Page 13 of Cursed Lifeline

I look down at his hand and frown. He has no clue what he's asking. Moreover, I'd never give him, the King, or the Lord at my feet the luxury of making them immortal.

"We're wasting twilight," I scowl as I refuse his hand and turn back to my brothers. Grinning as I stalk past him towards the exit, I growl, "It's time we quenched our appetite."

Pushing through the large wooden doors of the Lord's office, I stalk off toward the exit and am immediately met by mirthful music from the party happening in the great room down the hall. My brothers meet my hurried strides as we make our way back towards the entryway to tell the death dealers, our militia, an agreement has been met.

They're free to feast until dawn.

"France is doomed no matter what anyone does," Dimitri insists. "There will be change, a revolution, the end of the monarchy. They're just too blind to see it."

"You know what they say," I sigh as we step into the foyer, and my eyes land on the jovial scene across the hall, "It's hard to help someone who won't help themself. Continuing to live blinded by the past only tangles you in webs you can't fight your way out of in your future."

Esme's eyes meet mine from the far side of the room. She unknowingly undresses me with a heated stare as our gazes lock with tranquil desperation and no intent of either of us looking away any time soon. Through the sea of partygoers, she raises her brow in challenge, and though I fight to find some sort of control, I can't seem to grab hold of the restraint I need to stop myself from reading her thoughts.

His soul calls to mine, and I desperately want to answer -her thoughts whisper as she studies me across the ballroom.

Why is that?

Oh, Esme, you'd be terrified to know the truth.

She's too young. Too Naive. Determined and fierce. A beautiful package that'll be my undoing if I'm not careful.

And yet, I can't deny since the moment I laid eyes on her, a secret I've yet to unravel makes me want to know more about her. It's not just the smell of her skin or the craving for her mortal life, but something - more.

"That's trouble," Talon grumbles as he realizes where my stare has fallen. "Drusilla..."

"Is not here," I cut him off as my angry gaze meets his condescending one. "Seeing as I'm next in line to the throne, it would be wise for you to hold your tongue before I silence it myself."

I don't wait for a response. Instead, my feet have a mind of their own as I stalk off towards the party in the ballroom. My eyes once again lock on Esme's. As if pushed by the winds of destiny, she smiles and graciously starts to walk towards me, too. The crowd parts for us as I focus everyone's mind on something else. On drinks they suddenly feel the urge to get. Conversations they can't wait to have. Urgencies to find a dark corner, a private balcony, anywhere that isn't here where Esme and I suddenly find ourselves standing toe to toe in the middle of the ballroom.

Her mind was the only one I didn't alter.

The knowledge she came to me on her own free will warms my heart when it shouldn't.

"I told you to stay away."

"I told you I like a challenge," she counters.

Grinning, I say, "You don't question your actions enough, mon cheri. I'm a challenge you might seek, but have you ever stopped to consider the risks?"

She studies me then takes a surprising step closer and rises on her tiptoes until her breath feathers against my lips.

"Life is risky."

My damned pulse quickens when it shouldn't.

"And death?" I ask abruptly.

Her eyes search mine as she whispers, "If you risk nothing, you risk everything. Including death."

My arm snakes quickly around her waist. I pull her close with a burning desperation that causes us both to catch our next breath. She lets out a gasp as darkness quickly cloaks us. Before she can respond to my brash need to feel her pressed up against me, a burst of glittering light illuminates the ballroom. Music floats around us on a heavenly breeze. Her eyelashes flutter as she studies the illusion I've pulled us into, and I begin to guide her body into a sensual waltz.

Purple and white wisteria hang majestically from the ceiling. Roses climb the pillars at our sides. They snake around them with ease as their smell threatens to deepen the spell we're both cast under.

Sparkling light dances around us, cascading us in a cover of enchanting magic. The room is now empty, except for the two of us. Pulling her closer, I drown in the blue of her eyes as the instruments play on their own accord while they stand cast under a spell on stage. Esme smiles. Her eyes hold mine captive. Carelessly, she wraps her arms around my waist and anchors herself to me.

If I was smart, I'd release her and step away. Now. Before I'm in too far over my head. But no man, mortal or otherwise, ever thinks right when he's suddenly holding the woman he desires more than anything in his arms.

Taking note of the desperate yearning hanging in her eyes and recognizing how it calls to the same longing inside me, I lean closer until my lips press gently against her ear and whisper, "I'm not worth the risk." Her body trembles. "Look around you. Just like what you see is an illusion, trust me when I tell you, what your body, your soul wants, is one as well."

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