Lilian Quinn

I never wanted to go to Mardi Gras. The wild parties, the chaos—none of it was for me. But my sister Raya lives for it, and spending time with her means everything. So, I went, determined to survive the madness for her sake.
Then I met him. A man so captivating it was impossible to look away. There was something dangerous about him, something eerily familiar, but I couldn’t place it. Not until the night that changed everything.
What started as a night of fun and celebration turned into a nightmare. Creatures that shouldn’t exist attacked us. The supernatural world isn’t real… at least, I thought it wasn’t. But now Raya is missing, and no one will believe me.
I know what I saw. I know she’s out there somewhere. But can I find her before it’s too late? And more terrifyingly—am I next?


Bloodborne Secrets

A team of female servants attend to me like a hive of bees to their queen. Working in diligent silence, they strip me naked with profound reverence. Any time I try to help with a button or something, they gently take my hand and lay it aside. It gives me the very real sense I run the risk of fucking up part of the ritual if I try to get involved, and in the end I wind up standing like a mannequin for it all.


They anoint me with different oils before leading me to a tub of steaming water. I’m made to stand in it, and they wash my body by dipping yew branches into the water and running them over me.


The bath water has been scented with clove oil—the same biting, spicy odor that clings to Azriel’s skin. As I breathe it in I realize they’re already binding me to him.


Chapter 31: Predator and Prey