Page 104 of An Oath at Midnight

“I thought they were the closest to our own names, less chance to mess up.” I grinned up at him.

“After today, if you ever call me Brad again, we’ll have a serious problem,” he said, an expression on his face that had me biting back a grin.

“Hey, you could totally be a Brad. You’ve got those big shoulders now. You could be the quarterback of the football team, Brad.” If quarterbacks were dark goths with murderous tendencies. Bram was so far from a Brad it wasn’t funny.

“Would a Brad sit you in a chair, strap your legs wide, and make you play with yourself until you come so many times you passed the fuck out?” he said.

I sucked in a sharp breath, my gaze flying to him. Bram laughed, and it was dark and dirty. A throb started between my thighs. “That wasn’t fair.”

“Oh, I’m definitely not planning on playing fair,” he said, then knocked on the door before I could reply.

A deep, masculine voice called for us to come in.

Bram opened the door and walked in, and I followed, trying to focus on why we were here and not the images now filling my head.

Luke sat behind a massive desk. The wall behind him was all glass and the view utterly breathtaking. “Brad and Magda?” he said and stood.

Bram stepped forward and shook his hand. Luke looked at me, and I waved instead. I could hold Bram’s hand, but the idea of touching anyone else sent more dread through me.

He frowned, but then motioned to the chairs opposite him. “Please, take a seat.”

I pulled a notepad and a pen from my bag and we both sat. “Thanks so much for agreeing to speak with us, Mr. Donaghy.”

“Call me Luke.” His sharp gaze moved over me before sliding to Bram.

“We’re gathering stories from past students of Roxburgh High School, for a reunion yearbook. And as a successful Roxburgh High alum we thought you might have some fun stories to share? We’ll include a brief bio as well, just a few details about you alongside it. What you’re doing now, that sort of thing,” I said, spouting the bullshit I’d come up with.

He sat back. “I don’t really have many fond memories from my time at RHS, if you want the truth. I was a bit of a loner.”

I grinned. “You and me both. I spent most of my time in the library.”

“So did I.” His gaze darkened. “I’m positive I’d remember you, Magda. How old are you, sweetheart?”

Bram froze beside me a moment before his hand came down on my knee, in a tight possessive grip. Pain instantly fired through me, my scars burning under my skin. I jolted, and he immediately pulled his hand back with a hiss.

“You okay?” he asked, alarm in his voice.

He’d felt territorial and his instincts had taken over completely. “Of course.” I smiled at Luke and forced a chuckle. “I fell over this morning and grazed my knee. Don’t mind us.”

Luke tilted his head back…then breathed deep. His lids fluttered. “Mmm, you smell good. Very good, but I don’t smell blood, Magda.” His gaze was hot when he refocused on me. “I wonder why you’re lying to me?”

Bram shot to his feet. “You smell my female again and I’ll tear your fucking face off.”

Luke slowly rose from his chair, buttoning his suit jacket as he did. “Finally, a little honesty. And you can try it, boy.”

Bram took a step forward, and I jumped to my feet, getting between them. “Let’s all just calm down, okay?”

“Why are you here?” Luke demanded. “Because you’re sure as fuck not working on some nonexistent high school reunion.” His gaze slid to Bram over my head. “And I can smell the death all over you, crow. You can hide your markers, but I see right through you.”

“He’s not here for you,” I said to Luke. “He’s helping me.”

“Oh, I know he’s not here for me,” the other male said. “If I thought he was, he’d already be dead.”

Bram laughed; it was cold and nasty. “I’m sure my other kills thought the same thing, unfortunately I can’t ask them, since they’re all rotting in the ground.”

Luke snarled and leaned forward, planting his hands on his desk.

“We’re sorry we lied about our reason for being here,” I said quickly, before he bounded over that wide desk and all hell broke loose. “Bram definitely isn’t here to…kill you.” I couldn’t believe those words just came out of my mouth, like it was a reasonable clarification. “But I do need to ask you some questions.”