Page 88 of Goldsin

Now I know why he fights. Now I understand the Den a little more.

A hollowness grows in the pit of my belly—it’s been growing there since I saw Lucian’s enjoyment reflected in Julian and Lady Harrow’s pained eyes.

I hear him sigh as he halts on the threshold. His head tilts back as if he’s tired of all this. Then he turns around fully and stalks back toward me.

Without even allowing me time to react, he wraps hisstrong arms around my waist, and in one swift motion he throws me over his shoulder.

“Julian!” Blood floods my mind. “Put me down!” I bang my fists on his back, using all my force, hoping to leave a mark or two.

Air swirls around my bare leg, up under my denim skirt, as his hand squeezes me in place at the crease of my ass.

I think I’m flashing the whole body of guards. Valentine is going to kill me for this.

We arrive at the underground garage. Julian opens the door to a black SUV and sets me down. He buckles my seat belt as I shake off the confusion. Then he rounds the car and sits next to me.

“Let’s go,” he orders the driver, gaze fixed out the window.

“Why aren’t we taking your bike?”

The car roars to life.

Without turning to look at me, he says, “Because I won’t be able to drive it later tonight when we need to get back.”

His words hang in the air between us, their underlying heaviness weighing on my mind as it races back to his dark circles and sour mood. His gaze remains fixed out the window on the city outside, while I can’t take mine away from him.

The tension in his shoulders is impossible to miss—the way his fingers twitch, like he’s reliving memories even his own muscles haven’t had time to forget.

He could mean anything with that cryptic comment, but somehow the only thing I can think of is that tonighthe wants to forget about yesterday. And tonight he’ll need me to do it.

Needles jab my skin at the thought. I don’t know what he has in store, but I’ll do anything to help him the way I couldn’t yesterday.

Seattle comes to life as the sun sets, the streets overflowing with people eager to get home to their loved ones, while groups of pedestrians mingle around before going to their destination for the night.

It may be Thursday, but the August summer air screams for the night not to go to waste. Though it’s chillier here than in other states, when you deal with snowy winters like ours, this is paradise.

Especially for someone like me, who hates the snow.

I’ve never understood the excitement of celebrating something that conceals everything of its beauty. That kills with its faux fragility. Maybe it’s because I was born on November 21, the month snow begins to cover the city.The month my mother died.

I hate snow. Nothing good comes from it.

Fifteen minutes pass, and I turn to Julian. “Where are we going again?”

I’ve been on this side of town a lot with Eleanora, but no specific place comes to mind that Julian would want to take me to.

He seems lost in thought, but at the sound of my voice he snaps out of it. His eyelids are drooping—not from physical tiredness but mental exhaustion.

“We’re attending an Inferno Consortium new member event. It’s like an open evening. Victoria will be there.”

Her name leaves an acrid taste in my mouth. I’d forgotten about her. Between Marcus and last night, my priorities have been completely misplaced. I guess my attendance tonight isn’t because Julian needs me to help him forget about his father but because I have a job to complete. Victoria is the one who needs my entertainment. Well, ours.

I glance down at my short light-wash denim skirt, tight black T-shirt, light-wash denim jacket, and black high-heeled boots. Black sunglasses push my hair away from my face. This outfit screams “unsuitable for a night with the Inferno Consortium.”

“Julian?”

He hums his response.

“I don’t think my outfit is appropriate for where we’re going.”

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