ROSE Rum's not here— it's already one in the morning—he's usually here by midnight—or slightly after—where's he? Did he finally get sick of my tantrums? He's decided to cut me loose. Phone. Messages. My fingers were shaking as they moved across the screen. Blood was rushing the messaging app to come up quick. Please. Please don't fire me. Please, let there be no text from Dan. Thank God. Nothing from him. None from Michael. Nor Rum. I finally exhaled. I could feel my body again. I returned to staring at the window—the opening that has become Rum's personal door to my room. Is he not coming tonight? He must still be mad. But so am I! Why did he bring up Goldie Sparks? Did he think it would appease me? No, it won't! I'll keep thinking about them, whether they're holding hands, kissing, or worse, rolling about naked in bed—. Jesus Christ…. Get a grip of yourself, Rose! Didn't Rum made a pact with you? As long as you don't sleep with any other guy, he won't sleep with that
ROSE He looked at me like I’ve got a point so my confidence shot up. I leaned forward, my face coming to an inch from his, and I said, ‘It’s brilliant, right?’ Then, I felt two large warm palms just above each of my knees. I looked down—. ‘Don’t.’ He breathed. ‘Don’t look away from me.’ Something in his voice tugged at me. I jerked up my face and his eyes held mine when he whispered, ‘We’ll do it. But with one condition.’ I could almost guess what it was. ‘You can’t be alone with Ambrose.’ He searched my face for a hint of betrayal. I’m sure he’d find none. How do I make him believe it without breaking the contract? And of all people—werewolves included—why Ambrose? Why didn’t he think that I might actually fall for him? Right. Because he doesn't want me to fall for him. This is so messed up. I sighed and began my impromptu explanation, ‘Whenever I’m alone with Ambrose—.’ ‘Fuck.’ He turned away. ‘I don’t want to hear it.’ I grabbed his face and pressed my forehea
ELENA The door to our bedroom opens and he strides through in his princely way. Despite being an elder now, he’s still the same werewolf he was when I first met him in the woods. The only difference is his smiles were gone. In their place, a frown of disapproval. He’s still angry with me—with me and Kris, to be exact—for letting Keithen go. ‘How did it go tonight?’ I ask, mustering the smile of sugar, spice and everything nice. ‘Did it work?’ He moves past me towards the bathroom, not a word. I know he’s ignoring me; he couldn’t bring himself to yell at me so he resorts to this manner of expression. Which I find ridiculous because he’s getting hurt in the process. ‘Ellis.’ I hurry closer. ‘Please. Are you not going to talk to me forever? Say something. Anything. I know you’re angry. Vent it on me; I deserve it—-.’ He spun around, those handsome eyes that were always soft when they looked at me are now cold and stern. ‘You know I love you more than you do….’ He moves forw
RUM ‘You’re shitting me.’ I heard my voice in a low growl. These elders were not done testing my patience. I came here for the seventh near-death experience—and some enlightenment for them (it’s really not that hard to accept one’s stupidity)—and they continue to shit on me. ‘Now you want me to scour the human world for dark whims.’ Laughter exploded from me. ‘Oh Jesus….’ I looked away from my mother’s squint of puzzlement. ‘JESUS CHRIST!’ ‘Who’s that?’ My mother whispered to Elena, who signalled back that she would explain later. ‘It’s your duty—.’ As soon as Magnus began, Ellis flashed a palm to interject. ‘It’s our request.’ The Alpha of poise and irritation stepped forward with a pleading face. ‘To our beloved leader—.’ ‘Oh no….’ I shuffled back, shaking my head profusely. ‘You’re not guilt tripping me. Goddamn it!’ ‘Ah, so that’s what it’s called.’ Ellis tapped a finger to his chin in ponderment. To his mate’s hiss of reminder, he smiled politely and said, ‘I’m s
ROSE Tonight, V Club, the largest one in the U.R.T. It closed down for a long time and reopened under new management. Rumour has it that it was closed down because the old owner was caught for selling drugs at the establishment. Personally, after witnessing one of Rum’s parties, I’m not surprised to find drugs there. New management or not, drugs will be drugs. There’ll always be a demand for it. Sometimes, it’s better to escape from reality. ‘Good evening, Mr. Rum.’ A guy as huge as M.Biggy, with a serious face half-covered by shades and a grim line of mouth, stepped aside to show us an oak door. Jesus…this guy has private access to everything. Rum halted right in front of the bouncer, whispered something into his ear, and the latter gave a serious nod before slipping back in front of the door. A strong grip came around my wrist and I was yanked through the slit between doors. As soon as we entered the cool, silent hall, Rum seemed to know where we’re going and pulled me i
AMBROSE ‘Ha!’ The shrieks of pleasure sparked the cold air of the dark bedroom. ‘Ha!... R-Rum!’ ‘Here?’ Ambrose thrust his hip with all the might of his grunt, and the female moaned a loud, high pitch. ‘Yes!’ Those slim fingers gripped harder the edge of the vanity table. In the mirror, her face strained with intense bliss and a greater desire for more. ‘More, Rum… more!’ Ambrose reached forward for that sharp chin and grabbed it to yank it up, so that those two beautiful globes of flesh and pink buds appeared in the same reflection as her reddened face. He shoved forward and growled, ‘V Club?’ ‘Mmph!’ Her eyes struggled to open. ‘R-Rum… please… don’t stop…’ Ambrose pinched the left peak of her breasts as he sucked the skin below her earlobe. Another piercing scream jabbed the air. ‘Tell me more….’ The female Goldie Sparks whimpered reluctantly. ‘Y-You mean… the model you said who saw us…at V Club…and told you? I don’t know who he is…please Rum…’ ‘Work harder, Miss Spa
ROSE Now, get lost. I stared at the marble tiles of the lobby of the B.A.D. building as the words kept looping in my head. Just like that, I’m fired again. Did I hear it wrong? Am I fired for real? But what did I do? Because I talked to Ambrose alone so Rum's upset? No. That can't be it. Rum said he would…do something else. He wouldn't fire me. He’d told me a million times to stay by his side. 'No money for a cab?' A cool snigger sounded from behind me. I knew who it was and I hesitated to turn back to face the person. But pride made me do it. And Goldie Sparks was standing in front of the glass door as it slid to shut the main entrance of the B.A.D building. She opened her purse and fished out a few pieces of purple bills—thousand dollar notes. That bitch. 'I don't need your money.' I turned back to the gate that guarded the building. 'So it's really not about the money.' A silky chuckle flowed out. Ignore her, Rose. If she was consumed—wait. The dark whims! Rum
ROSE 'Who does she think she is?!' TAK! TAK! TAK! The enraged tap repeatedly thumped with jealousy. 'The sole heir of the diamond king, that's what she is,' replied the second voice in a bored tone. No doubt the first one belonged to my old bully, Christy; the other would have to be Lilian. Since I last saw them at Rum's mansion, I heard snippets about the styling team from some of the crew. Apparently, Tessa has fallen out with Christy—she's dating a model now, and has no time for Rum nonsense apparently—so Christy had been hanging out with Lilian more ever since. 'Still! Rum's not hers!' Christy slammed down hard on the tap; the water gushed out in a mad shower. 'Did you see her? Rum darling this, Rum darling that.' Lilian chuckled. 'You really sound like her. But don't be too loud. The walls have ears.' Indeed. I smiled weakly at the door of my stall. 'She kissed Rum on his cheek in front of everyone!' Christy berated. 'The gall of that woman!' 'Rum didn't look like