Page 26 of Shadows and Flames
Or, it was a breaking of a trance. Wherein my getting closer brought to reality the moment. She shook, fang biting lip, and set down her glass of wine beside the others. Her fingers twitched at her sides, and shefled.
For a moment, as I watched her push past guests much more roughly than I had, I was stunned. My lungs threatened to crack, and my Fire roared to the surface, burning the inside of my throat until?—
Until, she glanced over her shoulder. As if she could not bear the searing of my stare on the back of her neck. Watching her walk away this time.
And there, there I saw many things. Desire, twinkling and singing. Frustration in the flare of her nostrils and deepening of color on her cheeks. Goddess, her freckles even spoke to me, and when she whipped back around, shoving through a door leading to the kitchens, a deep, predatory rumble started at the base of my chest.
My queen would learn that there was no more running from me. From us, fromthis. I was hers, and she wasmine.
MELINE
I ducked through the drunken partygoers, more rich folk without a care in the world while my own had long ago crumbled.
The contract was to be my beacon. Something, at least for now, to focus on instead of the memories. The mistakes and sinsthat were a series of black marks on my soul until the whole thing was just a sludgy gray.
We were getting closer, and Tana was relying on me to keep my fucking head on, but I—I just needed a moment. Space tobreathe.
Because he was here.
How was I supposed to think when those fire eyes kept finding me? When the flame and cinnamon scent was a steady rhythm in the air?
How could I resist going to him and falling into his arms?
I shoved my way into a back room, the fabric of my disguise shifting against my heaving breaths. The tight bodice and airy skirt now felt like vises. Cutting off my air.
My gloved hands shuddered against the wood of the countertop, my feet kicked against the odds and ends shoved in this forgotten space as laughter and music filtered through the walls.
The silence of death and my own screams, apricot eyes that wouldn’t open. Tana’s emerald ones, watery with tears.
Words I didn’t understand. A song of hushed, somber microtones. I hummed, rubbing the heel of my hand against my racing, bruised heart. I’d no idea where it came from, but it was a reassurance that worked like a calming spell for upset babes. A bone-deep recognition that transcended language.
“Meline.”
I whipped around, and the song stopped. The melody quieted, and I snapped my mask in place. I backed up, pressing against the counter to put as much space between me and him.
“Stop. Whatever you’re going to say, juststop.”
But he ignored me, advancing forward and bringing heat with him.
Elián.
Gone were the Shadow leathers and shades of black. I didn’t miss them.
A fine jacket of violet and gold wrapped around his body. His hair, the color of raven’s feathers, was half-up and swimming in elegant waves down his back. The gold rings running up and down his ears glinted with the same spark swirling in his irises.
I swallowed a moan, and he came closer. Eyes narrowed and lips set in a determined line, my former Shadow prowled closer until there was no option. Nowhere to go.
I could’ve escaped. Of course I could have. But, because I was weak, I remained where I was. Underneath my gloves, my power was swirling in giddy anticipation.
Elián—the bastard—closed his hand around my throat. A rival assassin had me alone and cornered, but his touch was far from a threat. Those mango eyes held frustration, rage, finality. Longing.
He bared his fangs at me, curling over my slighter frame until I was bathed in only him.
“You will listen to me, Meline. This ends. Now.”
“Fuck you,” I whispered. What could I say? Old habits and all that. “We’re not handing over the contract to you. Can’t handle a little competition?”
Elián smirked, but the expression held not a whiff of mirth. “No.” He tightened his hand on my skin, and a puff of air gusted out of my nostrils. “You running from me is ending now.”
