He wanted her out of that bedroom.
To get to me.
I stand slowly, my pounding heart calming into a deep warming as Ivy laughs melodiously once more. She deserves tonight. She deserves a fancy dress and a beautiful dinner and a good guy like Benton.
At least for tonight. Even if it is at my own expense.
I turn to leave.
And come face-to-face with a stranger.
Half his skull is exposed on his left side. The bare, graying bone there startles me more than I’ll ever admit. His brows wag high despite the missing flesh. A smile carves his face. And then he tackles me to the floor. Chairs rattle near my side, but I stay soundless.
“Do. Not.” I gag as his fingers dig into my throat. “Fuck up. This. Date. For her.”
“What?” Skull Head asks.
My knee comes up fast, and before he can curse my ass out, I’m covering his mouth with my hand and straddling across his chest.
“Shut up! Shut it up!” I hiss at him, urgently trying to save Ivy’s big evening even while I’m being attacked by a fucking corpse. “Who are you?”
He flails, his arm flinging out fast, and all too fast, he hits me in the side of the face with something solid.
Stars flash behind my lids. I go down hard, and he’s atop me once more.
My lashes lift, and I see stars all over again. In Synder Steel’s narrowed eyes. Leisurely, he crosses into the dim lighting like a monster crawling out of a closet. Each step is meticulous.
I’m so caught up in his movements, I’m no longer focused on Skull Head. Which makes him too curious about what I’m watching over his shoulder. The corpse man flings me away and rushes my enemy. Instead of defending himself, Synder embraces the attack. His arms wrap around tight, and he literally hugs the man. Skull Head heaves his full weight into the blow to take Synder down.
Except he doesn’t get the chance.
In his right hand, a glinting knife gleams in the dim light.
“You made a mistake touching her,” Synder seethes, embracing the man like a friend. Even as the blade slashes out. Over and over and over again, Synder sinks the blade into the man’s back. It’s the relishing look in Synder’s eyes that’s truly terrifying. He’s enjoying the feel of taking this man’s life.
On the seventh stab, blood splatters out violently. The spray of it pulls a gasp from my lungs. It soaks across my chest and splatters along my face. My lips part with shock, but still I don’t make a sound, even as Synder releases his hold and Skull Face drops right into me with the full weight of his very dead body.
My hands shake, but I hide it from the murderer in the room. I shove the corpse off of me and kick away with the heels of my boots, desperately putting space between me and the man who hates me. The one with the bloody knife still dripping in his hand.
He isn’t a good man. The brief moment we shared in Leavon’s chambers isn’t even thought of when I stare up into his wild eyes.
“Get up,” he rasps.
“You—you have a knife,” I murmur, my voice barely above a breath. Violent memories threaten to seep into my thoughts, but I shove them back down.
I haven’t seen anyone killed since I left this place.
Fear tremors through my very bones. For the first time, I consider, maybe I should have stayed away...
“My favorite knife, actually.” He slides it into a black leather belt around his narrow waist.
“F—favorite knife?” People have favorite knives? Like it’s some kind of hobby? That’s a thing?
“I said get up.” His hand extends to me, and I hide my nerves as I slide my blood-soaked palm into his. “Don’t ever stay on the floor. You don’t belong there.”
I can’t keep track of his words. Two days ago, this man threatened to kill me in a crowd of people.
Tonight, he saved my life.