Page 18 of Venomous Desires

I pointed awkwardly. “You have... um...” He frowned and wiped the wrong side. “The other one.”

He tried again. “A little lower.”

This time it was a success. His grin widened, a dimple appearing in his cheek. Well, that certainly didn’t help my blood pressure.

“I’d love to,” I blurted. “About that offer.”

“...Actually—”

My phone buzzed.

Kyle: Be here at five.

Five? I checked the time. 4:20. The mansion was forty-five minutes away.

“Oh, crap.” I shoved everything into my bag.

Ivan frowned. “Everything okay?”

“I have to go.” I slung my bag over my shoulder. “I’ll see you later.”

Before he could respond, I hurried toward the exit.

“Seraphina!”

A hand caught my wrist. I turned too fast, stumbling straight into him. My bag slipped off my shoulder, books scattering across the floor.

“Oh my God—”

“Sorry.” He laughed, already crouching to help. “I just...”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t have your number.”

I blinked. “Oh.”

Smooth, Seraphina, real smooth.

Trying very hard not to combust, I took his phone and typed in my number. He slipped it back into his pocket with a grin. “Don’t ignore my texts.”

I smiled despite myself. “Don’t give me a reason to.”

His grin only grew. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“See you.” He disappeared into the crowd, leaving me standing there like an idiot with a stupid smile on my face.

Well, it went well.

Chapter 6

The Predator

The expressions etched on her face rummaged up memories of that small bird Mama gifted me when I was twelve. Her wide eyes, filled with terror, mirrored the frightened gaze of that helpless creature.

I recalled the sickening thrill coursing through me as I held the small blade, the bird’s frantic heartbeat pulsing against my palm.

And I had felt nothing. No guilt. No regret. Just a deep, insatiable satisfaction that settled in my bones, a hunger that never quite left.

Mama knew then—knew I wasn’t meant for the dull, sanitized world the rest of them lived in. And maybe, for a time, she mourned the sweet, innocent child she’d thought she had. But in the end, she saw the truth. She saw the monster lurking beneath my skin.