Grim, who’s standing to the side, studying me. “Sorry you had to witness that.”

He tilts his head. “You have nothing to apologize for. You’re okay?”

I nod, giving him a soft smile.

“Good, I’m glad.” He smiles back at me, and I’m starting to think maybe I can head back into the party, enjoy myself. Maybe even exist in the same space as Jordan without feeling his overwhelming presence.

Tubbs stiffens, looking around. The way his eyes narrow makes the hair on my neck stand to attention.

“What’s wrong?” Taser asks.

I look around in the shadows, wondering if Wrath is still inside them. Maybe Tubbs can sense him? Surrounded by all these trees, plants, and flowers, Tubbs is probably even more connected with his earth magic.

“Something is off,” Tubbs says quietly. His eyes lock with Taser’s. “Something in the garden is dead.”

“Probably a dead plant or something, right?” Reese points out, but she shifts closer to me anyways. I hook an arm through hers. Amelia comes to stand on Reese’s other side.

Tubbs shakes his head. “Dead body.” His eyes seem to unfocus as he uses his magic. Hearing him describe it before, it almost sounds like sometimes nature cantalkto him. A dead body? My mind goes to Wrath, but he just left. It’s not him.

“What?” Grim asks, looking around.

“I can smell it,” Taser confirms. And Blake nods. “Recently deceased.”

Grim takes a few steps out from the fountain, scanning the foliage that creates a border around the patio.

Blake and Taser fan out with their vampire speed.

Two seconds later, Blake calls from the far corner of the garden, the one furthest away from the building and opposite the corner Wrath entered and left through. “Over here!”

We descend on his position quickly, Grim taking the lead and throwing his hands out to stop me from getting closer. “You might not want to see.”

I look anyways, peeking over his outstretched arm. It’s the woman from the bathroom line. Beautiful green, velvet dress, stunning ropes of long red hair.

Except there’s blood everywhere.

Her limbs are twisted at odd angles.

Blood drips from nearby foliage.

She was killed here.

Right outside the party.