Page 47 of Nightshades

Lula studies the bushes beside her, then the crowd of trees I’m hiding in, finding comfort in the shadows they cast. A couple passes on the other side of the street, and she watches them as if they are suspects waiting to be interrogated.

Thunder shakes the ground from its anger, the skies darkening with the same fury that I feel with every breath I take. Staring at Lula helps soothe the rage that constantly lives within me. Even with all the beasts that make me, the strongest one was never a DNA strand that was forced into my veins.

I was born with lividity—an anger that demolishes any rationale.

Lula gives up, blowing out a breath that has me closing my eyes and pretending the breeze is the air leaving her lungs. I’ll get to feel her tonight.

Turning around, she blesses me with her backside, her wide hips swaying to the beat of my everlasting want.

Cruel intentions are all I can promise her. If that isn’t enough, that’s too bad.

Stepping out from behind the tree, I stay within the shadows, never taking my eyes off her. As if I could. My thoughts are consumed by her existence. Given the choice to save her or the world, I’d save her, so the world could be ours and ours alone.

She collides with another man, causing her to drop her phone on the sidewalk.

“Oh, shoot!” he says, bending down to pick up her phone that fell from their collision.

He takes a peek at her badge. “You’re the new detective, right?” Flipping the phone over, he groans. “Crap. The screen is cracked. I’m so sorry. That’s my fault. I’ll pay for it.”

“It’s fine. Don’t even worry about it,” she says with a smile on her face.

A smile that belongs to me. This man is as good as dead. I hope he felt the wet heat of a woman’s pussy lately because it will be the last time he will ever feel such heaven.

“And yes, I’m the new Detective in town.”

He jerks his neck, pushing his hair from his eyes. That’s a fucking sign your hair is too long.

I’m going to rip his scalp from his skull and stuff it down his throat.

He grins, his eyes wandering a little too much for any of me to be okay with. Growling, I fall to all fours, digging my claws in the damp earth to stop myself from killing the stranger flirting with my mate.

“So maybe to make it up to you, I can take you for dinner? Or coffee? Whatever you’re comfortable with. In exchange for ruining your phone.”

I listen to her heart, the beat becoming fast with anxiety.

“I appreciate it, but really, it’s okay. I’ve broken a hundred screens. I’ll get it replaced. It’s insured.”

“Okay,” he chuckles, scratching the back of his head. “Would you want to go out anyway? Nothing to do with the phone, but I’d love to get to know you better.”

Her eyes slide to the side where I’m hiding in the trees. I swear our gazes lock, and for the first time in my life, I hold my breath, hoping she can’t see me.

I’m not sure I want her to. For the first time, insecurity manifests, which is completely new for me. I’m not an insecure man. I’ve never cared what anyone thinks of me.

But I care whatshethinks about me.

“Go to her. Mine. Mate. Beloved.” Nightmare hisses, pushing the inside of my skin to go to her.

I can’t.

“Lo siento,” she says in her native tongue, and a purr rattles my chest when I think of her whispering her language into my ear.

She realizes he can’t understand what she said by the confused wrinkle between his brows.

“I’m sorry. I’m not really looking to date,” she says. “I just got to town, and I’m focused on my job right now.”

Lies.

Deceit radiates from her pores. She does want to date, but she doesn’t want to datehim.