Page 20 of The Black Lotus (Fatal Florals Duet #2)

“I can keep you safe if you just let me in. I am here for you.” The words leave my lips, desperate for answers about the day that changed the course of my life. I need to know what happened . I need to know who turned my parents in and why. Kelsey knows, and I’ll do anything to find out.

I grip her chin, her eyes widening in disbelief as I tilt her head to look at me.

Channeling my feelings, my love for the woman having to watch all this, I whisper, “I’ll always be here for you, Kels.

” The childhood nickname slips out as she closes her eyes, curling into my touch, which gives me a chance to look at the doorway to check on Serena, but the spot is vacant.

My heart races, fear Serena left thrumming through me.

“I’m sorry. Not this time.” She places her hand on my chest, her pupils widening as a deranged look crosses her face. “It was nice, traveling down memory lane together. But I have a job to do, and I’d like to do that quickly. Then we can finally be together.”

All thoughts of wanting and craving answers dissipate as panic takes over from the need to keep Serena safe. I want answers, but I need Serena. I will kill Kelsey before I let her touch a hair on her head.

Before I can search the room for my angry vixen, my body jerks and Kelsey spits blood as my name leaves her lips, her eyes wide as a manic Serena stands behind her, her knife sticking out of Kelsey's back. I let her fall and rush to Serena, but she steps away from me as my arms drop to my sides.

She stares daggers at the dying woman on the floor, then looks up at me with a fire I haven’t seen before. The need to hold her is strong, but the waves of anger I feel coming off her, keep me planted where I stand as I whisper the words. “It was all an act.”

Her eyes finally meet mine, returning to their darker shade of blue.

“You called her by her nickname, then she started saying things about your past, things I didn’t know about you…

My emotions took over.” Her fists clench and unclench at her sides.

“The whole time I kept repeating ‘it’s just an act’ in my head, but when she was in your arms, my jealousy took over and my body reacted before my mind could catch up, and well, now she’s dying.

” Serena looks toward the body still hanging from the ceiling, her brows low on her forehead.

“I’m sorry. We could have gotten answers. ”

I step towards her, bringing her eyes back to mine and this time she lets me touch her as my hand rubs up and down her stiff arms. “If I saw you sweet talking another man, even if it did keep me safe, he would have been killed instantly. You held off longer than I would have. Don’t be disappointed.

She was never going to reveal the truth.

” My teeth clench at that realization. “I am so proud of you.” Her eyes start to water, the final bits of hurt and rage dissipating as our lips softly meet.

We only break apart when we hear coughing near our feet. Realizing Kelsey is still alive, Serena kneels in front of her, her gloved finger tucking Kelsey’s hair behind her ear. “Did you really think Aster would choose you over me?”

Kelsey’s eyes well with tears as she looks up at me standing behind Serena, my hand on her shoulder. “Asty?” she croaks.

“Eyes on me,” Serena demands. Kelsey glares at Serena. “You may have had him when you were children, but I have him as a man and you will never see him again.” Serena rips the knife from her back and Kelsey screeches, the sound making both me and Serena flinch from the ear bleeding sound.

“It’s not going to be me, but someone else will succeed. It’s only a matter of time before you’re here with me.”

“They can try.” Serena stabs the knife into her neck. “But they’ll all meet the same fate.”

We stand and watch as the life drains from Kelsey's eyes, hand in hand. The memory of who we were as kids dying right alongside her. A piece of me I will never get back.

“Well, that was anticlimactic.” My hand squeezes around Serena’s as I pull her behind me and turn towards Zephira, making my muscles tense. Her randomly showing up after every kill is starting to not only irritate me but it’s making me nervous knowing she is reporting everything back to our mother.

Zephira jumps down from the broken windowsill she was sitting on.

How the hell did she even get up there? Walking towards us, she lightly kicks Kelsey’s side.

“I was expecting more of a fight from the Twisted Trickster. Guess her love for you distracted her from Mom’s goal.

What a shame.” She walks towards Serena, picking up a section of her hair and inhaling.

“How did it feel to kill my brother's first love?”

Gripping Serena’s hand, I drag her behind me and growl at my sister. “The only woman I have ever loved is Serena. This girl,” I look down at Kelsey, “she was my friend, but I never loved her.”

Zephira steps behind us, hands behind her back and whispers across our necks. I spin our bodies around, not liking my sister being out of view for even a second. “But you did fuck her.”

I tense as the truth no one but Kelsey should know washes over me. Serena releases her hand from mine, a million questions swirling behind her eyes. She hugs her arms around her body, and I step into her, placing my hands firmly on her shoulders.

“Yes, it’s true, but that was ages ago. She may have been my first-” Serena lets out a little gasp, her body curling in on itself as my hands move from her shoulders to grip both hands.

“But you were the first to truly get my heart. You are the last woman who will ever have any part of me. I love you and only you, Serena.”

Her eyes become glassy as she looks up at me and nods in understanding.

It was such a long time ago, a memory long since forgotten, but the thing people say about your first is true.

I never forgot, but I never thought about her again after I escaped the orphanage.

Seeing as Kelsey has only thought of me, I will have to explain everything to Serena to ease her beautiful mind.

To keep her in an alert headspace, and not distracted. I can’t lose her .

“Well, you two are no fun. I at least thought there would be a big fight so I could comfort poor, beautiful Serena.” Zephira pouts as she walks towards the door.

Before I can threaten her, again, to keep her eyes and hands off of what’s mine, she continues, “Oh well! Have fun cleaning up the mess, and Serena?” Zephira turns to look at her.

“Maybe next time I can be the one to make you scream.” Zephira winks and walks away, leaving my vixen's cheeks turning a shade pink.

I step into her line of sight. “If you don’t close that pretty mouth of yours, I’m going to shove my cock so deep down your throat you’ll be crying for air.

” Her mouth clamps shut, her cheeks darkening.

“Don’t let my sister’s flirting distract you from what’s in front of you.

” I kiss her lips quickly, leaving her wanting more.

“Never. She just startled me.”

“Tell that to your red face.” I whisper.

She places her hands on her cheeks and looks up at me. “You’re right. But I promise I don’t want anyone other than you.”

I spank her ass. “Good girl. Now help me clean this up.”

We rid the place of any evidence that we were here and place Kelsey under her last victim's body on a chair Serena fetched from another room. We place a blue rose and black lotus in Kelsey’s hands and leave.