Page 109 of Cursed Lifeline

But before I can react to the vile intentions running through his mind, Ember looks down on us and says in a sultry voice, “Talon, it’s been a long time.”

Celeste casts me a disgusted look, and I tighten my grip on her wrists. She’s smart this time not to open her mouth and assume she knows what she’s talking about. But just so there is nothing between us but the truth, my mouth finds its way to her ear, and I whisper, “I’ve never slept with her if that’s what you’re thinking. Though she’s begged me to, I won’t deny that.”

I’ve met with Ember recently in secret to extract information for the coven, but I never crossed the line the witch is suggesting.

Her shoulders stiffen. “Got it,” she snaps bitterly. “No feeling. No emotion.” Glancing at me with disdain she says, “Heaven help the girl who actually does bring your heart back to life.”

Speechless, I stare into her eyes as a foreign feeling washes over me. I forget to breathe. Forget to blink. My mind draws blank, numb, as if everything ever said to me before is erased from memory, and my life restarts with that one damn sentence.

“Talon,” Ember bites out, growing impatient. “Have you finally come to accept my offer?”

I look up at her and debate answering yes. Even though I can’t stomach the idea of lying with Ember, I’d do it to keep Celeste out of harm's way. She eyes Celeste with hostility and leans back in her seat.

“I’m not in the mood to share,” Ember suggests, before taunting with a mischievous grin. “But, if you want her to watch, I’ll let her. For a price.”

Ember unfolds her legs and spreads them wide. The slit of her dress reveals she’s not wearing undergarments. Celeste averts her stare, and I curse under my breath. Ember is beautiful. No one would deny it. Her ebony hair, emerald eyes, large breasts, small waist, thick thighs, and large ass are any man’s dream. But I’ve never been swayed by superficial means. If I had, I would’ve gotten over the woman I lost a long time ago by burying my cock in many willing women who were more than happy to try to satisfy my needs over the years.

No, it takes more than what meets the eye to make me look twice. It takes a connection that defies all rational logic. A miraculous bond that’ll tie me to one person for eternity.

My hands begin to shake as I hold Celeste hostage, and I realize she may be my missing link.

“Shame,” Ember taunts, folding her legs and putting away her tricks for the moment. “The thought of a slayer watching actually turned me on.”

Worried Ember knows the curveball we’re attempting to throw her way, I say, “I’ll fuck you, Ember,” Celeste stiffens. The witch smiles like she’s just been handed the prize of the century. “But first, I’ve come on coven business.”

Celeste stops breathing. If I’m not mistaken, her hands tremble under my touch. It pains me to continue, but if we’re supposed to find out the cure to the curse, I have to play the part.

Clearing my throat, I say, “I brought you the slayer for a price.”

Laughing, Ember says, “And what am I supposed to do with a slayer?” She eyes the woman in my grasp with disgust. “At least if she were a man, I might have use for her.”

Celeste struggles against my grasp, wanting me to release her so she can unleash her fury on Ember for being assumed less than her male counterparts. But as more of Drusilla’s secrets have been revealed over the last couple of years, I also learned the power Ember is said to have, and I won’t let Celeste anywhere near her deathly clutches. Not as long as I have breath in my lungs.

“She can take you to Esme,” I reveal.

Ember perks up in her seat, eyeing the slayer differently now, and says, “What do you want in return?”

“The cure to the curse,” I shrug.

Ember laughs. “Try again.”

I lie like I’ve been told to and say, “Felix knows Esme’s end is near again; it’s inevitable. He’s agreed to let you have her. When you come for her, he won’t put up a fight. He only wants to find the cure so that when she’s killed this time, he can be released from their bond and pursue more pleasurable matters that haven’t denied him their bed for over a century.”

Ember grins. Leaning forward she says, “Nice try, but Felix would only give up Esme over his dead body.”

From just beyond Ember’s throne, the scuffing of heels, and clatter of voices draws near. Shadows emerge and draw closer like a portentous plague. Tossed out into the light, Felix and Esme stumble down a few steps on either side of the throne. Unleashed from the guards' hold, Felix takes off towards Esme, but he’s quickly held in place by Ember’s powers as she forces a shield between the two lovers.

Alfred, Caleum, and Silas watch from the top of her dais. Silas eyes Celeste, wondering if she’s all right. She gives her watcher a curt nod. A jealous tug pulls at my heart for the connection the two have. One I will never be able to emulate.

“Do you think of him too when you reach between your thighs at night,” I whisper harshly into Celeste’s ear as I hold Silas’s stare.

“Go to hell,” Celeste snaps back under her breath.

“Already there,” I growl shoving Celeste a step forward and releasing her from my grasp. She rubs at her wrists and eyes me furiously as she spins around to meet my stare.

“You won’t get the ritual you seek,” Felix warns Ember. “Not without the pixie who…”

“The pixie who played all of you so very well,” Ember says as Evangeline is tossed into the mix.

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