Page 21 of All Your Bloody Lies

I don’t think I’ve ever felt my heart skip a beat before. Nothing physically hits me, but I swear my breath is knocked from my lungs.

I drag my gaze back out toward the patio, and I swear I could unleash Belial himself with how much anger writhes through my body at seeing him.

A grin revealing his sharpened canines adorns Kairhyse’s face as he leans in, mere inches from my own. “So, this is why you aren’t answering my calls,” he declares with a voice so remarkably deep, carrying with it a subtle accent—or perhaps, one that has begun to fade over time. It retains a formality and authority that, I can imagine, he wields like a weapon, capable of compelling anyone to get on their knees before him.

I would get down on my knees for him, but only to confirm that he is dead.

“Couldn’t take the hint, I see,“ I remark, determined to contain my anger. “The restraining order means nothing to you, huh?” My lips press tightly together, a subtle twitch betraying the effort to restrain my emotions. As his gaze shifts downward, a filthy smirk replaces his playful, toothy one, prompting me to count my fingers in a desperate attempt to prevent myself from succumbing to the urge to punch him.

“Uh, Xeraphine?”

I swallow,Gods damn it. Not myname—Kit!

“Ah, my dear Xeraphine,” Kairhyse purrs, and I swear my cunt winks. “Let’s not play this game, you know damn well the court didn’t find you in favor. You were the one that hit me, remember?”

This piece of shit.

Releasing a shaky breath, I turn toward my date, finding an all-too-familiar expression on his face. I can tell I’ve lost him, and all the time invested in that accursed app seems to have gone down the drain.

“Kit, he’s a crazy ex. I’ll call the authorities to come get him—”

“Don’t bother.” He looks over at Kairhyse, “I don’t do drama. You’re hot, but, I’ve had hotter.”

Cock-blocked twice by this guy.I honestly can’t believe it. Not once has he emerged from the shadows since our encounter at the nightclub and now, of all times, he wants to fuck with me!

Kit stands and tosses down his napkin, “Plus, a Vampire? I thought you said you’d only been with Shifters in your bio.”

I’m not sure if I’m more upset that he didn’t find me worth fighting over, or that I’m going to end up having to figure out how to pay for this meal. The wine alone probably costs more than a single night’s pay from the bar.

I groan as he walks away, and I grab my glass. Might as well finish off the bottle since now I’ll have to pay for it anyway.

Kairhyse hums, and I do my best to ignore him.

“I’m not a fan of oysters,” he croons. “He has bad taste in food, equally so in women. I may have just saved his worthless life.”

Why the fuck is he still here?

I toss back the rest of the glass, grab the bottle, and pour until it nearly overflows.

“Xeraphine…” he draws out my name, and I give him an irritated glance. “I’m going to sit across from you now, and we’re going to have a chat.”

The twitch in my nose is involuntary, “I’d rather eat my own tit, fuck off!”

He sucks air in through his teeth and leans back. “I wasn’t actually asking.” With that, he takes a single step to his left and leaps gracefully into the restaurant.

I observe the subtle flex of his chest at even the simplest of movements, the fabric of his shirt straining against the force, and I feel a surge of frustration reaching an unexpected peak.

Fuck a heartthrob, this guy is a pussy-throb. Damn this accursed Amoro, sometimes.

“Your shirt,” I remark, my voice carrying a calculated edge, “It’s too small. Do you shop in the kids section?” There’s an intentional sting in my words, a need to find a vulnerability amid the impressive physique he boasts.

As he sits, he laughs, “Cute.”

Damn he’s tall.I hadn’t realized just how much so until I compared him to the shorty that just left.

“You made quite the mess of my partner,” he continues, slightly leaning over the table. “I should really be pissed off at you.”

“Then be so,” I retort briskly, my lips pressing against the rim of my glass as I take another sip.