Maudlin's Mayhem (Bewitching Bedlam #2)(8)

“That’s when we ran wild, in our party-hearty stage,” Sandy said. “Finally, the scene grew old. Satyrs and nymphs are a lot of fun, but you can only drink so much wine, fuck so many cocks, eat so much pussy, before you want something else in life.”

Aegis arched his eyebrows. “Sex, drugs, and rock ’n roll, huh?”

I laughed. “Well, I had the sex and drugs all right. Now I’ve got the sex, rock ’n roll, and the occasional bender. But I’ve also got the Bewitching Bedlam, and that makes all the difference.” Turning back to Max, I reached for the pizza wheel. “And that is how I went from vampire hunter to vampire lover, in a long nutshell.”

As we dove into our meal, I realized just how grateful I was that my life had turned out like this. I would always mourn Tom, but I was happy now, and that’s what mattered.





WE WERE SITTING in the living room, watching an old movie—Night of the Living Dead—when I remembered the package. I hopped up, grabbing the empty potato chip bowl, and dashed into the kitchen.

After refilling the bowl, I picked up the box. It was small, about the size of a brownie. Maybe it was a brownie, I thought. I carefully unwrapped the paper. Inside sat a red velvet box that reminded me of a jewelry box. Aegis must have been trying to surprise me. He often slipped trinkets onto my nightstand while I slept, and I’d find them the next morning. He also loved sending me flowers.

I flipped open the lid on the box. In the center sat a brooch. The rose gold heart had a ruby centered under the point, and was both delicate and elegant at the same time. It wasn’t my usual style, but as I lifted it off the cushion, I found myself mesmerized by the piece. It was lovely, and looked vintage. Smiling—it had to be from Aegis—I pinned it to my shirt. Then, refilling the bowl of chips, I returned to the living room.

“Thank you, I love it!” I handed Sandy the bowl, then leaned over Aegis’s shoulder, wrapping my arms around his neck. “It’s so pretty, and you’re so thoughtful.” Kissing him on the forehead, I nuzzled his hair with my nose.

He laughed. “Well, I’m glad you think so, but what are you thanking me for? I haven’t made that pan of Turkish delight that I promised—not yet, at least.”

I snickered and slid onto his lap. “Maybe not, but still…I love you to pieces.”

“Whatever you did, you did it right.” Max reached for a handful of chips.

“It must be my natural charm,” Aegis said, winking at him.

“No, seriously, thank you.” I was starting to get annoyed. I liked to joke around as much as the next person—probably more—but I wanted him to realize just how much I appreciated the brooch. “The pin. This one.” I pointed above my left boob. “The box that came to the door? Thank you, I love it.”

Aegis stared at the heart, a furrow forming on his brow. “Love, I didn’t buy that.”

“What do you mean? If you didn’t, who did?” It was my turn to frown. If not Aegis, who on earth would send me expensive jewelry? Even though the piece was simple, I could tell it hadn’t come cheap. Rose gold and a ruby that size weren’t exactly the stuff of petty cash.

“Was there a note?” Aegis asked.

Sandy muted the television as she leaned over to check out the heart. “That’s gorgeous. And I can tell you right now, that’s real. I have a thing for gems and metal—I can tune into them.” Sandy actually had a thing for money in general. She could sense fake designer wear, costume jewelry, and counterfeit bills a mile off. If she said the brooch was real gold and ruby, I believed her.

Confused, I slid off of Aegis’s lap. “I don’t think so. Let me go look.”

As I headed into the kitchen, my head started to pound. I winced as I picked up the box. Nothing. I flattened out the paper it had been wrapped in, thinking that somebody might have written a note on the inside, but nothing. I peered at the address label. The handwriting wasn’t familiar, and now that I looked at it, I realized there was no return address. The velvet box revealed nothing out of the ordinary—just the puffy little cushion the brooch had rested on. I even slit the material and peeked inside, but there was only cotton.

Leaning against the counter, I realized that I was more than annoyed—I was now anxious, as well as on the verge of a headache.

“Are you okay?” Sandy asked as she peeked into the kitchen. She glanced around. “So, no clue yet?”

I shook my head. “No note. No return address. I wish I could be sure Aegis isn’t messing with me—you know, playing a joke.”

“He isn’t. He’s out there complaining to Max about men who send jewelry to other men’s girlfriends. A little jelly, isn’t he?”

I laughed through the growing ache in my temples. “Oh, he’s got a jealous streak, all right. I don’t know if it’s just him, or if it’s his vampire nature. But he’s not a brute and he’s not stupid about it, so I can deal.” I tossed the box back on the counter. “I just want to know who sent this. It’s like when you can’t remember the name of a song. The more you try to figure it out, the more frustrated you get.”

“Why don’t you come back and finish watching the movie? Chances are, a friend sent it and just forgot to enclose the note. I’ve done that any number of times.” She wrapped her arm around me. “Would you like me to get some Throb-Be-Gone tablets for you?”