Page 86 of Eternal Ruin
Caught, he slid her a smile. “The last thing I needed was for you to declare your marriage and stay at Uxlay forever. Remember, little bird, I wanted you gone.”
She studied him for a while, not sure what she was searching for. “And later, when you wanted me to stay, why not tell me then?”
His dark gaze bore into hers, dropping to her lips for a moment. “It must have slipped my mind.”
Her cheeks warmed at the unrestrained heat in his expression and pleasureblossomed in her gut. Maybe Kidan wasn’t the only one who couldn’t control her emotions very well.
Clearing her throat, she brushed down her dress. “Perhaps I will be lucky tonight. Find myself a nice human boy.”
“I hear they’re quite harmless. Like bunnies.” The blackness of his pupils refusing to blink. “You’d be bored.”
She could smell rose oil and eucalyptus on him. A scent she missed terribly. He must have bathed before this.
Reluctantly, her gaze went to the chest visible past his open collar, his golden key still peeking through.
“Would I be bored?”
“You like vampires.”
“Can’t have children with vampires, though, can I?”
His eyes glinted. “All the more reason to increase our efforts.”
Kidan’s lips twitched, taking in his still chest. She could swear he was holding his breath. As if, if he dared breathe her in, he’d unravel. She wanted to press her hand to his chest, break his restraint into a thousand pieces.
When her lashes swept upward to his face, he was still looking at her. “You should really look at the road.”
Susenyos raised a brow. “This from the girl that crashed my car into the woods. Onpurpose.”
Kidan smiled, giving in. It was difficult not to when they were alone, far away from Uxlay, from the house, from the mask.
“I’ve learned there are better ways to get rid of my enemies.”
There was a glint in his pupils when he looked to the road. He was polished under the refracted road lights, no strand of hair out of place, rich brown skin without a scar. Had she really told him he was beautiful in the broom closet? And he had said something similar, a phrase she wanted to erase but instead visited again.
Death had never looked so beautiful until it was delivered by your hands.
“Let’s hope I’m not on your list, then.”
She turned her face to the window so he wouldn’t see her smile.
The Arcane Tower was a tomb of spiraling staircases and candles. They stood before the shadow of the column, its carved windows revealing pockets of blue light. A shiver climbed down Kidan’s spine. The entrance was marked by a thick, red-tongued curtain.
Susenyos kept a good two paces between them. The actis were entering with their companions.
“You’re not going to take my hand?” Kidan asked, trying not to sound disappointed.
“Best we don’t scare away your future husband. Go ahead. I’ll wait for Iniko.”
She frowned as he sped away. But her frown faded when a handsome boy similarly dressed in a red suit jacket joined her from the parking lot. The Arcane Societies insisted all actis wear red, or rather “shine as a rose.”
“You came,” she said to Yusef in surprise.
“I couldn’t stay away. It’s my duty, isn’t it?”
His tone was light as they stared at the tower with apprehension.
“I hate that word,” Kidan said. “‘Duty.’”
