chapter forty-six

Eight months later…

I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I made my way back from the store, my heart racing with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The sun had set, casting the world in a blanket of darkness that only served to amplify the sense of foreboding that had settled over me.

As I rounded the corner, I spotted him—Orpheus, stepping into a nightclub with an air of confidence that was both alluring and intimidating. He was dressed in his usual attire, a black leather jacket over a plain white T-shirt that clung to his muscular frame. His long white hair was tied back in a ponytail, exposing his angular features and piercing blue eyes.

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy as I watched him enter the club, knowing that whoever was his prey tonight would be subjected to the pleasure of his bite. It was a strange feeling, one that I hadn’t experienced often, and it only served to fuel my determination to confront him.

I followed him into the club, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of his intended target. The music was loud, the bass thumping through my chest and drowning out all other sounds. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and alcohol, and I could feel the heat of the bodies around me as they danced and gyrated to the beat.

It didn’t take long for me to spot her—a heavily intoxicated girl with the same shade of red hair as mine. She was swaying unsteadily on her feet, her eyes glazed over, and her lips parted in a drunken smile. Orpheus stood close to her, his hand resting on her shoulder as he leaned in to whisper something in her ear.

I felt a surge of anger as I watched them, my fists clenching tightly at my sides. How dare he try to steal my heart like this? How dare he think he could just take what was mine and discard it like it meant nothing to him?

Without another thought, I pushed my way through the crowd and grabbed Orpheus by the arm, yanking him away from the girl. His eyes widened in surprise as he turned to face me, his hand instinctively reaching for my wrist as he tried to pull away.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice rough and low.

“Not here,” I hissed, my voice barely above a whisper. “Let’s go to your place.”

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering between me and the girl, before finally nodding his agreement. He led me to a nearby apartment building and took me to an elevator that would take us to the top floor.

As we rode up, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation mixed with trepidation. This was the first time I had ever been to his apartment, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would look like. Would it be dark and brooding, like I imagined his personality to be? Or would it be bright and airy, a reflection of the love he claimed to have for me?

The elevator doors slid open, and I stepped out into a spacious penthouse suite that was anything but what I had expected. The walls were painted a soft shade of cream, and the furniture was modern and stylish, with a mix of leather and chrome accents. A large window dominated one wall, offering a stunning view of the city below.

I couldn’t help but feel a sense of amusement as I took in the scene, my eyes scanning the room for any signs of the Orpheus I knew. But as I continued to look, I realized that there was nothing here that hinted at the darkness I had come to associate with him.

It was then that I remembered everything—the pain, the betrayal, the sense of loss that had consumed me in the months since he had tried to take back his heart. I felt my anger rising once again, and before I could stop myself, I was pushing him towards his bedroom, my mouth on his as I got so close to him that I was practically trying to shove myself inside his skin.

He responded to my kiss with an urgency that was both unexpected and thrilling, his hands roaming over my body as he pulled me closer. I could feel the heat of his skin against mine, and I knew that this was what I had been missing all along—this connection between us. I still loved him, and I was willing to show that every day until the day I died.