WIPWordSearch Excerpts February 2024 Week 3

“Actually, could you come stir? I need to finish #dessert.”

Their elbows bumped as Thomas took the ladle. Despite the chaos permeating the main apartment, Artemis kept her tiny kitchen well-organized. It made cooking with her relaxing, and he enjoyed helping her.

“Monster, you say?”

Thomas blushed. “I didn’t mean that you—what I mean is—”

“Relax.” Julia waved her hand #dismissively. “I won’t take offense over a few frustrated words.”

It wasn’t his #dream job, but a job at a vampire pub was still a job, right?

He gripped his own coffee cup as tightly as he #dared. The ceramic under his fingers developed hairline fractures and the brown liquid had small waves across the surface.

Thomas flinched as he saw Lawrence’s #deadly expression. He was beginning to feel like a beaten dog being backed into a corner.

Being this close to her made it easy to see the pulse beating in her neck, but unlike with the waitress in the bar last night, he felt no monstrous #desire to drink her blood.

#Damn vampire bite

“Most of my pack has #deserted this city . . . and before you ask, no. They will not be returning, either. There is nothing left for them here. We’ve both lost our packs. The time for power plays has long since gone.”

“Oneiromancy. #Dream magic or something like that,”

Thomas wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to bring up, but he couldn’t think of any other way to get through to the man he once respected. He had to make him understand.

“Don’t you #dare—”

The brief stench of sunscreen and a gagging mixture of rotting eggs, cabbage, and mothballs on the #dawn’s breeze made her nose itch.

Jugular James was simply too quick and #deadly with his silver-dipped garrotes. He could slit a throat or strangle someone so quickly he could be a block away before his victim’s body hit the ground.

Hot tingles shot along her arms and down her spine. He hadn’t spoken those words out of passion or #desire. He’d stated it like a fact. An undeniable, inarguable fact.

He loved her.

“That’s why we stayed here and pay for the #damn potion every month.”