Skin and Bones

  Three weeks after leaving the hospital, Ever stood in front of her mirror and assessed herself. Dressed in a sky blue, knee-length dress—which she had learned was Derek’s favourite colour—she slipped her feet into black heels that should add an inch or two to her height. Tonight was her first official ‘date’ with Derek. They had been so busy the last few weeks that it had been almost impossible to make arrangements before now.

  Not that they hadn’t seen each other over those three weeks, but they had both secured a night off, and she was excited. Draping a shawl over her shoulders, she left her room and made her way downstairs. The thumping of Erika’s heavy-metal music vibrated from the guesthouse and brought a smile to her face. Despite her reservations, Erika had turned out to be a good tenant, and late-night movies and chats had made them firm friends.

  As had Caitlyn. The vampire called her at least once a day to check on her but still had yet to divulge what had happened that night to her… and neither had Derek. Her wolf had managed to evade her questions with kisses to distract her anytime she broached the subject.

  Pushy wolf.

  Glancing at the clock on the wall, she noticed that it read seven-forty pm. Derek was late. Her wolf tended to be over-punctual, arriving at the very time he had promised to be there. She tried not to worry, to elevate the knot that had managed to twist in her stomach. Reapplying her lipstick, she kept glancing at the clock.

  Derek?

  She sought out the bond that connected them, but all she got was silence. Maybe the shields that Caitlyn had helped her build were working too well.

  Her phone rang, and she groaned when she saw the station’s number show up on her caller ID. If he was calling, it meant he wasn’t on his way. She pressed Answer and tried for her best pissed-off voice.

  “Oh no, Mr. Agent, you’re so not cancelling our date. We’ve had this planned for ages,” she drawled. “Unless someone is dead or dying, don’t even try to cancel. Come on, Derek. I wore a dress and everything. If you think you can smooth this over with promises of making out with me or the likes, I will just taunt you by telling you about the brand-new underwear I bought…”

  “Ever! TMI, TMI!”

  Her skin flushed red.

  “God, Ricky, why didn’t you say something sooner?”

  “You wouldn’t let me get a word in edgeways. Ever, I need you down here. Derek’s been arrested.”

  “What happened?” she asked as she raced upstairs to change.

  There was a hesitant pause before the warlock answered. “Police burst into an apartment this morning after a disturbance was called in by a neighbour. They found Derek asleep next to a girl. He was covered in blood, and she was dead.”

  She knew it couldn’t be true, but she gasped. Derek had been with another girl when he’d wanted to go slow with her. Betrayal stung, but what Ricky said next changed everything.

  “She was in bits, Ever. They’re claiming Derek lost it and ate her. It’s not possible… it’s D… but the body was ripped apart.

  They’re saying he ate her fucking heart while it still beat in her chest.”

  To be continued.