Page 149 of Cursed Lifeline

“No mistakes this time, Felix,” he demands. “Are you sure about this?”

We both love Esme, so I can’t blame him for asking, but knowing my mind is made up, I grin “Get her ready. Viktor will show you where to meet me.”

Fifty Four

Viktor

song: supermassive black hole | Muse

Sloshing through puddles and debris,Alfred stays close to my side and hurriedly follows me to the six-way in the underground tunnels. Annoyed, I glance at him over my shoulder and swear if the man stood any closer, we’d be holding fucking hands.

“As much as I don’t fault you for your preference in life, Alfred, my cock prefers a willing wet cunt,” I hiss under my breath as the fool almost trips me when we round a tight, dark bend.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” he scoffs.

Coming to a stop, Alfred eyes the tunnel around us in slight horror and steps closer.

“Listen, babysitter…”

His eyes flash furiously to mine.

“I’m a watcher on the Magister Council. A council that has been around longer than…”

“I don’t care what you do, how you do it, or who you do it with. So long as it doesn’t involve me or a fae princess whose heart doesn’t deserve a man who can’t make up his damn mind.”

The mention of the princess makes him take a step back. Finally.

“Evangeline is the only thing on my mind,” he warns, making me wish the princess was here herself to hear his confession. “What’s more she’s the only woman who has and will ever have my heart. Tell me, can she say the same about you?”

Putting up a front and eyeing the babysitter like a jealous suitor who is willing to fight for the woman he loves, I’m inclined to believe he’s telling the truth about his feelings, his intentions, when he steps closer and says, “I’m content to grow old loving her from afar until I take my last breath. Though I yearn for her love in return, I don’t need it to love her with all my heart until my dying day. No man couldeverlove her like I do.”

His admission reminds me of my past.

“No babysitter, I don’t think any manevercould,” I sigh, turning and walking further down the tunnel.

We walk for a moment in silence. Eventually, Alfred eyes me curiously, obviously wondering if I’ll stand down and let him claim the princess I’ve made him believe I have my heart set on. I debate telling him the truth, that ever since he left us in that cave decades ago, I’ve only ever felt a brotherly love towards Evangeline.But watching the man worry has become a sick and twisted pleasurable pastime of mine, and so I let him think what he wants instead of indulging his questioning stare with the answers he seeks.

Besides, the fight is good for him.

Keeps his mind off other things like…

“What the fuck was that?” Alfred yelps as he clings to me when we round another corner.

Peeling his hands off my arm, I listen closely and hear the faint echoes of a poltergeist drifting our way from further down the tunnel.

“Spirits,” I shrug. “The undead. Take your pick.”

“I thought your kind was the only undead I had to worry about crossing paths with,” he stammers, hurrying along after me when I begin to pick up my pace. “What other kind of spirits do I have to worry about underground?”

“Phantoms, revenants, banshees, to name a few,” I grin as we step into the six-way, and the babysitter starts to shake in his shoes. When he’s intent on watching his back, his sides, and anywhere he feels threatened instead of meeting my eyes, I say, “Well, here we are.”

Alfred attempts to focus and study the dark space. Graffiti stains the walls and pools of liquid puddles at our feet. Water, blood, or worse, I’m not quite sure what it is. It’s all a mystery. Finally, he says, “I’m supposed to bring Esme here?”

I nod.

“And you’re staying here until it’s time for the fight?”

I nod again.

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