Pancakes

~SERIS I opened my eyes to a stream of soft sunlight caressing my skin. Stretching, I yawned, pulling the pillow closer and cuddling in.Sleep drifted me further away into a peaceful abyss.“You have to wake, Seris,” Xena whispered, the sound like wisping, fading smoke in my head.My eyes flew open as I bolted upright in an instant, my head ringing with a maddening, shrill ache.My eyes darted about the strange room, my heart jumping into a sprint in my chest. The curtains were unfamiliar, the bed was the wrong softness, and the scent that wafted throughout the space made every hair on my body stand straight.I spiraled, leaping up with my pulse pounding.All I could smell was Sylus—the wickedly decadent scent of a man who haunted me like a figment of a waking nightmare.Even before my eyes could fully adjust, I raced out through what I could only assume was the outline of a door.I found myself in a long, winding hall with no idea where to go. Right or left?I had to find

Potential Accident

~SERIS I was running very late, and I had no choice but to take Sylus’s offer. He drove me to work. I had to report to Silverline—and to Robert.Just to distract myself from the fact that Sylus was just a few yards away in an enclosed space with me, I let my thoughts drift to the other headache in my life.The professional one.I had not spoken to Robert since our last scuffle when Sylus had interrupted the moment. That had almost been a month ago.Now, I had to report back about the current state and stage of the partnership with Dynamis. The only consolation was that it would be a meeting with the shareholders and other partners.I was happy for any way I would not be alone with the man.He came after I had become well-situated with the company after three years, after his brother, the original president, had been bought out for a lucrative sum and put his brother in.I still missed the kind, gentle Ronald. As much of a perfectionist as he was, he had his head in the game, a

The Boardroom Trap

~SERISI smoothed down my clothes. “It's okay, Maya,” I managed to say, my voice breathy as I pushed the door open and stepped out onto the solid pavement. “Are you hurt?”“No, no, I’m fine,” she murmured, though her eyes kept lingering on the dark interior of the car, entirely captivated by the sheer, imposing presence of the man behind the wheel.Sylus didn't get out of the vehicle, but he rolled his window down the rest of the way. His golden eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as he fixed a freezing glare onto her. “Watch where you are walking,” he said, his deep baritone laced with a subtle, predatory edge that made Maya visibly flinch. “Next time, you might not be dealing with someone who has the reflexes to spare your life. Pay attention.”“Y-yes, sir. Of course,” Maya squeaked, nodding frantically.Desperate to break the heavy spell and get away from the scorching heat of Sylus's gaze, I grabbed Maya's arm. “Come on, let’s get inside. We're both late.”Without looking back

Blackmail

~SERISI paused, my hand resting on the edge of my briefcase. I didn't want to be anywhere near him, let alone behind closed doors, but I wouldn't let him think he intimidated me.“Of course, Mr. Lane,” I replied calmly.I didn't sit back down. Instead, I stood my ground on the opposite side of the long mahogany table, crossing my arms and looking at him with cool indifference. I could see the immediate twitch in his jaw—the fact that I refused to sit, refused to take a subordinate posture, bothered him immensely. It stripped away his illusion of control, and in the quiet room, the silent battle of wills began anew.“What do you have to say for yourself?” he asked.I raised a quizzical brow. “What are you talking about?”He took a deep, shuddering breath. “In whose car did you come in today?”Maya had told him, and it hurt me more than it was supposed to.“How is that relevant to this conversation?” I returned.He rose, and my heart leapt into my throat, but I did not show it

Blackmail(ii)

~SYLUS“Take a seat, Mr. Lane,” I said, sitting on the corner of the desk, dangling one leg over the edge while the other remained firmly rooted.“This is my office—”“Sit,” I ordered, not raising my voice.But by the way his knees buckled, he could feel the absolute weight of my Alpha aura.His mouth twisted into a tight scowl, but he obliged. “What can I do for you, Mr. Hawkins?”I shrugged, nonchalant despite the fire scorching my blood. “Plenty.”“Oh, really?” His gaze sharpened.“Tell me about Penelope.”I watched his face drain of all color. “Wh—what?” he stumbled over the singular word.“Or Louisa. Maybe Angie,” Disgust rippled through me, Varg growling in my head, begging me to rip him in half. I had poured over the egregious details of each case the moment I realized Robert would be a problem. Only for me to find out the man might as well be the devil himself. “Oh, I almost forgot Roena.”With every name I mentioned, the whiter he became. Still, the bastard dared to

Final Straw

~SERISCaleb was cuddled up with the stuffed toys that Sylus had miraculously provided, and I did not have it in me to wake him up. Even if every second in this house made my pulse skitter.So I watched him, fighting back the urge to call Sylus. Ever since he had stepped past me and out of the office corridor, he had not returned.The entire day had been a complete, nerve-wracking ordeal. The lingering moment in the car still sat like a sour taste at the back of my throat. My chest was still tight.Then Robert’s attempt at blackmail, and then Sylus—I recalled how I had counted down the seconds until he came out of that office, fully prepared to see blood staining his crisp suit. Sylus had always been lethal; mercy was not a word in his vocabulary. But instead of a corpse, Robert had been left a sniveling mess until he could finally gather himself and crawl away. Whatever had happened between them in that room had utterly broken the man. He couldn’t even look me in the eye when he