Page 53 of All Your Bloody Lies

Xeraphine

Iknow he enjoyed me begging him to take me home yesterday. I’m still fucking thinking about it now and it’s been well over twenty-four hours.

A knock on my door pulls me from blankly staring at my television, which is turned off. I really hope it isn’t Kairhyse. I need a break. Being with him for nearly a full day has me exhausted, even if I’m beyond satisfied and content.

Then the door unlocks, which is indication enough that it isn’t him or some other stranger.

“You had a package at the door my sweet Phiny-bear! Flowers, a bag, and a note! Can I read it?!”

I spring to my feet and dart across the room so swiftly that she yelps, nearly dropping the flowers. I’m not even sure why I grab them; I despise flowers. I can’t care for them properly, and they’ll be dead within a few days.

However, theyarebeautiful.

They are all black pansy’s. How the Beyond did he even find these so quickly?

I open the note:

Didn’t want to disturbyou. Here is your new phone, I’ve programmed my number in there for you. Enjoy the flowers, my little demon. Eat them. Burn them. Do whatever you want to them.

- Kai

Why would I eat them? Honestly, now I’m considering it.

“Want me to put them into a vase? Do you even own one?” Sydni asks, taking the flowers from me and exchanging them with the gift bag. Inside, I see a sleek black phone. It’s undoubtedly expensive, and I groan.

“I don’t have a vase, just use a large glass or something. They will die anyway. I’m thankful I don’t have to keep this one alive.” I gesture at Mister who is perched on the back of my couch, tail wagging heavily at the sight of Sydni.

Brrr-owwwwww.

“Of course you’re happy to see her.” I shake my head and take the phone, which surprisingly still has a decent charge.

My eye twitches.

The lock screen is a picture of me sleeping on his chest. I’m going to absolutely murder that Vampire. As I swipe it open, there are only a few apps, so the background is crystal clear. It’s a picture of him shirtless, and I’m ready to hurl the phone right out of the balcony doors.

Instead, I do the complete opposite and find myself staring longer than I originally intended, causing Sydni to clear her throat to grab my attention.

“While I came to confirm that you were okay, I did want to talk about a few things,” Sydni begins with a sheepish expression, making me groan inwardly. I really do not want to talk about Kairhyse.

“As long as it’s not about the Vampire,” I interject pointedly.

She crosses the room to play with Mister, her movements slightly nervous. “I’m tracking his phone, as I know you would have requested. Not sure if it was intentional to stay on the phone with me as long as you did yesterday, but I got the lock on it.”

“Ah, I knew I kept you around for a reason,” I reply playfully, we both know she’s around for my sanity. “Where is he now?”

Sydni retrieves her phone and passes it to me after unlocking it. “You won’t like it.”

As I pull up the map and see his location, she’s right—I don’t like it. He’s right smack dab in the middle of Hause Sidence. My hand trembles, and I have to physically rein in my anger to avoid crushing her phone.

Sensing my struggle, Sydni quickly snatches her phone back. The tense silence between us is preferable, as I don’t want her to offer apologies or platitudes. My stomach churns with a mixture of hurt and anger, directed more at myself than at him. After all, he’s just being himself—an Achille dog. It’s not like I didn’t know it, but still.

What did I expect?Fucking prick.

“That means he isn’t watching me. What else did you want to tell me?” I force myself to move forward. He’s the one who’s obsessed, not me. I need to remain firm in my hatred of him.

He was just for my pleasure—nothing more. A means to satisfy my ache. I have to remember what brought him to me. He is my enemy.

“Which is great news, because of the party that’s happening tonight and who will be there.” Sydni pulls a folded black card with inscribed gold writing from her pocket.