Chapter 5 #3
“They’re not going to like that.”
“They don’t have to.” I look back at Alix as he takes another careful sip from his glass, regarding me thoughtfully. “They should be more worried about whether they retire in peace or in pieces.”
Alix lets out a short laugh. “Good one.”
“Andrei?” I ask.
“Tied up in the bathroom, like I said.”
I nod. “Good. I’m going to need him to confirm Nikolay’s story and hopefully add to it.”
“A woman who smells like apples or apple pie.” Alix laughs. “Seriously, how do they come up with this stuff?”
“Active imagination, I suppose.” I raise the glass to my mouth, pacing myself this time.
Alix watches me in silence, taking another tiny sip himself.
“Why do you even bother drinking? You know it’s going to make you sick.”
He shrugs. “I like the burn when it goes down. Which is also why I take these ridiculously tiny sips—in hopes it will spare me this time around.”
“You know very well that’s not how it works,” I say, unable to suppress a smile.
“Yeah, well, I’m optimistic that one day it will.”
Shaking my head, I empty my glass again, and Alix passes me the bottle, a grin on his face.
“A wife, eh?” I know what he’s going to say even before the words leave his mouth. “How’s that working out for you?”
“Seeing as I’m finally free, pretty damn good.” I return his grin and pour myself another glass. Swirling the shimmering liquid, I lean back, finally starting to drop my guard.
“I have to admit, I never saw you as the marriage type,” Alix confesses.
“Funny you should say that. She had the exact same remark.” I glance down at the silver wedding band on my left ring finger—a polished piece of her rib, forever a part of me.
“And how is she?”
“She’s perfect,” I reply without missing a beat, meeting Alix’s gaze so he can see the honesty in my eyes.
He was there when I first sensed her during one of my rare trips outside my prison.
He was the one who had to endure my rambling about how she could be the one.
He was also there when I suddenly couldn’t sense her anymore, the one to hold me back when I threatened to tear people apart searching for her.
“I’ll make sure to bring her over. I think Désirée will like her.”
“Good,” Alix says, setting his glass on the table. “If she’s anything like you, which I suspect she is—because otherwise, you wouldn’t adore her so much—”
I shoot him a look, and Alix laughs. “Please, don’t even try to deny it.” He silences me before continuing. “If she’s anything like you, then the four of us will have a lot of fun together.”
His dark eyes sparkle with joy, clearly imagining all the kinds of fun he wants to have with my wife.
“We’ll see,” is all I say. I empty my glass and get up, buttoning my vest once more. “I should start getting back, though.”
I walk back over to Nikolay, whose body is now well and truly drained of blood. His clothes, the sofa, and the carpet are all stained a deep crimson. Considering my options, I use a swipe of magic to sever his head from his shoulders. There’s a whoosh of air as the head tumbles onto the sofa.
“I need something to put that in,” I mumble.
“Closet in the hallway,” Alix suggests from where he’s still seated at the table, and I step into the dark corridor.
Flicking on the light, I decide to check on Nikolay’s brother first. The second door between the stairs and the kitchen reveals a tiny bathroom where Alix somehow managed to stuff the unconscious twin.
I pull out my phone and send Thomas another message to have Andrei brought over for interrogation.
Next, I head to the closet Alix pointed out, finding a cardboard box filled with knickknacks the twins kept from their victims—trophies, I assume.
I dump the contents on the floor and take the now-empty box back to the living room.
Alix is already waiting for me, the head in his hands, carefully positioning it inside the box.
“What makes you think she’ll be happy to get a head in a box?” he asks, sounding genuinely curious.
“She won’t. Like I said, it’s an apology. She doesn’t need to like it.”
He regards me as he wipes his hands on his black jeans. “Yeah, she got you good.”
I have to hold back the urge to pummel him. Instead, I place the lid on the box and make my way back to the hallway. The sooner I get out of this disgrace of a home, the better.
“Malakai,” Alix calls, and I turn back to face him. “It’s good to have you back. Don’t tell Desi I told you this because she won’t let me live it down, but I actually missed having your grumpy ass around.”
“Likewise.” He grins broadly at my confession. “And Alix,” I add, my tone wiping the grin off his face, “I will deny it when asked.”
He salutes me with a curtsy, walking backward and disappearing into the shadows.
I step out into the hallway, cross the filthiest kitchen in existence, and manage to take a decent breath when I’m back in the garden.
There’s no need for me to be outside to transport, but it feels as if this place’s grime will stick to me if I don’t.
Without looking back, I wordlessly transport home, the cardboard box clasped tightly in my hands.