Page 25 of House of Crimson Hearts
Xavier takes the goblet from her. “Thanks, I’m dying for food.”
“Rude,” she says and nudges him, then takes the goblet back and sinks the rest of the dregs in the cup.
The three of us have formed somewhat of an alliance. Amelia is still so fresh as a vampire I feel it my duty to ensure she doesn’t fuck up. It’s not something I usually consider, but then I very rarely Turn anyone. This was… different. And what I value, Xavier tends to value, so he accepted Amelia immediately.
“She was here last night,” Amelia says. “Wouldn’t talk to me though.”
“I know,” I say and then fall silent because I’m not sure what else to add. Amelia knows… I told her everything last night after she saw Red. She thinks I should tell her. But I can’t. It doesn’t work like that. Not after what I did.
But that’s a story for a different day.
When I turn back to my club, the dance floor is already full. Mother is on stage. I find myself scanning the room looking for Red.
I know she’s found me before I’ve found her because my back itches like I’m being watched. Amelia shifts next to me.
“I should go,” she says, her eyes drooping.
“You need to talk to her,” I say.
“Don’t you think I’ve tried?”
“Try again.”
“Octavia…”
“Amelia.”
Her jaw flexes, her eyes flaring bright. They’re bluer than Red’s, which are the most vivid green I’ve ever seen. But both sisters hold the same fire in their gaze.
“This wasn’t just me. I might have started this cycle, but this started long before me. It’s your responsibility to fix this just as much as it is mine,” she says. She glances at the corner of the room and then vanishes up the staircase and out of sight.
I track across to the corner where Amelia was looking and find Red. I’m momentarily speechless. She’s wearing a suit that’s just as tailored as Dahlia’s. While Red is short, the suit has tapered trouser legs that make her appear long and elegant despite her stature. Red’s shoulders and arms are defined under the suit’s shape. She wears a white shirt, nowhere near buttoned up enough. In fact, I can see her cleavage from here. I stiffen, uncomfortable with the way my body responds to this revelation. Uncomfortable with how familiar it is.
Our eyes lock.
My hand skirts to my own chest. My fingers tracing the scar over my heart…
The one she gave me.
The one that nearly ended me.
The one she doesn’t remember.
“Excuse me, Xavier. I’ll be back,” I say and leave before he can stop me.
I move fast enough around the club Red can’t follow me, but I follow her. The realisation that I’ve vanished spreads across her features in slow motion.Too late, little hunter, I’m already behind you.
Her heart senses me before her mind realises. The deepthud, thud, thud, the sweet scent of adrenaline filling her veins.
“Well, don’t you look delicious enough to eat this evening,” I whisper into her ear.
She startles, then tries to cover it by spinning on her heels to face me. This time, I’m the one backed against the club wall.
Her eyes drop to my cleavage, her tongue slides over her lips and then she shakes herself and steps back.
“See something you like?” I purr.
“Only a scar that should have been a cause of death.” She smiles, a sour little thing on a mouth like that. It makes me want to do things. To push her to her knees and make her beg. “How’d you get that?”
