Page 79 of Evil Hearts

Date Three

Zenith

“ S o...you drive a hearse.”

I haven’t taken my eyes off it since it pulled up in front of the townhouse I live in. Painted a deep, shiny black with purple curtains hanging in the rear and suspiciously dark tinted windows, the vehicle doesn’t exactly scream ‘normal’. I didn’t know what to expect going on a date with a lich, but I guess it should have been this. They have a whole thing with death and souls and agony or whatever. I need to do more research.

“There is much room in the back for transportation of my things,” Octavius replies like it’s totally normal that the original purpose of his damn car was the transportation of dead bodies . If it wasn’t for how good he looks, I might have already booked it back into my place.

He’s dressed like he was for the show; skinny jeans that cling to his thin legs, a fishnet style top, an oversized hoodie, and some combat boots. It should make me feel overdressed, but it doesn’t. I chose a nice skirt and cami for this date. The least this guy could have done was wear a shirt that covers his bellybutton.

“You dislike it,” he says, that unfathomably sexy accent of his thick and luscious. “However, it will be most comfortable for our date.”

My eyes widen and flick toward the stretched back area, imagining myself cold and unmoving and, of course, with a terribly unflattering expression frozen forever by rigor mortis. Digging through my purse, I go to pull out my knife, but Octavius is standing right beside me. Yelping, I nearly drop my bag, but he catches it and returns it to my trembling hands. His pale gray eyes stare into mine; his expression so neutral there needs to be a new name for it.

“You’re afraid of me.” One of his hands comes up, ghosting over the side of my face, sending a shiver down my spine. “You do not need to be. I will never hurt you, would never.”

“Forgive me if your word doesn’t exactly do it for me. I don’t know you,” I snap.

“You did not know Dante or Leander either; still, you had entirely pleasant dates with them. I am not alive but also not dead, and that makes you uncomfortable.”

I stomp my foot and huff. “It’s not my fault that death gives me the creeps!”

“So I give you these ‘creeps’?” he asks.

“Yes!” The exasperation in my voice makes me wince. Holy shit, I’m being a total bitch . Frowning, I cross my arms over my chest, hugging myself. “I just need to get over it. When I couldn’t see you, I was totally fine, so I should be fine if we just get on with it.”

Octavius doesn’t respond or move. I lift my gaze to his face and he is frowning gently.

“You are allowed to be uncomfortable. I am sorry for the displeasure I cause you.” He looks toward his hearse. “I can find another way for us to have this date—another car perhaps.”

“No, no, no. Please, I really want to go on this date with you now.” I shift my purse under one arm and take his hand. “I’m sure I’m being overly dramatic, let’s go have a great time.”

He flinches when I make contact, but he relaxes when I hold his fingers tenderly. He stares down at our connected hands, his expression unreadable.

I’m starting to think maybe I should get a monster expression interpreter because I’m sick of not knowing what the hell these guys are thinking.

Giving his hand a small squeeze, I tug him toward the creepy car and gesture to the door with my chin. “Wanna get the door for me?”

“Yes,” he says, snapping out of whatever daze my taking his hand shunted him into. He releases me and pulls the passenger side door open. I slip in with a playful wink.

“Thanks, handsome.”

A hearse pulls up to a cliff at the edge of a graveyard...no, that’s not the opening to a bad joke, that’s the date. We are in a graveyard, a pretty damn old one by the looks of the half-eroded headstones.

“Allow me,” Octavius murmurs as he helps me from my seat and onto the overgrown grass.

“Thanks,” I say numbly, looking around for any signs of life. In the distance there are crowds of people wearing all black and standing in a sort of huddled formation, and the last thing I want to do is crash a funeral to get away from a weird date.

“Zenith.” The sound of my name brings me back to reality. I turn my attention to Octavius as he opens up the back of the hearse and exposes one of the cutest little setups. String lights have been hung on the sides and where the casket would go is filled with pillows and blankets.

“Oh wow.” My heart breaks a little over all the shit that has been going through my head. Octavius doesn’t deserve this because of what he is. It’s horrible of me.

“I also have a picnic basket filled with some treats,” he says as he crawls into the back. He pulls a basket from under one of the larger pillows and sets it beside him as he settles in. Leaning back against the pillows, he looks calm and happy though he isn’t smiling.

Hesitantly, I climb into the back with him, folding my legs under my butt to conserve a bit of space before taking a better look around.

Those 3-D glow-in-the-dark star stickers every living being seemed to have as a kid are stuck all over the place, some in constellations and others in random little smatterings. There are knicks and scuffs telling a story of a well-used and loved vehicle.

“I would love to know more about you, Zenith. It is rare that a creature such as myself would have such a pure-hearted and sensual soulmate.”

“Soulmate?” I ask with a little laugh as I flick open the basket and pull out the baguette and jams that Octavius brought. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t know monsters were into all of that mysticism stuff.”

Octavius gives a subtle shake of his head, sending his long white-blond hair into his handsome, sallow face.

“Most are not, but soulmates are another matter entirely. To deny them is to deny that we each have a soul.” He presses a hand to his chest before pointing to mine.

“So you’re saying our souls wanna get freaky or something?” I ask with a nervous laugh.

He smiles, just the slightest upturn of his lips. “Not exactly. Your soul and mine are made to complement one another, even if I give you these ‘creeps’,” he says, and he wiggles his fingers a bit.

The splash of humor has a genuine laugh floating from me. “Ok, wow, did not expect that...is it just us or...” He seems to catch my drift and nods.

“Dante and Leander are also your soulmates. Did you not receive the summons?” he asks, perplexity making his accent thicker.

“Uh...no. Were you guys summoned to the dating show?” My jaw drops, and I quickly break off a hunk of bread to shove into my mouth. I resist the urge to moan at the flavor and texture of the baguette. Damn him and his hot accent and sexy bread. It’s not fair; I’m only so strong.

“It was not always such a....loud production. There was once just a ball and some dancing,” he says coolly. “It is up to the soulmates if they want to engage. To listen to the pull to be with one another.”

I swallow my mouthful of bread with a cough. “Balls you say?”

Octavius nods. “Formal affairs.”

“I know what balls are, those just aren’t the ones I like best,” I say with an eye roll.

“Innuendo then?”

“Exactly,” I say, snatching up the baguette again and ripping off another piece. I grab one of the little jars of jam and dump some of the sticky red goodness on.

“I find myself aroused by you eating.”

I almost choke as I swallow the too big bite. ‘Wow, way to ease into it there.” I giggle. “Despite how much you creep me out, I am definitely sporting a bit of a lady boner for you too.”

“You have an erection? Would you like me to rid you of it?” His words are nearly a purr.

My head swims as I nod.

“Then it is time for my meal.”