Page 77 of Hunt the Dusk
“I’m seeing Kaster Black. He’s the head of the Sangualex on Longlier Street, and he invited me to the opening of a new wing at the School of Creation. It’s a formal thing, but at least I can wear a modern dress.” I held the ring to his mouth. “Here.”
He made a face but opened his mouth to accept it.
“Same time tomorrow?”
But he was already gone. Still and dead as carved wood.
I stroked his head. “What is your story, buddy? Next time I see Ezekiel, I’m going to ask.”
Back in my room, I showered fast, pinned up my hair, and slipped on a midnight-blue, calf-length dress and kitten heels. I grabbed the holster of my sword and swung it on. There was no way I was going into a building filled with vampires without it, even if it was a school and I had Kaster by my side.
From now on, my sword went everywhere with me.
A gentle breezeplayed with my skirts, circling my bare legs as I stepped into the courtyard, but I barely felt the cold. I was tooexcited for my date. A date which Hemlock had agreed to drive me to. He stood by the carriage soothing the horses but turned when my heels crunched on gravel.
His eyebrows shot up at the sight of me in my pretty dress, and the tops of his cheeks went pink.
I gave him a twirl and kicked out a leg. “What do you think?”
His mouth parted slightly as his darkening gaze roved down my body, lingering on my legs, before sweeping back up again and snagging on my holster.
He snorted. “Love the sword.”
“Right? I think it adds just the right amount ofoomph,don’t you? Like I’m a pretty princess, but Iwillcut you.” I clasped my hands together and kicked my leg back out in a parody of sweet.
He fought a smile. “Get in the damn carriage, woman. I have places to be.”
“Oh? Care to share?”
I started across the courtyard, kitten heels sinking into gravel. My ankle twisted, and I buckled, arms shooting out to catch myself, but Hemlock grabbed me before I could fall, sweeping me off my feet and into his arms.
For a moment, there was nothing but the scent of cinnamon and the soft caress of the lapels of his leather coat. I blinked up at him, and he slow-blinked back, evoking an unfurling of heat low in my belly. Errant thoughts scrolled through my mind, like what would his stubble feel like against the pads of my fingers, and were his lips as soft as they looked, or would they be hard and punishing? As if picking up on my musings, his attention fell to my lips, intense and focused for several beats. Was he going to kiss me? Did I want him to? I held my breath, afraid to break this strange spell.
He broke it for us by looking away. “I’ll drop you off and pick you up at midnight.” He carried me toward the carriage. “Be ready to leave.”
“Or the carriage will turn into a pumpkin, right?” My voice betrayed none of the disappointment I was feeling because no, I had not wanted him to kiss me. Not one bit.
“What have pumpkins to do with anything?” He set me on my feet by the carriage.
I shook my head. “Never mind. It’s a story from the old days. I read it when I was a child.” I shrugged off the sword holster and threw it into the cabin before climbing up.
Hemlock closed the door behind me, and a few moments later we were off.
Off on my date that wasn’t a real date but a ploy to share information. I was excited about it anyway. Kaster had sent over a formal invite with an itinerary attached a couple of days ago. The children would put on a recital, then there was a meal and a dance for the patrons.
For a few hours, I’d pretend I was a normal woman on a normal date with a hot guy. Yeah, that’s exactly what I’d do. Information swapping could wait till after the ball.
A messagefrom Kaster popped up on my phone as soon as I got past the borders letting me know that a car would be waiting for me at the stables and that he’d meet me at the entrance to the School of Creation.
The car in question looked expensive with leather seats and tinted windows, and the driver was polite but didn’t force conversation, allowing me to sit back and enjoy the ride across town to the other side of Brimswood where the School of Creation sat behind wrought iron gates—a sprawling metropolisof education and breeding. At least that was what the sign above the gates said.
Cars drove in through those gates sedately, stopping to be checked before entering. At least the security was good. But then it had to be with children present.
I spotted Kaster as we got closer. He stood a head taller than everyone else, a formidable figure dressed in a dark suit, thick locks brushed back from his forehead and slightly tousled by the breeze.
We came to a standstill, so I rolled down the window and waved to get his attention. His face broke into a smile as he hurried up the line of cars toward me. I held my hand out to him, permission to mindspeak. His fingers brushed mine, and a moment later his voice bloomed in my head like whiskey and honey.
You made it.
