Page 84 of The Prince's Curse

His phone rattled against the table, and he glanced over to see Calling: Ophelia Klein. “Home office,” he said apologetically. “Would you excuse me, please?”

She nodded and said, “I’ll be in my workshop.”

The phone stopped ringing, but he still waited for Shoshanna to leave before he called back. Ophelia answered on the second ring, activating a video call.

“Just a minute, Ophelia,” he said, turning carefully so that the vampire corpse wasn’t on screen.

The other woman toyed with one long braid, fixing a bland smile that he knew was a sure sign of annoyance. When he turned on his video, her face fell.“What happened to your face?”

“I disagreed with someone’s fist,” he replied.

“Misha,” Ophelia said flatly.

“We disagreed several times. Did you get the file I sent you?”

He wasn’t waiting to figure things out this time. As soon as they left the house in Charlotte, he’d been writing up all his notes about Paige, and he’d sent it to Rafaela with a promise to follow up. While he didn’t want the Sanguine Crown breathing down his neck, this might be a danger to all vampires, not just the ones he cared about.

Ophelia nodded and said, “Rafaela contacted me and said she’d already shared it with the circle. What’s your take?”

“I’m not sure. It seems like it’s connected to Carrigan Shea, but he’s been under the control of Armina Voss as far as we know. My suspicion is that these vampires were his Vessels before he was captured, or they made new ones afterward. Their scent is the same, which is the only thing I’m certain of,” he said.

“Tell me how serious this is,” Ophelia said.

Glancing over the edge of the computer at the headless vampire, he sighed. “Let’s say fairly serious. I don’t know how she’s doing it, but I think we should all be concerned that she can turn a vampire into a mindless drone.”

Ophelia nodded. “I’ll keep Lady Demirci apprised. And you’ll let us know if you learn anything else.”

“Of course,” he said.“I hope it turns out to be nothing.”

“As do I, but we both know better than to build a foundation on hope, don’t we?”

Chapter 20

Opening his eyes, Julian knew he had to be dreaming. He lay in a room that smelled like home. The dark wood furnishings belonged in Infinity, where he’d barely set foot for months. His bones felt encased by permafrost, while vicious hunger gnawed in his belly.

Despite his aching body, he was certain he was dreaming, because there was fiery red hair tickling across his bare shoulders and the distinct sensation of lips on his brow. The air smelled warm and welcoming. It smelled like her.

Leaning over him was his Brigitte, sitting up as if she’d just bent to kiss him.Her green eyes were ringed in shadow, but she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. And when he stirred, her eyes snapped open.

And she smiled.

Yes, he was certainly dreaming, but what a beautiful dream it was.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, reaching out to touch his hand. Warmth radiated from her touch, pushing back the cold.

“You’re here, so I feel fine,” he said, his voice rough.

At that, her smile tugged up crookedly. “How very romantic of you.”

“Did you just kiss me?” he croaked.

Her smile faltered. “I—well, yes,” she said with a little laugh. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Do it again,” he said, reaching for her hand. “Please.”

Her breath hitched as she leaned closer, both graceful hands cupping his face as if he was something precious. Her warm lips brushed over his brow, then to his cheek, teasing at the corner of his mouth before she granted him a proper kiss, the sort of kiss that broke the deadliest of curses and defied the machinations of witches.

When she broke away, he savored the warmth of her breath across his lips, the pounding of her heart that filled the room with music. “I wish I had more dreams like this.”

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