Page 44 of A Touch of Iron
Alec’s face hardened. “We didn’t do anything wrong, Vi.”
“I know,” I muttered.
“No, I don’t think you do.” He sauntered toward me and pinned me against the wall. “The last thing I want to do is hurt my brother. But I refuse to stand idly by anymore. So answer me now, Vi … do you want me?”
I gulped and met Alec’s mismatched eyes – mesmerizing shades of hazel and green. What some would consider a genetic deformity was so beautiful on him, I struggled to look away. My heart galloped against my ribcage.
“Yes,” I whispered breathlessly.
“Tell me clearly, Vi. Use your words.”
“Yes, Alec, I want you—” Before I could finish speaking, he slammed his mouth onto mine and wrapped me in a tight embrace as if holding on for dear life. Any and every thought left my mind as I was completely, irrevocably consumed by him. His scent, his lips, his hands—I wanted him like I’d never wanted anything else in my life. To be in his presence was intoxicating.
Alec pulled away and I gasped for air, missing his body heat and the taste of his lips.
“Next time … I won’t take you in some dirty back alley. Next time you’ll be in my bed. He walked down the hall toward his room, leaving me befuddled in the hallway, trying to calm my racing heart.
18
ALEC
Last night I dreamt of Violet.
It wasn’t the first time, but it was the most vivid. It made me question whether what happened in the village actually happened or if I’d dreamt it, too.
I hated having to wash off her scent, but it was best no one found out. I wouldn’t put it past the Unseelie King to use her against me as skillfully as he wielded Ansel.
Skipping out on breakfast, I quietly made my way out of the castle to the beach where I slipped off my shoes at the pier and walked barefoot on the sand. I gazed across the ocean where the Seelie Court perched, just out of reach and sight. Where my parents were. I hadn’t spoken to them in decades, but I missed them most in moments like these. Moments when I was happy.
“Well, don’t you look satisfied?” Ansel snarled from behind me.
I whirled around to face him. “What?”
He scowled as he approached. “You don’t even love her. Why do you bother with her? Is this just another way to get back at me? Why do you try to take away everything that belongs to me?” His voice rose with each word, stabbing accusations in the salty wind.
I suppose our tryst wasn’t much of a secret, after all. The way he followed her, I assumed Violet ran into him yesterday with my scent on her.
“She’s not an object you can possess, Ansel,” I said carefully. “She doesn’t belong to youorme.”
My brother charged toward me and grabbed the collar of my shirt. “She belonged tome!” he shouted, shaking me. “You don’t care aboutanything! Why did you have to take her away?”
I stood still, not wanting to fight him. “I didn’t take her away, Ansel. You lost her the moment you involved her mother. You had to know this would happen.”
He shook his head, his green eyes glassy with unshed tears filled with frustration. “She would have forgiven me if it weren’t for you!”
I gripped his wrists and ripped him off me, hardening my resolve. “No, Ansel. She wouldn’t have. You crossed a line, no matter how much you thought you were helping her.”
He stumbled backward in shock. I could tell by looking at his distraught face that he hadn’t slept last night. I knew from experience that lack of sleep could make you do a lot of stupid things.
“Why must you ruin everything?” he whispered brokenly.
The unspoken grudge that had simmered between us for years had gone on long enough, all because I wanted Ansel to leave my side. To think I’d gone bad, for the sake of keeping him and his secret safe. But I was tired. I couldn’t maintain the charade any longer. Not when Vi was involved. I didn’t want either of them to think I only pursued her to get back at my brother.
“It’s not what you think,” I said, trying to calm him down. “Whatever issues you and I have with each other have nothing to do with Violet. I promise.”
Ansel scoffed. “Do you really think I’m going to believe that? Iknowyou, Alec! I know how you think! You’re just using her to get to me!”
I shook my head vehemently. “No, Ansel. You’re wrong. You’ve always been wrong.”
