Page 109 of Tainted Souls
Hanae raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the insight.
“Someone had to keep you from breaking your neck,” Saul scoffs, finally moving his chess piece with a calculated flick of his wrist. “You climbed everything in sight.”
“Only because you said I couldn’t.”
“Told you she was stubborn,” Saul mutters to Hanae, his eyes glued to the board.
“She sounds like a nightmare,” Hanae teases, casting me a conspiratorial smile. “I like her.”
Saul leans back, letting out a dry laugh, while steadying a piece that wobbled. “Trust me, she was—and still is.”
“Be nice,” Irene chides Saul, though there is fondness in her tone. “Care to join us, Seraph? We’re playing Hearts.”
The invitation is casual, but something about it feels layered, like a stage carefully set. Maybe they’re trying to disarm me, or maybe this is their way of measuring how much I’m willing to play along.
I peer into the contents of my glass, suddenly wary of what’s inside. “I don’t know the rules.”
Reece grins, all boyish charm. “Perfect. Easier to take your coin that way.”
I stand, putting my glass on the mantel. “You assume I have credits to lose.”
“In this house, no one plays for actual currency,” Irene says, waving Reece off. “The stakes are much more interesting.”
“I’ll teach you,” Reece offers quickly, his posture easy and inviting. Too inviting. There’s even a hunger in his eye that has nothing to do with blood.
“She’ll sit with me,” Saul interjects before I can say anything, taking Hanae’s knight with a flourish. “After I destroy this little minx.”
Hanae snorts, sliding her queen across the board. “Checkmate.”
Saul stares down at the board, disbelief etched across his features. “That’s—” He pauses, tracing potential moves with his finger before slumping back in defeat. “Impossible.”
“Third time this week,” Hanae gloats, collecting the pieces. “Perhaps you should stick to brooding and biting things. Strategy clearly isn’t your strong suit.”
Saul mutters something under his breath, but there’s no real venom behind it. The flicker of a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth before he hides it behind his glass. Their banter feels so normal. It’s jarring to see Saul like this—relaxed, engaged, part of something. He belongs here in a way I never would’ve imagined.
“Seraph,” Reece calls, fanning the cards between his fingers with casual mastery. “You in? You might be surprised by what you win.”
I make my way over to the table, settling into the empty chair next to him. “What exactly are the stakes here?”
“In Hearts, we play for secrets.” Reece’s eyes sparkle with mischief as he shuffles the deck. “The winner gets to ask any question they want of the loser, and the loser must answer truthfully.”
“That’s it?” I ask skeptically. “Just questions?”
“Oh, trust me,” he leans in, his voice dropping to a whisper, “in a house of immortals, secrets are the most valuable currency. I’d wager you have plenty worth discovering.” His gaze lingers on mine a beat too long.
I shift uncomfortably under his attention. “And if I don’t want to answer?”
“Then you forfeit a favor instead,” Reece explains, dealing the cards like a well-rehearsed performance. “To be collected at the winner’s discretion.”
“Within reason,” Irene adds quickly.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Reece winks at me, his knee brushing against mine under the table, the contact seemingly accidental but with a clear intention behind it. “I can think of a few favors I would love to request from you.”
“Back off, Reece,” Saul growls, appearing behind my chair. “She’s not interested.”
A twinge of irritation stirs inside me, sparked by that old annoyance at my brother’s insistence. He knows I can handle things on my own, that I’m more than capable of fending off silver-tongued Casanovas like Reece without him stepping in. But a part of me is grateful, so I keep my lips pressed together and let the moment pass.
Reece raises his hands in mock surrender, but the smirk never leaves his face. “Just setting the stage for our dazzling debutante. No harm in that.”
