Page 43 of When Bones Whisper
A dark chuckle tumbled from his lips. “You believe you can outrun a vampire?”
“Maybe.”
“Then you are foolish.”
With a step back, she stared into his widening eyes, something dark lurking within. “Perhaps, but I want you to let me try anyway.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because if you win, I will break your curse.”
“You will break it anyway,” he said, his dark brows knitting together. “Or did you forget we have an agreement?”
She couldn’t admit the real reason without undoing all the rapport she’d built with him. She watched as his eyes darkened. The playfulness of minutes ago was now lost to centuries of paranoia.
“I did not forget,” she said when his fingers flexed at his side.
He stepped forward but stopped when she flinched. With a glance at her throat, he let out a low groan and said, “That’s enough dancing for one night.”
“Where are you going?” she asked when he turned his back to her to leave.
With a glance over his shoulder, he mumbled, “To feed. You should find Katherine.”
“Wait—” she called out, but he was already gone. With a deep breath, she headed back to her room, the mark on her side worse in his absence. Katherine would have to wait until tomorrow to practice. She needed a bath and cuddles with Duke while she tried to figure out what on earth she was going to do now that The Hunt was out of the question?
Chapter Twelve
It didn’t take long that next evening for Charlotte to find Alexander in the library, leaning against the marble mantel with a glass of wine in one hand and a book in the other. Beyond him, faded spines lined the mahogany shelves beyond the long sofa, and carved gargoyles stood as bookends in between various collections.
She breathed in the burned wood, old parchment, and polish before walking to the sofa. “Good evening.”
Alexander closed the book and placed it on the ledge. “Miss Lovett. How was your dance with Nathaniel yesterday?”
“It was short,” she admitted and sat against the emerald-green pillows. “I asked him if I could take part in The Hunt and he refused me.”
Alexander shot her an incredulous look. “How did you find out about that?”
“I found a card, and one of the maids told me the rest,” she said, refusing to disclose it was Hartley in case she wasn’t supposed to reveal anything to her about the event.
Alexander tipped his glass between his full lips, finishing what she only hoped was red wine. “He had good reason to deny you. Those who play usually end up dead.”
“Unless they’re predators,” she pointed out.
“Indeed.” A wolfish grin carved his face. “Is that what you want? To be a predator?”
“No. I just wanted to play,” she mumbled, and changed the subject before he could press her about her motivations further. “Where is Katherine?”
“I’ll take you to her.”
She nodded, forcing a small smile. “How are preparations for the ball coming along?”
“Invitations have already gone out. Now we must only hope the Avery family are arrogant enough to walk into our trap,” he said, green eyes flaring when he looked at her.
“You were able to reach them then?”
“Naturally. They have a small estate here in central London.”
“If they’re so close by, why haven’t you and Nathaniel gone to them?”
