Page 3 of Moth & Flame (Gothika & The Blackspire Empire)
HELLA
“ T ell Lord Payne I don’t give a fuck what he assures me of, I’m not interested, there’s nothing he can do to change my mind, and I hope he dies in a fucking fire.”
I did not spend the last century ensuring Blackspire Blood Vaults has ethically sourced blood just to have Lord Fuckhole ruin it all by becoming a major shareholder.
My sister, Leif, scowls at me as one would a naughty child. “You’re being unreasonable.”
My jaw clenches with frustration. “Have you tasted the blood from his cryovaults? I can taste the suffering. That male and his gods-forsaken enclave should be drawn and quartered in the Prime’s square.”
Leif pinches the bridge of her delicate nose. “You’re forgetting the fact that some people enjoy the taste of suffering.”
How could I fucking forget?
It’s at least half the reason why my fiancé, Alister, is so fucking horrible. He wants to taste the misery in my blood every time he drinks from me. Every emotion has a very specific taste, and negative emotions, like misery, pain, and fear, add certain notes to the bouquet of flavors.
In our modern society, it’s illegal to drink from someone without their consent. There are far too many people, not only humans, who would still be dwindling in population if our society’s morals and the Blackspire Empire’s legislation hadn’t evolved to protect the minori— those with little to no magic-wielding abilities.
Still, there are many people who crave the taste of fear and despair in blood. People like my fiancé. Akash damn him.
As if Leif can read my mind, she adds, “ Like your fiancé. He’ll be furious if you decline Lord Payne’s offer. House of Payne is his favorite.”
I give her a curious look. “You say that as if it’s a deterrent.”
Leif rolls her eyes, tossing a pretty tendril of ash-blonde hair over a pale shoulder. “You know, I can’t fathom what it is you have against Alister. He’s charming, handsome, rich, passionate ? —”
My sardonic laughter cuts off her itemization of my sadistic fiancé’s winsome qualities. Standing abruptly, I usher her to the door. “Leif, if you adore him so much, by all means, go and fuck him. In fact, I implore you. He’s bored of his mistresses—one of them even died. A tragic accident, I’m sure. He’s no doubt in dire need of your condolences. Do what you will with him, so long as you decline Payne’s offer. ”
Leif’s brows lift with mild surprise as she fails to suppress the ghost of a grin.
I slam the door in her face. My anger is bright and hot, making my fangs ache with the need to tear someone’s throat out, but when my eyes catch on the image of Draven on my screen, the fog of seething rage lifts from me like a cursed veil stolen by the wind and is swiftly replaced by a Draven-shaped duvet of joy and desire.
Tomorrow, my darling.
Because first—there are plans to be made.
My eyes settle on the shelf behind which lies a hidden safe containing the treasure trove of money and priceless jewels I’ve been secretly hoarding since my family forced me to sign my life away to a male who only wants me because I’m the largest shareholder in a company that owns forty percent of the blood bank market.