Page 67 of Necromance
Tears formed in my eyes despite knowing it wasn’t true. The words still hurt. Lucien’s hand moved from my arm, inching closer to wipe the tears away, that pained look in his eyes. But, I wretched my arm free and took a step back before he could.
“You’re lying,” I choked out on a sob.
“Am I?” Was all he said back, his tone suddenly cold, hard.
“Yes, you care about me. You’ve saved me, come for me when I needed you.” I said, my voice wavering with uncertainty now, but I held my ground.
He was silent for a long moment, then he shrugged, his expression unreadable now as if he’d slipped a mask over his features. “You mistake my kindness.” He leaned in closer to my ear then. “I think the heartbreak you will feel for the rest of your life is a greater torture than death could ever bring.”
I stared at him, my heart breaking, my soul screaming. It wasn’t true… it wasn’t true, I kept reminding myself. I wanted to reach for him, bury myself in his arms until he admitted that it was all a lie.
But he was already fading.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
LUCIEN
The study was cold and dark now, mimicking my heart. I stood in the shadows of the room some time after Mia had retreated to her bedchamber.
”Serena,” I summoned, my voice rough with emotion at the thought of what I had to do now.
The shadows in the study stirred, slow and serpentine-like. She didn’t manifest with theatrics this time. Just a glimmer of air, the faint scent of lavender left too long on silk filled the room, and then she was there.
”Hello, Lucien,” she purred, slithering closer to me with a cold gleam in her blue eyes. “I suppose you’ve considered the little deal I offered?”
I held back a scoff. The “deal” she’d whispered into my ear just before vanishing from the ballroom wasn’t a deal at all. It had been a command… a threat.
”It’s done,” I replied, my tone flat. “I won’t return to her and she will be leaving. You can leave her alone now.”
A smile crept across Serena’s lips, but it didn’t reach her hollow eyes. “Good,” she said, her tone laced with venom as she stepped closer and ran her hand over my shoulder. I forced myself not to flinch away.
”You made the right choice. She doesn’t belong here and you… you have always belonged to me.” Her hand moved down my chest, lingering at my waistline. “Plus, I would have killed her.”
My fists clenched at my sides. “So you said.”
She circled me slowly, her hands caressing me in a way that made me want to tear off her fingers. “Let’s hope you meant it, Lucien. For her sake.”
She gripped the back of my head, tangling her fingers through my hair. Then she kissed me, hard, rough, and possessive. I stiffened, bile rose to the back of my throat, but I didn’t dare pull away. I kissed her back, allowing her tongue to slip over mine, fighting the impulse to shove her away.
When she finally pulled back, her smile was like poison. “There is just one other little thing you need to do to prove your loyalty to me.”
I groaned inwardly, but kept my expression neutral. “Of course there is.”
Her smile didn’t falter as she moved her hands down my chest, her icy fingersstopping to toy with the buttons.
”Destroy your body.” She said plainly, softly, as if it was a simple request. My whole body tensed and she felt it. Her cold blue eyes, narrowed and suspicious, shot to mine.
”Is that a problem?” She asked, her hands wrapping into the fabric of my shirt. “You have no need to break the curse if you plan to stay here with me.”
”What does my body have to do with breaking the curse?” I replied, furrowing my brows as if I didn’t already know and hoping she believed my confusion.
She released me, stepping away as she turned her attention to the letter I’d left open sprawled across the desk. The letter she’d written me.
She ran her fingers over the parchment. “Do not play with me, Lucien. I know that you havemostof your memories back. I know that you are aware of how to break the curse.”
”Yes,” I said with a nonchalant shrug. “But, as I’m sure you saw, I made it clear to Mia that I had used her. I doubt even if she stayed, her kiss would awaken me. Even if she did love me, she doesn’t anymore.”
Serena slammed her fist down on the desk, eyes blazing as she glared at me with a pointed look. “Love, Lucien, doesn’t just vanish! No matter what the person says or does to you.”
