Page 21 of Broken Mercy
But I get this strange feeling, like a certainty deep inside my fingers, radiating out along my nervous system.
He knows what I’m saying.
I hold up the ring and inspect it in the light. My mouth is cotton-dry as it reflects rainbow colors on the ground. Gorgeous, a statement piece. A ring fit for royalty.
I press it to my finger, about to slip it on?—
But stop myself.
What the hell am I doing?
This isn’t mine. And even if it is, I don’t want it like this. Brenden lured me from my dress shopping and ambushed me. He shoved this monstrosity into my pocket when I wasn’t paying attention. How he managed to do all that, I have no clue, but it’s the only logical explanation.
He’s a thief, right?
This is what he does.
“Next time, give it to me the normal way.” I drop the ring back into my pocket. “And don’t be a creep.”
I start walking away, but I swear, I hear someone whisper,That’ll be hard for me, baby,except there’s nobody when I look around.
I curlup on my side, close my eyes, and try to sleep.
But sleep’s not coming.
I keep playing through the events of the last few weeks. Meeting Brenden at the party, finding out we’re getting married, going through the farce of wedding planning, trying on dresses, getting the ring. I reach under the pillow and touch the cold metal and diamond, rolling it around, but not slipping it on.
Is this what I have to look forward to? A man only partially in my life? A ghost of a human who drifts in and out, creepily reverse-pickpocketing me?
It’s not the worst thing.
To be married to a ghost who puts expensive objects in my pockets.
Still not exactly my dream of a perfect relationship.
I feel myself drifting, my thoughts spreading loosely, my mind pulling apart, when there’s a tapping that yanks me back. I grunt, rolling to my back, and listen again.
It’s coming from my window.
Fear spikes into my stomach. I can’t move. This is a nightmare incarnate. There’s a monster trying to break into my house and it’s going to trick me into letting it through and once I do it’ll rip open my belly and wrap my entrails around its shoulders like a nasty drippy ugly scarf and oh god?—
The ring digs sharply into my palm. I hold it tightly as the tapping comes again, rhythmic and patient, though louder this time. I force myself out of bed and walk close, right on the edge of freaking out, to peer through the blinds.
Brenden’s hanging beside my windowsill.
I scream and have to cover my own mouth to avoid waking up the whole damn house.
The window jerks open. I pinwheel backward in shock, lose my balance, and fall right on my ass.
“Talin?! Are you okay? I heard you scream.”
“What thefuckare you doing?!” I shuffle further from the window. “Brenden, is that you?”
“I’m coming inside.”
“Wait, no!” Aren’t vampires supposed to ask for permission? In all the stories, monsters wait for people to let them through.
But this monster doesn’t bother.
