The Calling

SIX

DEXTER



“There may be even less time for Silus. We are running out of the ingredients I need to make the medication to keep him more grounded. It is imperative that we all start looking for our soul bonds,” Merrick said, looking at me. “Maybe with fewer one-night stands.”

I smirked. “I can’t help myself, Mer. I love the ladies, and the ladies love me.”

“I am not only running low on ingredients to help Silus. I am also running out of them to help you. I can’t go back to The Void to get more, and your abilities are already getting out of hand. I need you to slow down and choose more carefully.”

I sighed. I knew he was right. It had become very hard for me to control myself over the last year. Women always wanted more of me, but now they couldn’t live without me. I’d ended up with a harem that required my presence at least once a day, or they’d go mad and end themselves.

“Could you make me at least one more potion?” I asked.

“I could. But one will not cure all the girls staying in The Oasis.”

“I know this, brother. I need it for the most recent girl. She clearly isn’t my soul bond, but her friend might be. I don’t seem to have any effect on her at all. She spends every day in our office glaring at me like I’m the anti-Christ.”

“Interesting. Why do you need it for the other girl? Just move her to The Oasis with the others.”

“No. They are best friends. I need the other one so that the potential bond will learn to trust me.”

“I see. I will craft the potion. It should be ready tonight. I will have Silus bring it to you. Just give him the address.”

With that, Merrick left the room, all business as usual. Now he had a task to focus on, and that’s what he would do. Silus was leaned back, staring at the ceiling, and Rolland was on his phone, texting. Rolland glanced up, sensing me looking at him, then looked around.

“Where’s Mer?”

I shook my head, slid my hands into my pockets, and sauntered out. Rolland called after me, but I had work to do. He had no trouble getting angry over silly things but couldn’t be bothered to take our future seriously. I got into the elevator and headed down to my floor. I was head of the third floor, where we handled distribution contracts for most goods in the city. Over the years, the Vorra name had started appearing on everything. We handled more distribution than sss, and everything we did was USA-made. My father had built us quite a legacy here in Rochester.

I checked the time on my black leather-bound watch. The workday was almost over. I would drop in on my floor, make sure everything was in order, and then test my theory about that girl in my department. The elevator opened, and I stepped onto my floor, making my way to my office. I opened some emails, responded to the important ones, and then checked my paperwork organizer to ensure nothing needed my immediate attention. Everything looked caught up and well-organized.

I looked out to the girl I thought might be my soul bond. She wasn’t the type I usually went for. I loved slender girls with blonde hair. There was something so pure about them, something different from the world I used to know. I loved the way their hair looked in the sun, as if they were born of light. I definitely had a type, but this potential girl wasn’t bad-looking. I watched as she stared at Penny’s chair again today, looking sad. Her hair shimmered with earthy brown tones as the sun caught it through the large windows behind her. Those gray eyes were brewing a storm as she gazed at her friend’s desk. I wanted to know what she was thinking. What did she think of me? She hadn’t paid any attention to me until I started seeing Penelope.

I needed to talk to her to confirm my suspicion. It wasn’t normal for women to ignore me. They all wanted me. I wasn’t being conceited—they just couldn’t help themselves. It was part of my magic, especially now that I was losing control of my powers. I shuffled things around and made a list of the tasks I needed to take care of the next day. I checked over my employee list to get her name. Her ID badge photo was near the top in my binder because I had been looking at the photo for some time.

Elara Sullivan…

I stepped out and locked my office, then began making my way to Elara to solve the mystery once and for all. I was almost to her desk when Tonnie grabbed my arm. Her bangs fell over her eyes as she gazed up at me with a wicked look. Her crystal-blue eyes glittered, and she had perfect pink lips that made me think of a heart. I wanted to lean in and feel them against mine. I glanced at her slender neck, where I could see her steady pulse. Hunger rumbled inside me. She and I had been heavily flirting for a few weeks now. I desperately wanted to do more. She had made plenty of jokes about a rendezvous in the elevator or in my office. But after what happened with Penny, I knew I couldn’t. Yet here she was again, trying to seduce me, thinking it was all her idea.

“Dexter, I think I need to go home. I forgot to put on undergarments,” she whispered into my ear. I chuckled and whispered back.

“I won’t tell if you won’t. I love our dirty little secrets. But maybe I should come with you to ensure you aren’t so naughty in the future.”

She giggled and stroked my arm, nodding fervently.

Holy Darkness, I need to stop this before I lose it.

I felt my control slipping. The hunger gnawed its way out of me. I needed to feed soon, or I wouldn’t be able to keep up my own charade. I knew she would follow me anywhere if I asked, but I didn’t want to do that. It was too important for me not to make another one ill. She could feel the desire emanating from me, and she was panting, her face flushing just from being near me. Waves of pleasure would engulf her with just a whisper of her name or a touch on bare skin. I wanted to. The hunger in me was making me ache. I looked up to catch Elara’s hateful gaze, and suddenly the hunger was gone. I was calm. Tonnie felt it too. My effect on her washed away in an instant as I regained control. Tonnie suddenly looked uncomfortable and apologized for her behavior.

I smiled down at her. “It’s nothing to worry about, Tonnie. I am just as guilty.”

She seemed to relax, straightened her skirt, and gave me an awkward smile before walking away. I looked back toward Elara’s desk, but she was gone. I glanced around the room and saw her hot pink sweater heading for the elevator. I followed, watching her perfectly round bum sway and the curve of her hips shift as she stopped and waited for the elevator to open. She really was a beautiful woman with her fullness. She was taller than I had thought as I got closer. The doors opened before I reached her.