Page 77 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
“It’s not magick. It’sscience,” Devlinn answered. “The sun warms the glass, and the heat gets trapped inside.”
“Be nice, my love. Science is magick by another name,” Tansy said, reciting one of Mama’s favorite phrases.
“My mother says the same thing,” I admitted. My stomach dropped at the slip. “Saidthe same thing. Before she died. May the goddess bless her soul.”
Tansy’s eyes met mine, I could see the curiosity sparkling. “Where did you say you were from?”
Swallowing hard, I realized I’d offered too much. I was just as foolish as Mama said. Her voice echoed inside my head, scolding me for being so stupid.
“These people aren’t your friends. One is a Dark Witch. The other is a traitor. And that one is an imbecile who thinks he can smile his way through the world. You’re supposed to be spying.”
The hate I’d grown up on was like venom in my veins. I fell back on the lie I was supposed to tell them. “Nightfall Convent.”
She gave me a sympathetic smile. “Looks like we both escaped Diana.”
I nodded, knowing Ihadn’tescaped Diana. Not by a long shot. My hand floated to the lace choker around my neck, reminding myself of the spell I was bound to.
“Us misfits should stick together,” Tansy said, rising from her chair and sauntering around the table toward me. Herhand grazing Devlinn’s shoulder as she passed by. “We should celebrate our liberation.”
“Here, here!” Devlinn cheered, raising his glass.
She came to stand behind me, her hands finding the slope of my shoulders, her fingertips trailing up my neck to cradle my face. “We brought pillows. And blankets,” she said. “Enough to make a cozy little pile on the floor.” Her voice was a coo in my ear. “Can we please you? I promise we’ll be gentle.”
Nerves and uncertainty curled in my stomach as my gaze trailed the table. There were three of them. Three very skilled pillow whisperers. I didn’t doubt their skill. But the truth was simple: I didn’t desire them in the deep, needy way I cravedBastien.
“I am grateful to you all, truly I am, but I only want your friendship. Nothing more.”
I stared at the ballroom doors, wishing I could see Bastien. To—what? Ask him questions about the wolf? My sister? Kiss him? I didn’t know. My head was pounding with the evil words I was raised on and this new, quieter, darker part of me that didn’t care if I was a ruin so long as I was his.
In that inner war, I heard whispering in my ear.MurmuringI couldn’t quite understand but that I knew no one else could hear. Little words spoken just for me.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the restroom,” I told Tansy. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I would find him if I went looking.
“Nearest one is back through the doors and to the right. Do you want me to come with you?”
“No, thank you.”
As I left the table and began walking to the door, I felt like I was underwater once again. It was as if our connection had reopened, and he was whispering to me inside my head.
“Claire.Claire.”
Beckoning me toward the door. When I lifted my hand to the handle, I heard his ragged breath like he was standing directly behind me. I wanted to see him. Despiteeverything.
The door cracked open before I could touch the handle, and when I pushed it open an inch, I didn’t find the hallway behind. No. What I found had me gasping and scurrying through the opening as fast as I could.
Chapter 35
Fier
CLAIRE
The castle had transported me to…a greenhouse.
Bright sunlight, blooming flowers, and fragrant herbs enveloped me in a kind of happiness I hadn’t experienced since working in the garden back home. But it wasn’t a stalk of rosemary that had drawn me through the ballroom door so quickly.
It was him.
Shirtless.
