Page 115 of Beneath the Light of the Moon

Preposterous.

Quickly striding down the main staircase, Mikko was deposited into the lavish foyer. A fog machine kept the space on theme. Only a few people loitered there and none of them were Cristiano. Pushing on, Mikko checked every damn corner in the large house before finally deciding his friend must have wandered farther out into the manicured lawn.

Slipping his balaclava back on, Mikko was careful not to step onanything oranyonelittering the yard. Weaving between trees, props, and clusters of people laughing and drinking, he started slowing down.

I’m going to make this man swallow an Airtag next time.

With his patience running thin, Mikko began to ask around. His friend’s laughter could usually be heard above the din of a party, but this time, Mikko heard nothing. It made his blood freeze.

It’s fine, Anika just set you on edge.

When Mikko’s eyes caught on the makeshift maze toward the back of the property, his mind clicked. Cristiano had to be in there; there was no other option. Hand painted signs splattered in red paint mimicking blood pointed toward the haunted hedges.

Great.

He could hear a fountain bubbling nearby and excited squeals of laughter coming from inside.

“Klyanus’ Bogom…”Mikko muttered before stepping in.I swear to God…

33

Search Party

Mikko

Sweat glistened across his skin as he painstakingly searched for Cristiano. He tried calling his friend multiple times and texting him, but no response. In all honesty, he was beginning to worry.

That elusive, pumpkin headed bastard…

Theonlything Mikko was grateful for was the fact that October meant most of the bugs and mosquitoes had died, or else he would’ve been covered in bites from wandering around.

Striding past couples making the most of the darkened maze corners, Mikko had one goal on his mind: find Cristiano. And then he’d berate him for having a phone thatapparentlydidn’t work.

After a couple more turns, the bubbling fountain sounded closer. Was he nearing the middle? Dew clung to his shoes and the hem of his jeans, the sensation annoying. But above the scent of fall and crisp foliage, Mikko smelled something else.

Vanilla musk and sharp hints of pink pepper.

Anika.

It was as if fate was drawing them together. Again.

Or I’m hallucinating.

Rough hedges scratched against his bare hands, gloves abandoned long ago and stuffed into his pockets, as he continued onward. A feeling in his gut propelled him to creep down a darkened branch of the maze. Every now and then, a soft grouping of fairy lights lit the way, but now it was dark. Only the moon overhead provided him with enough light to navigate by.

One foot in front of the other—

Passionate sighs and soft kisses could be heard from around the corner.

And Anika’s perfume grew stronger.

I swear to God if…

Peeking around the flora, Mikko was surprised at the sight unfolding before him.

A statue loomed in the clearing, water bubbling from its upturned palms—the source of the noise he’d been following—but that wasn’t what he focused on. Instead, his gaze latched onto Levi who was pressed back against the base of the statue, uncaring for the water splashing around and against him. Anika’s back faced Mikko, her handcuffs glinting in the light as she pinned Levi against the art piece, their fervent embrace hard to miss.

Levi’s hands tangled in her hair and roamed the silhouette of her body in a way Mikko wanted to.