Page 103 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
I open my nightstand drawer to check my burner phone. A handwritten note is folded on top of it—the handwriting looks like mine, but I don’t remember writing it. Nor have I had the chance to do so.
Find Somnus, you absolute jackass.
If I wasn’t so unsettled, I might laugh.
What in the actual fuck?
I sit on the edge of my bed vengeance and burner phone momentarily forgotten as my mind reels. I cast my gaze around the room as if I might find some kind of answer. After several moments, I drop the note on the nightstand and finally pick up the burner phone.
I’m too distracted with thoughts of Violette, Somnus, and whoever the fuck left this note to feel any disappointment that there’s still no update from my contact in relation to mystarlingreturning home. However, it does confirm my suspicion that time in Violette’s realm passes differently. It’s still the same night Violette kidnapped me. Only a few hours since. And time to get ready for a day of work on Gideon’s ranch.
I’m more than a little relieved for the distraction, lest I wallow in self-pity and remorse I can do nothing about.
LEVI
“You gonna spit it out or just make me guess why you’ve been staring a hole into the side of my face?”
Beau smirks from atop his horse as we herd the cattle back towards their barn. “Just waiting for you to implode from all this brooding.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I know exactly what he’s talking about. I’ve been stewing in silence, all but writhing in pain from this fucking bond.
Beau lets out a sardonic cackle. “Okay, sour puss. Keep your secrets.”
“I have no secrets.”
Liar.
Gideon snorts from atop his horse on the other side of Beau. They exchange a look.
“So... What was that thing about the rabbit the other day?”
Fuck.
It was Violette.
Had to be.
The realization sends another spear of pain shooting through that tether, directly into my heart.
“Nothing.”
Beau stares off into the distance as he speaks. “Cool. Cool, cool, cool. So you trapped the rabbit and just completely forgot? Or is there someone sneaking onto your property that I should be concerned about?”
My jaw clenches. “Nothing to be concerned about.”
Beau looks borderline annoyed as silence descends between us.
Briefly.
Because for all of Beau’s lighthearted goodness, he’s also a hothead. And I’m being a dick.
“Brother, I’ve fucking killed for you…”
Here we go.
“Stitched you up in the field.”
