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Then my fangs descended, and as I pierced her skin, she shuddered against me. And for the rest of the night, I made her mine, and she made me hers. When she finally drifted off to sleep against me, I watched her rest, those tiny pinpricks on her neck a memory of the last few hours. Hours that had changed me beyond measure.
I knew deep in my heart, a heart that no longer beat, that my life would never, could never, be the same.
Chapter 21
Trixie
“Do I have sex hair?” I whispered to Dom.
“You took a shower,” he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Your hair looks fine.”
My cheeks flushed. Indeed, my shower hadn’t been alone, and it hadn’t been boring. It hadn’t hurt that Dom’s penthouse shower was like something one would find in a five-star resort, complete with fancy shampoos and conditioners and shower gels. A sprig of eucalyptus had hung from the beautifully tiled wall, an accent I knew Dom hadn’t put there himself.
“You look ravishing,” Dom whispered back to me. “We’re supposed to look like we’re falling in love, remember? Sex hair is a good thing.”
“I thought you said I don’t have sex hair.”
“It doesn’t matter either way,” he said firmly. “I love you just the way you are.”
I gave a little scoff, but his words warmed something in me. Our confessions of love to one another had felt right. Perfect, even. I would’ve preferred to bask quietly in that revelation this morning, instead of inviting a crew of cameras in to catch this moment on film, but alas. If it would protect our privacy in the longer run, it would be worth it.
Dom winked in my direction as Vix approached us with a set of well-dressed people flanking her sides.
“Just sit here,” he promised me. “Hold my hand, smile. You don’t have to say a word.”
“That’s true,” Vix said, joining the conversation. “We just need a short statement that has viewers believing the two of you are smitten.” Vix studied us closer, narrowed her eyes at Dom as if she could visually see the love radiating off of us. “Not that it’ll require much in the way of acting.”
I was sure my cheeks went from peony to peach to plum in about three seconds. Dom slid his hand into mine, gave my skin a reassuring rub with his thumb. I felt myself relax against him as we sat in his already-perfectly-staged living room while people fluttered around us to set up a camera and microphones and whatever else.
“Who’s doing the interview?” I asked.
“Me.” Merci entered the room at that moment, giving Dom and I a smile that didn’t meet her eyes.
Vix glanced at us. “We figured it would have more weight as an official announcement if we brought in Merci herself to facilitate. All questions on her list have been pre-approved by me,” Vix said sharply, with a warning nod at Merci. “I trust the process will be very smooth.”
“Of course,” Merci said, taking a seat in an armchair next to where Dom and I sat on a loveseat, squished too close together. “Everything about this election has gone so smoothly, after all.”
Alarm bells rang in my head at the tone in Merci’s voice, as if she were personally offended that I wasn’t interested in participating in the campaign. As if I had purposefully made a mockery of something she cared deeply about.
“None of this is personal,” I told Merci. “I never wanted to be a candidate. It has nothing to do with you, or The Circle, or anything else. I tried to excuse myself politely, but people didn’t accept it.”
“You tried to defy The Fates. They chose you,” Merci said coolly. “It’s your responsibility to participate to the full extent of your capability.”
“Enough,” Vix said. “It’s a moot point because the fact of the matter is that these two are in-freaking-love, and if people can’t see that, they’re blind. So they’re disqualified anyway per CCCC Clause 873.”
Merci glanced between us, then shuffled some papers together on her lap in a little truce. “Let’s get started then. The elections are rapidly approaching, and I have a lot to do before then.”
The camera crew, Vix, and the rest of the people I presumed were part of some PR team hired by Dom, curved around us in a crescent moon shape.
“It’s fine,” Dom whispered. “It’ll be over in a few minutes.”
His soothing words were nice, but it was the feel of his hand in mine that anchored me. That kept my heart from racing so fast I’d pass out. That gave me the courage to make this leap publicly. Whatever was rapidly blooming between us, it was happening, and there was no turning back now.
“Rolling,” the camera guy said.
A few silent looks and hand motions later, and Merci turned on a smile that was completely different than anything she’d shown us privately. She ran through a quick introduction, then turned to face me and Dominic.
“I’m here with Dominic Kent and Trixie Gardens, and in light of the wildcard elections approaching, these two have an announcement to make.”
