Page 50 of Horror and Chill

I glance at the one on my own hand. Same silver band, same barbwire and skull. Garron has one too. “Why’d you take it off?”

“I didn’t wear gloves, and I didn’t want her to see it. What if she remembers it from picking up the tiny terror nephew of ours?”

I smirk. He’s not wrong to be careful, but the fact that it’s gone is eating him alive. “I’ll help you look.”

We search the whole house. I empty the washer, checking every damp piece of laundry. My hands run over the jeans hewore the night with Agatha, my mind replaying every detail I know about her. How close she stood. How her fingers might have brushed his without him noticing. I check both vehicles, running my palm over the seats and under the mats. Nothing.

“Corwin!” Garron’s voice carries from his bedroom.

“I’m fucking busy, asshole!” Corwin yells back.

“I think I found what you’re looking for.”

My gaze meets Corwin’s. The unspoken question is there in his eyes—Did Garron have it this whole time?We head down the hall toward our brother’s room. Garron is sitting in the recliner by the closet, his laptop resting on the arm. As we step inside, he nods toward the TV. “I cast my screen so we can watch together.”

We turn, and there she is. Agatha. Silver hair, black bow, blood-red lips. My chest goes tight just looking at her. She’s in a black bra with a leather harness strapped tight over it, the buckles hugging her ribs and chest like hands that don’t want to let go.

She’s smiling, holding Corwin’s ring between her index finger and thumb.

“I took something that doesn’t belong to me,” she says. “You were too busy to notice, and I pickpocketed you.”

The chat explodes on the side of the feed, a rush of messages flying so fast they’re impossible to read. I don’t need to read them. I know what they’re saying. Half of them want to be her. The other half want to be the one she’s taunting.

But she’s not taunting them.

She’s tauntingus.

And that makes my blood run hotter.

GutterPrince:No way, that’s his ring.

CryptCummin:She’s such a fucking tease.

BloodPetal:What else you take, pretty girl?

ThroatCandy:Bet he’s pissed right now.

Corwin growls under his breath. Garron’s laugh is low, amused, but I can’t stop the smirk pulling at my mouth. The sound of her voice does that to me, like she’s standing in the room instead of miles away, looking right at us and daring one of us to come take what’s hers.

“I think it’s only fair,” she goes on, “that you gave me two new jewelry pieces, so I took one of yours.”

My gaze cuts to Corwin. He’s locked on her like a man staring down prey that’s wandered into striking distance. There’s a heat in his eyes that isn’t just anger. He wants the ring back, but not as much as he wants to put his hands on her again.

She shifts on screen, slow enough to make it deliberate, and slides her bra cups to the side.

ChurchofAgatha:Holy shit, another new piercing(s)

GothDaddy69:Fuck yes, show it!

User876:Bet it hurt like hell.

SaintofSins:I want to drink from you sexy girl

Corwin’s sitting forward on the edge of Garron’s bed, elbows braced to his knees, eyes locked on the screen like he’s the only one in the room. His mouth pulls into a slow, satisfied curve. I glance at Garron, and he’s already looking at me. We both shift our gaze back to Corwin at the same time. He’s got that cat-who-got-the-cream look, smug and unbothered.

“You didn’t tell us you pierced her,” I grunt, more accusation than question.

Corwin shrugs without looking away from the screen. “Didn’t know I had to tell you everything.”