Chapter 12 #2
“How dare I? How dare you? Pearly White is going to lecture you for breaking his program. I’m sure you have a very good reason for it.
I’m the only completely unreasonable person here.
Other than Fellicci who actually turned down a chance to duet with you so he could solo? ” He tsked. “Now that’s madness.”
I glowered. “You life-bound us.”
He blinked, a moment’s startled unease before it vanished behind apathetic indifference. “Is that so bad?”
“I’ve had over a dozen assassination attempts recently.
You’re tying your life to someone on the brink of death.
And for what? Eventually I’m going to turn.
You’re supposed to be my friend who can put me out of my misery, but if you die, you’re dead.
Permanent. The end! Why would you do something so stupid? ”
He stared at me and missed a beat before he pulled me closer and frowned. “Oh. I didn’t think about that.” He spun me out and in before turning and dipping me so my ringlets brushed the floor.
“Cut,” Pearly White said, and I broke out of Richard’s hold and stalked towards the kitchen.
“You ignored my instructions,” Pearly White called after me.
“Because they were stupid. Also, it’s my life. I’ll vote how I like.”
I marched down the hall, heart beating too fast. Richard didn’t think of that? Seriously? What was wrong with his brain? I should take him to the lab and dissect him so I could see. Maybe he had parasites or something making him so incomprehensibly idiotic.
I stopped when I realized I was in the kitchen. I didn’t need to be where he baked. I turned to leave, and there was Richard, blocking the door, looking like a Prince Charming who would burn you to ashes.
“Move.”
He raised a brow and then leaned against the doorway, blocking me even more obviously. “I want to talk to you.”
“How could you be so stupid?”
He smiled. “It’s a gift. How could you be so adorable? I love your dress.”
I glared at him. We could have matched if he’d bothered to tell me what he was wearing, but no. He hadn’t messaged me as SunRae since he bound his life to my death. Idiot.
I crossed my arms and turned, raising my nose in the air. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Sure you do. You can tell me all the ways I’m stupid. It sounds like you could go on for days, counting all the ways.” He batted his lashes at me, like we were joking.
I glowered at him. We were not joking. He didn’t care if I insulted him, or humiliated him, or sucked his blood. What would he mind? I couldn’t think of anything until I remembered the thing about angels having no desire.
I grabbed his head, gripping it tight like I might rip it off his neck and take it bowling.
He raised his eyebrows, mildly amused and then I pressed my lips hard to his, kissing him as thoroughly as possible.
Of course, I’d only kissed a few people, none of them more than once, quick pecks that were absolutely forgettable.
But he’d have no idea I was the worst kisser in the history of the world.
He’d just be horrified and offended because I was messing with his purity or whatever and then…
He came to life against me, hand circling my waist and securing me to him. His head bent over me, lips caressing mine, breath mingling, tasting of spice cake. Did he make spice cake and not tell me about it?
His lips were so soft and sweet. Who cared about spice cake when I could taste him? I lost my mind after that. I kissed him because he was my breath, my life, my soul. And he tasted so, mind-meltingly good.
“Agh! Can’t you two get a room?” Rafe exclaimed, his squeal at the beginning and low growl at the end breaking through the happy haze.
I threw myself away from Richard, heart beating too fast, breath coming in gasps and starts while my lips burned. He smiled at me, relaxed, comfortable with this entire situation, including the witness who pushed past us to go to the blender and mix his elixir.
I pointed at Richard, opened my mouth to say something, then turned and hurried out before I started throwing things.
Did nothing faze him? And how long was I going to feel like this, all soft and warm and aching?
Romantic. That’s how I was feeling. But that was the stupidest thing in the world.
He was SunRae, my best friend, but he was also painfully stupid, and he’d need my help finding his purpose because he was too busy being distracted from the pain of being an angel on earth.
Kissing me must fall on the spectrum of crazy things he did to distract from the boredom.
I should have realized it wouldn’t bother him.
Nothing did. Did I have to actually die for him to realize his mistake? What else was there?
The Commander was my only hope. He’d break this life binding, and penalize Richard in some way that he hated, maybe keeping him from fighting in the wars. He’d be forced to spend his life on the sidelines baking animal cakes. That would serve him right. I hoped he died of boredom.
I called Sultry as I walked.
“Hello, Katriana. Is something wrong?”
“You have access to the Scholar’s files, right? Doesn’t he have Ruby Blood’s phone number since that time she came to the lab for blood?”
She was quiet for a minute. “What do you want an assassin for? I saw the live broadcast of the show. I don’t think she could kill the angel, so you’d just be throwing away good money.”
I bristled at the mention of the most annoying angel in the world who was so stupidly suicidal. “I want a consultation. She’s so good at assassination, so she’s probably great at seeing them coming. I’m getting so sick of it.”
She sounded relieved. “That’s a great idea. I’ll text the number to you as soon as I have it. How are you doing with this competition? You looked slightly on edge tonight.”
I snorted. “I’m fine. Just living my best pastel princess life.”
“I was surprised that you gave a rose to the incubus. Be careful with him.”
“It’s just because Richard stole his pants. He’s such an idiot.”