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“You wore black?” “Black is suitable for every occasion.”
“Well, it doesn’t have to be every occasion. This is a party, not a wake.”
Speaking of peace, there was the matter of the under-the-table products reserved for women looking to eliminate any unsavory characters, bound by marriage or otherwise. My exceptional
understanding of botany and chemistry had allowed me to aid in the disappearance of many men—a professional poisoner, if you will.
I preferred not to call them victims. They were anything but.
A poisoner’s job was never finished, as a poison could always be better.
It is not a choice to be stupid, though I gave my best efforts to be sympathetic.
Personal pleasures were like drying flowers, best kept away from the light to preserve their vibrance.
There was something comforting about people-watching. I liked to wonder what it was like to be different people.
I wish I could say that I made that man suffer—that I put his hands in jars and severed the tongue from his mouth. Instead, I did something far worse. I did nothing.
There was no need to change out of funeral attire, as men die every day—a cause for celebration.
I was a gentleman. I liked to get to know my prey before I ate them.
I ached for her physically.
“I look forward to us, little shadow,” I whispered against her ear, tucking a bit of hair behind it before I allowed her one last night of rest. One more night before our games began.
“I look forward to us, little shadow.”
“I am anything you want me to be.” His voice manifested next to my ear. “I’ll let you decide, one last illusion of autonomy before I devour you.”
Believe me when I say this woman gave me butterflies in my stomach. Though that might just be internal bleeding. Either way, she had charmed me.
Every single plant on that wall could kill any average man with enough care and proper preparation. Could she be the cause of all of the sudden poisonings of men and Vipera? I was starting to think she had more up her sleeve than I initially assumed.
This was the most fun I had ever had on a hunt.
Today, she made a house call. It only confirmed my suspicions about her being the Poisoner, since her house call was to the brothel at the docks.
“Do you by chance have anything for snake venom?” a cool voice asked.
“You know, when a snake bites, it is usually because it gave you a fair warning to run.”
Every fiber of this man was fashioned to tempt, designed for predation.
“The snake believes her bite is the most reliable way to kill, as she hasn’t been given a reason to believe otherwise.”
“The only problem is that the snake could never anticipate that the mongoose has a resistance to her unforgiving bite, and has developed a taste for his rival’s flesh.”
“There are many things you don’t believe in, but probably
should.”
“Sounds like a date.” “What?” “You heard me perfectly fine.” He winked, sliding me a calling card. “I try to kill you, and you take it as flirtation?”
Silas Forbes Astor Industrial & Petroleum
“What if I decided to pursue you in bad faith?”
Christ, I am beginning to think he’s less interested in killing me and more interested in courting me.
I would have strung them with hair from my last grand gesture, but I thought using yours would do perfectly well, a more personal touch. —Silas
“Were you trying to ruin my fun by offing yourself before we began?”
“That’s not very sportsmanlike of you.”
“Will you kill me?” “No.” “Then what do you win?” “I get to eat you alive,”
“Your scent is infatuating,” he said aloud. “I suspect you’ll taste like the equivalent of honeysuckle and cayenne when I bite past your cold composure.”
There were only so many ways to captivate a thing like me, and Alina succeeded in every way I could think of.
She has cursed me, vile witch! No matter how much I told myself she was only a meal, I knew I was lying. These changes were too sudden, catalyzed by my obsession.
“Besides, then I would have to admit to stalking you. I would much rather make all the excuses in the world to see you,”
“You are a fiend,”
“Only for you.” He shrugged. “That’s a lie, Creature. You’re always a fiend.”
“You know, you taste better than I imagined.” He smirked. “But all those lovely sounds really made it an experience,”
“You’re delusional if you think that will happen.” “I saved your life and tasted both of your sweet lips tonight. Anything can happen.”
“Same old. I fear I may never find someone as interesting as you or I, and I won’t settle for someone boring.”
“Though that won’t stop me from taste testing.”
“Silas,” I choked out, “I’m not ready—please.” This is the end, isn’t it?
“I can’t do this,” he breathed, letting my leg slide off his shoulder.
The blade smacked into the wood of the wall next to his head as I turned the corner.
He glanced at the axe and then back at my face. Genuine surprise. “Marry me,” he breathed.
“Get out!”
