Page 96 of The Blue Rose
I wish she would just stay behind me, where she’s safe. Zephira may be my sister, but there is something about her I don’t trust. My little vixen is too trusting. She trusted me easily, and now she’s trusting her. I don’t like it.
She ignores Serena’s question, a seductive smirk twisting her lips. “Serena, how did you become wrapped up with my brother? Wouldn’t you like to sample something a little sweeter?”
“Mom said you’re Salem's Man Eater-”
“You’re the Man Eater?!” Serena gleefully steps beside me, closer to Zephira, excitement shining in her eyes.My little vixen really has a thing for serial killers.
Zephira smirks, stepping closer to Serena. “I am. Have you heard of me?” Zephira teases.
Serena’s eyes widen. “Heard of you, try you’re my second favorite serial killer. Next to your brother.” She starts to fiddle with her hands, her eyes plastered to Zephira’s face. “I have this fascination with serial killers, I’ve been collecting newspapers of The Morbid Monet’s since-”
“You have newspapers of my kills?” I ask, looking down, bewilderment shining in my eyes.
She looks up at me, her little brow furrowed, annoyed that I interrupted her, but this is more important. Another way we are connected.
I cup her cheek, her eyes softening. “Serena, I collect those papers, too. A different reason-”
“Another way we’re connected,” she whispers.
“Hate to interrupt whatever moment you two are sharing, but I was just about to ask your little lamb if she wanted to havea one on one with the Man Eater?” Zephira’s eyes darken as she bites her lip, her eyes raking up and down Serena’s naked body.
My eye twitches, and teeth grind.Is she asking what I think she is? Is she hitting on my girl right in front of me? Is my sister gay?
“N-no thank you, I prefer men.” Serena stutters, backing into me.
Zephira shrugs. “Can’t hate a girl for trying; you, brother, have impeccable taste.”
If she wasn’t my sister, she would already be dead. Even looking at my girl has my hand twitching, begging me to choke the life out of her. But she is family, and as much as I hate how she keeps looking at Serena like she’s a snack, I can't blame her. We share the same blood, so there is no surprise we share the same taste in women. But Serena is mine, and she needs to back off.
“Stop looking at Serena like you want to taste her and answer the question.”
“Oh, but Idowant to taste her.”
My hand tightens around Serena’s. My patience is wearing thin.If this is how she is as an adult, I’m glad we didn’t grow up together.
“Zephira,” I say through clenched teeth. It feels weird saying her name as a threat. Not because I haven’t threatened women before, but I usually threaten to kill. Except with Serena. My threats to her always end with pleasure.
“You’re no fun,” Zephira pouts, crossing her arms. “Fine; Mom sent me here to tell you she put a hit on your little girlfriend.” My hand falls from Serena’s.
I hear Serena gasp behind me, and the anger I’ve been holding boils over. “She did what?”
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” she says, walking past us.
Mom put a hit on Serena? Why? How did she even find out about her? I have to protect her; no one, not even my mother, will come between us.
“She said she’s been distracting you from who you are and needs to be put down.”
“She’s not a fucking dog.” I feel the vein in my neck throb, and if I clench my jaw any harder, I know I’ll break a tooth.
“Never said she was; those were Mom’s words.” She walks to the front door. “You have a month, then other serial killers from all over are going to come, and they’ll keep coming until she’s dead.” With that she shuts the door and leaves.
They’ll have to go through me first;they’ll be the ones whose lives end if they even lay a finger on her. I hear Serena's breathing fluctuate, my heart fracturing from her fear.
“Aster…” She clutches her chest, eyes wild in a panic. “I’m scared. I don’t want to die.”
I grab her face in my hands and guide her eyes to mine, “Breathe Serena; nothing will happen. I won’t let it. I will protect you.”
“She said they’ll keep coming until I’m” she whispers the last word “dead.”
I should kill my sister for scaring her like this. I should kill my mother for putting a hit on my girl. She may be the woman who raised me, but she’s no longer the most important person in my life. The day she got caught, and then never reaching out, is the day she died in my mind. She has no right to my life.She will regret doing this to us; that, I promise.
“We have a month; I will teach you everything I know. You’ll move in here.” Her eyes widen.This isn’t how I wanted to ask.“I will train you to protect yourself. Those killers coming for you, will be coming forus. I’ve seen what you can do in your element.” I squish her cheeks, making her have a fishy face. “They will be hunted, not the hunters.”
She starts crying, but nods her head. Pulling her into me, I brush my hand down her hair. We stay like that until her breathing begins to even out. I lift her up bridal style and carry her to our room. Laying her under the covers, I hold her until she falls asleep.
She is mine, forever and into the next life. I will kill a hundred men, women, everyone to keep her safe. Nothing and no one will ever come between us. She is my vixen, and I am her fox. My mother will rue the day she ever threatened the woman I love.
That is a promise.
To Be Continued…