Marrow

“I would die for her. I would kill for her. Either way, what bliss.”

— Gomez, The Addams Family

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ONE

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CELESTIAL FIRE

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KYRIE

By the time we’re standing at the gates of damnation, Jack Sorensen will beg me to throw him to the Devil. I will paint our path to Hell with his blood. With his dreams. His aspirations. His failures, each one rendered by my hand. I will leave a trail of his destruction behind us that will shine for all eternity. And I will enjoy every fucking second of his torturous journey…

Just as soon as my acceptance speech for the Allistair Brentwood Philanthropy Awards is over.

I scan the crowd. Dr. Sorensen’s absence will become a thin scar over my memory of this day, cut with the precision of a scalpel, just like he intended. Nevertheless, my smile is undimmed. I clap with enthusiasm for the other wi

“Is Jack backstage? I haven’t seen him all night. Is he actually here?” Joy asks, her eyes darting across the room of black ties and bleached smiles before her gaze lands on mine, heavy with scrutiny. I smooth my hand over the chestnut waves cascading over my shoulder as I give her a nonplussed shrug.

“No big deal if he’s not. I’m sure Dr. Ca

Of course he’s not fucking here.

Sure enough, as the host sets up the award for Philanthropy in Education, it’s Dr. Ca

No, not Dr. Sorensen.

Jack Sorensen, whose research wouldn’t be funded without my efforts to raise over two million dollars for his field school. Whose students have been awarded scholarships from the fund I created. Whose accolades have been stacked on the foundation that I built. Without me, Jack Sorensen would be just another brilliant academic whose work shines like a distant star in the sky, pretty but underwhelming, always battling to be freed from the black blanket of mediocrity. Because of me, Jack Sorensen shines like the harvest moon.

I am the sun whose light reflects on his cold, remote mask.

And I am the celestial fire that will destroy him.

“…and since joining the West Paine University faculty three years ago, Dr. Roth has dedicated her free time to enhancing the W. M. Bass Forensic College Field Research School, enabling the university to acquire nearly fifty acres in field research space with our newly-opened specialized laboratory facilities on-site,” Dr. Ca

The crowd claps and I rise from my seat next to Joy. My smile widens, words of congratulations guiding my way to the stage. I gather the floor-length skirt of my gown as I ascend the steps and stride to the podium to shake Dr. Ca

My attention snags on a tall figure in the shadows close to the doors. He leans against the wall with a drink in hand, perfectly at ease in the absence of the light.

Jack Fucking Sorensen.

I force my gaze away and smile across the audience. “Thank you so much, Dr. Ca

I proceed to list off every name I have memorized. Hugh Ca

The one name I do not speak is Jack Sorensen.

He was going to be at the top of my list. The name that draws so much attention to our academic program. The head lecturer of our Forensic Anthropology department, whose research in human decomposition has put us on the map.

I leave him out.

I find Jack in the shadows, imagining every detail of his face, his cold gray eyes veiled by darkness. I hold his figure with a charming smile. “Now that I’ve named literally everyone but my dog and my second cousin twice removed, I just wanted to say a final thank you,” I say as the audience laughs. My eyes stay latched to the phantom at the door as I raise the award, then I slide my gaze to a table in the middle of the front row. “To the Brentwood family, who continue Allistair’s legacy of generosity and commitment to others with such a lovely event. I’m honored. Thank you.”

The audience claps. Photos flash. I smile. I wave. I descend the steps to more words of congratulations and stride back to my table.

Joy passes me a champagne flute but holds on to the stem. “You forgot someone,” she says.

I pry the chilled glass from her fingers. “I’m not sure what you mean, Joy. Cheers.” I clink my flute to hers and turn away to the sound of her sigh.

“Congratulations, Kyrie,” Dr. Ca

“Neither. I’ll polish it daily and I might even keep it at the very center of my desk.” …Where it will surely irritate Jack every time he’s forced to walk past my office.

“I hope my introduction was sufficient. I do apologize about Jack, it must have been a pressing conflict to keep him tied up.”

“The introduction was lovely, Hugh. Thank you,” I say with a pat on his weathered hand as I paste on a saccharine smile. “Actually, I believe I saw Dr. Sorensen arrive while I was on stage. Do you think he’d have time to speak with Mrs. Spencer? She’s about due for her a