Chapter 35

 

 

“Besties!” I cried as I spotted Wednesday’s silvery-blue head, Catalina’s tall, curvy frame, and Vasa’s stylish hat. It was a very good hat, made of grey wool, with a bright red ribbon and feathers. I was jealous.

“Nice hat,” I remarked from my position on higher ground. Literally—Slasher was giving me an epic piggy back, and I was enjoying every second.

Vasa tipped said hat in my direction. “We were looking for you, actually.”

“You’re a hard woman to pin down,” Catalina added, her red lips curving into a grin.

“Did you find something?” I asked eagerly.

Had the Discard Society finally tracked down my killer? Well … were they really a killer when they’d only half-killed me a bunch of times? As an actual, certified killer, I was going to say no. It wasn’t fair to allow amateurs into the same label as the big time crazies.

“Who is it? Where are they? Tell me everything, so I can chop them into teeny, tiny pieces!”

“Not so loud maybe, jelly bean,” Slasher laughed, eyeing a couple vampires who gave us serious side-eye. “People might think we’re murderers.”

I gasped in faux horror.

One of the vampies eyed me a little too long, and a vicious hiss formed in Slasher’s throat. I yelped, tightening my arms around my mate’s neck as he blurred with vampire speed, one of his hands leaving my leg to—oh, to rip out the vampire’s heart.

“Sorry,” I said, waving the others on with a wince. “He’s not having a good day, you know how it is. Move along now, unless you want to get your hearts ripped out of your chests, too.”

“Stop looking at my parma violet,” Slasher snarled, crazy as fuck. “She’s mine!”

I nuzzled the back of his head and kissed his hair. “Of course I’m yours. Why would I want one of these losers? They’re probably nice people who get up in the mornings and go for early jogs.” I shuddered. “I prefer my mates to be night owls with a psycho streak and adorable pet names.”

Slasher relaxed, giving the remaining vampires a narrow-eyed scowl instead of a mutilation makeover.

“Um,” Wednesday breathed, her throat bobbing as she edged back a step. “Shall we go?”

“Nah, you’re good,” I replied, kissing Slasher’s neck to calm him. “I like dick.”

Catalina snorted.

“How is that relevant?” Vasa asked with a laugh, adjusting her hat. It really was an exceptional hat.

“It’s a mate thing,” I explained, snuggling my psycho. “He can’t get territorial if I don’t want to do the do with you.”

“Do the do,” Catalina echoed, pressing her lips together to hide a laugh.

“Get busy,” I offered. “Jump your bones. Ride you like a carousel horse—you get the picture.”

“I’d make a pretty carousel horse,” Vasa remarked, deadpan.

Wednesday elbowed her, looking aghast.

“So, back to the matter at hand,” Catalina cut through Vasa’s snickering. “We tracked down where the hit came from.”

I sat straighter on Slasher’s back, running my hand down his shoulder to rub his chest reassuringly when he hissed. “Tell me.”

I saw Catalina’s mouth form the first syllable, and ice slid down my spine. I knew exactly what she was going to say.

“Blake Hall. The hit came from within the hall, Rebel. Your attacker is here. ”