Page 74 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

LUCIAN

Lucents excel mentally. Not many find that they can wield shadows as the Aibeks do.

– LUCENT MAGIC AND THE NATURE OF THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND BY CLEMENTINE PROTNUS

Fleur,” I say with a smile, one hand falling to her waist and the other clasping her hand. “You look brilliant, as always.”

“It’s appreciated, Lucian,” she says with a smile and a mock curtsy. “We missed you at the party.”

“Ah, yes, I had other plans.” I got droozed with Desdemona, who I’m watching watch me from across the room.

Yes, she dances with Jermoine, yet she is looking at Fleur and me as if it pains her. Which means I have a fraction of her feelings.

What scares me is that she has mine as well.

But fear is not enough of a reason to take my eyes off her. She’s a vision no matter what she wears—she’d still be the most beautiful in this room draped in silver or blue. But clad in gold she is more than captivating. She is truly and utterly devastating. Never have I glimpsed upon beauty so harrowing as hers.

Rarer even than the rarest ore that she dawns the color of tonight.

She looks like a burning ember in the sea. An impossibility. A phenomenon you could spend your entire life trying to explain.

The dagger at her thigh is an interesting touch. A reminder that she is dangerous. Dazzling. That the results will be dreadful if I allow myself to continue with these daring thoughts.

“With whom?” Fleur asks with an edge to her voice.

“You may know her. Does Desdemona ring a bell?”

Fleur laughs. “The Fire Folk?” I do not laugh. “You’re being serious? You know she can’t even pass Elemental Magic, don’t you? I mean, from the way Eleanora talks about her, she sounds truly pathetic.”

“Here I was, under the impression that she didn’t want to kill the lot of us.”

“You think she—” Fleur stops. “I don’t want to talk about the Fire Folk any longer.”

“That’s more than all right,” I say.

“I think we’re going to have a kickback in here, in a few weeks, after all these fundraisers are over. You should come.” She smiles.

“I believe I’m going to be busy that day as well.” I have much more important things to focus on these days. We take our last step before it’s time to switch partners, and I send her off while I say, “You will be missed.”

Before I see Desdemona, I know that I am dancing with her by the heat of her body intertwined with mine. The way her skin hums beneath my touch.

The gold of her dress accentuates the bits of orange in her brown eyes and up close she is more than an ember.

She’s a raging fire.

With her this close, I wonder how I’ll ever be able to walk away.

I find that I am entirely unable to take my eyes off of her as I say, “How was Kai?”

Desdemona raises an eyebrow. “How was Fleur?”

“I wouldn’t know,” I say. “I was too busy imagining she was you.”

For half of a second Desdemona looks shyer than I’ve ever seen her before. I wish she would allow me to glimpse her true faces. The ones she pulls back so quickly. The ones that betray her emotions.

She stiffens under my hold. “Well Kai was great. He’s… fun.”

I let out a short laugh. “Does he make your heart race?”

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