Page 39 of Midnight Kiss
“Be careful,” I said, “there are bats.” It was a thoughtless thing to say, and I shook my head to clear it. “Wait, how do you know me? Who are you?”
“My name is Cassia,” she murmured. “And we have a mutual friend, you and I.”
“Oh. Who? No offense, but this is really weird, and I?—”
“Alexander.”
That shut me up. I swallowed. “You mean, Alexander Knight?”
The smile she wore grew wider, but it wasn’t as stunning. It was almost cold. “That’s right. Alexander Knight.”
“All right. What about him?” I asked, and then I sucked in a breath. “Is he all right? Is he in danger?”
“Danger,” she said, reaching for me and grasping my arm. “That’s hilarious. Alexander in danger. No, he’s not in danger, not from any force other than you.”
I tugged free of her. “What? What are you talking about? Listen, who are you? I mean, how do you know him, and why are you here in the first place?” A pang of jealousy tugged at me. Cassia was beautiful. A little on the scary side, but still drop dead gorgeous. How could I compare to her? And if she knew Alex, did that mean …
“Alexander is a good friend of mine,” Cassia said. “We’ve been friends for many years. So many that I’ve forgotten more good memories with him than you have the potential to make together.” Her crimson lips parted, the hint of a salacious smile toying with them. “But that’s not why I’m here. Alexander is my past. And though I don’t particularly approve of his choice with you, I’m a special type of fool who cares for those less blessed than herself.”
I reeled from the continuous stream of passive aggressive insults. I lifted my chin. “I don’t know why any of that matters. You need to leave, or I’m going to call the cops.”
“No, you’re not going to call the cops.” And her hand was on my arm again.
I shivered.
“You’re going to forget I was ever here after I’m gone.”
“I—”
“There’s something you need to know,” Cassia said. “About your dear friend, Alexander.”
“What?” I took a step toward the stairs, glancing at the glass doors and the night outside. A figure walked past in the darkness, someone wearing a hoodie. They stopped outside, standing there almost as if waiting for something.
“Alexander is using you,” she said.
“I don’t even know you. Why would I believe a word you have to say?”
Cassia swore under her breath. “Stubborn.” She reached for me again.
I took two of the stairs and stood on them, glaring down at her. “Leave me alone, Cassia.”
“Stay there.”
And it was as if I was glued to the spot, my hand on the balustrade, nails digging into the wood. This wasn’t normal. Whatever she was doing … It was like I had to obey her commands, but it didn’t make sense.
“Alexander is after your book,” Cassia said. “That’s all he wants from you. He wants your book, and he will do whatever he can to get it.
“I don’t believe you,” I said. “He would never try to steal from me. He’s a good man.” And why would he be interested in my novel?
“You don’t know the real Alexander like I do,” Cassia said, smiling at me. “I know him intimately. We dated for years. And when this is all over, my dear, he will come crawling back to me.”
“You—”
“Because he will inevitably get bored of you and your weakness and your fear. But that’s not why I’m here, darling. I’ve come to save you from him before it’s too late.” She sighed. “Even though it goes against my better instincts. You see, he wants that book of yours, and he will stop at nothing to get it.”
“Why can’t I move?”
“Because I don’t want you to move. You’re powerless in the face of my compulsion. It’s the same with Alex. He’s using you and making you believe that you want him, when really, it’s a lie. You’re nothing to him. Just a pawn.”