Page 44 of A Dance Macabre

My hand twitches near my thigh, visions of gutting him from cock to throat dancing behind my eyes. Still, and unnervingly so, the same confusing flame glows brightly deep in my gut. The thought of his mouth on my skin resurfaces in my mind for the umpteenth time since he so viciously whispered the words into my ear.

A small shiver courses down my body at the memory of the night in question.

The anonymity of his tongue on me.

Hot and needy. His warm lips sucking my clit. Fingers digging into my thighs. I’ve never remembered a tryst at Manor so vividly before. And it had to be …him.

“Mercy?” My eyes snap to Belladonna. “Are you even listening?”

I keep my face neutral, but inside my heart rate triples, incensed that I just got caught daydreaming about Wolfgang. My gaze sweeps the room and I realize Temperance has disappeared into the back, leaving us alone while both Belladonna and Constance have settled on the purple couch near the wall of mirrors.

I grumble aWhat now?and sit on the opposite couch, facing them.

Belladonna lets out a small sigh, copper hair tumbling down in soft waves over her chest, her long-sleeved crochet dress the color of daffodils. “Isaidthat we haven’t done anything for your birthday this year, we should celebrate,” she says with a smile.

I cross my arms and look away. “I’m in no mood to celebrate,” I answer.

“Oh please,” she replies with a soft laugh. “Stop being so?—”

“Incredibly boring,” Constantine says for her.

Belladonna tongues her cheek. “What Tinny said.”

My eyes narrow, turning to Constantine. “That reminds me, thank you for the flowers,” I bite out sarcastically.

She giggles into her hands, her two high ponytails falling into her face. “How did you know they were from me?”

“You weren’t subtle, you dunce.”

“What flowers?” Belladonna chimes in.

My gaze slips to hers. “Tinny sent me flowers,” I say flatly. “Signed them as if they were from Wolfgang.”

Constantine bursts out into an even deeper laugh and when Belladonna joins in, I’m mere moments away from clawing both their eyes out.

Temperance returns and interrupts my violent impulse. Ignoring their fits of laughter, she directs me with a wave of her hand to the small podium facing the mirrors.

“How has it been?” Belladonna asks, a bit more seriously this time.

I peer at her through the mirrors while Temperance busies herself with double-checking my measurements. I chew on my lip before asking, “Being in power? Or having to share with …” I pause, the words sour on my tongue. “Wolfgang?”

“Both?” she replies with a small inquisitive shrug.

My mind can’t help but tumble back into the memories of yesterday—and even earlier yet, and I’m appalled all over again. I mull over my response, keeping my expression flat.

“Bearable,” I finally say.

It’sa little after midnight when I arrive back home.

I shouldn’t call ithome, but my aversion to the word won’t change that Mount Pravitia will be my official residence for the next two decades.

The dress fitting only lasted a few hours, but I was reluctant to return so early in the evening, instead stopping by Gemini’s just to waste some time. I refused to answer any of his probing questions about the loaded gaze Wolfgang and I exchanged when he held up the severed head to kiss.

I will keep those secrets to my death—and even longer still if possible. Gemini grumbled about the irony of having me as a best friend but eventually dropped the subject, distracted by some vapid gossip only he could manage to care about.

The living quarters are quiet as I make my way through the enfilade, the staff having retired for the night. I walk into my bedchambers to find them empty.

I do a quick sweep of the room just to make sure but can’t find my dogs anywhere.

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