Page 24 of Unmasking Her Shadow

I nod again, my thoughts spiraling and making speech difficult. Someone’s voice comes through their radio.

“We have to go, Red,” Ki says, gently lifting my chin to meet her gaze. I’m not sure why I do it, but I fall into her embrace on instinct. She hugs me back and kisses my forehead, calming my mind and stirring the butterflies to life in my stomach. “Get some rest and enjoy your treats,” she whispers against my temple before stepping away.

“Hope you love your finger, sunshine,” Ryker jokes, stepping around my vomit and following Ki out the door.

I press my hand to my stomach and eye the mess I have to clean up. Before I grab the paper towels, I run around my house searching all the rooms and closets. He had to have been inside while I was waiting for the police to show up and switched out the fingers. If he were here, though he’s gone now. Unless he’s discovered a hiding spot that isn’t known to me.

Hidden_Embers: Not funny.

Phantom_Shadow: It was a little funny. Was that the right one?

Hidden_Embers: I’m not saying anything that will tie me to this.

Phantom_Shadow: I can buy more gift boxes.

Hidden_Embers: Yes, it was the serpent, you psycho.

Phantom_Shadow: Punishing you is going to taste so sweet.

Hidden_Embers: Too bad. I started my period this morning.

Phantom_Shadow: Why do you think I dropped off so much chocolate? See you soon, pup. Rest while you can.

When I said I was getting too bored with my quiet life, I guess I should have specified that I didn’t wish for severed body parts to be dropped off on the same table I eat dinner on. I snatch the red box off the floor and use the lid to scrape the finger cake into it and throw it away. I’d say poor Tyler, but he probably deserved it. Who knows what he’s been up to since I left. I’m just glad Shadow didn’t send me one from each person. Just because they’re my exes doesn’t mean I wish any harm to fall on them. None of them deserved to be bound and gagged. Especially Cole. I don’t even consider him an ex. Just someone I slept with once.

I’m tempted to toss it all into the trash, but the finger wasn’t touching any of the chocolate. Shadow made sure of that. He mixes some sweetness with his danger. Wait. How did he know I started my period? I never told anyone. I shove another chocolate square into my mouth while I contemplate this fuckery I put myself in. There has to be a camera in my bathroom. If he watches me poop, I’m so done with all of this. Severed fingers are disgusting, but watching me use the toilet is on a whole other level of gross.

Hidden_Embers: Watching me use the bathroom is red.

Phantom_Shadow: Noted. Good thing I’m not a creep.

Well, that’s a relief. My stalker is a gentleman. Sort of. I scrunch my nose as my wet/dry vacuum sucks up my puke. So disgusting. I run the self-cleaning mode and empty the dirty water. This is not how I saw myself spending my evening. My stomach cramps, and I grab some of the chocolate candies that I prefer cold and toss them into the freezer before going to my bathroom to shower. I text Emily to make sure Xander showed back up with all of his fingers in tow. Not that I can ask her that, but I’m sure she would mention him being mutilated.

Before I step inside the shower, she responds. I blow out a breath of relief. He’s fine. Apparently, he had a work thing going on all day and forgot his phone. I bet it would be embarrassing to explain being kidnapped and released for no reason. That should mean the others are fine too, and I’m sure I’ll see Cole in the morning.

Red flags are confusing when they are green at certain angles.

I put on comfy pajamas, gather my sweet treats and a drink, then cuddle under the covers on my bed to watch a movie. It’s unfair that women have to have periods. Why do men even exist besides to donate their sperm to procreate? The only thing men have that women don’t are dicks. And we can have those too in any color we want, and they don’t say stupid shit. You can pick one for the night and put it away in a drawer when you are done.

I squirm under the covers. Fuck, I’m horny but it’s pointless to even try making myself come. The demon only wants Shadow for that. I hum when I rub my thighs together, putting pressure on my clit.

“I see the aphrodisiac is working,” Shadow announces from the doorway.

19

Kioni

I startle her when I walk inside her room. She has wrappers scattered across her bed and a speck of chocolate on the corner of her mouth. So fucking adorable.

“You drugged me?”

“No. It’s just…spicy chocolate.”

She finishes the last bite, and I chuckle.

“What? It’s delicious,” she defends herself.

I round the bed and come up next to her, wiping the chocolate off the corner of her mouth. “Are you scared of me now?”