Page 61 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

Graves’s sorrow kept stinging my chest, even though he was in another room, taking a bath as Myrtha had ordered him.

I returned to my room, tired and dispirited. Whatever solution we chose, someone was going to suffer. Alex wanted to return human, but Lucy shouldn’t be dead, although she might prefer dying to becoming a vampire.

I sat in front of the vanity and undid my chignon. We were making a huge decision for her without consulting her.

A small vibration of the bond heralded Alex’s arrival. The door inched open.

“Irene?” He entered my bedroom with uncertain steps. Our bond shifted from rigid to soft to quivering. “May I talk to you?”

“Of course.” I offered him the seat in front of me.

He perched on the stuffed chair, hands on his knees. “We’re going to Raven Hall tomorrow. We must find a way to dissolve the fog.”

“I’ll come with you. And thank you for letting Graves return to the Dark Court. He needed it.”

“I did it for you. To make you happy after what happened.” He looked dejected and suffering, and while his actions had hurt me, my heart clenched for him.

I offered him my hand, palm up. He slowly closed his strong fingers around mine, shivering. Then he did something that made me catch my breath.

He brought up my hand and kissed it before placing it on his cheek. A quiver shuddered through him, but he didn’t recoil. His intense gaze was on me, heavy with the weight of his adoration.

He kissed my inner wrist slowly. His soft lips left a path of fire on my skin. I yearned for more.

“I won’t hide anything from you ever again.” He pressed his lips to my palm. “Having disappointed you hurt the most.” He lowered my hand to his chest, even though the gesture cost him a shiver. “I worsened the situation. Raven Hall might be lost because of me.”

“But you aren’t going to be a rogue.” I glanced at his reflection. It wasn’t as sharp as it should be but blurred at the edges. There was wildness in him. But the bond couldn’t lie though. Alex wasn’t going to kill anyone else. “We’ll keep working on your problem, and eventually we’ll overcome it without tricks or spells. No shortcuts. Just you and me.”

“I promise I’ll listen to you more from now on.”

“Excellent.” I laced my fingers through his, and not a quiver bothered him.

He dipped his head and paused half an inch from my lips. My pulse throbbed faster. We kissed each other at the same time.

The kiss was all passion and desperation, desire and fear. He’d kissed me like that when he’d been under Cara’s spell. Tension charged the bond—a sign he was forcing himself not to wince. While I appreciated his effort, I didn’t want him to be in pain when he kissed me.

“Alex.” I broke the kiss. He was so close that I could see the golden specks in his silver-grey irises. “Don’t force yourself.”

“It’s the only way. I have to.” His voice cracked with fear.

“Not now. One step at a time.”

“But—”

“You promised you would listen to me.”

He chuckled. “Fair point.”

I caressed his cheek lightly. “I’d better talk to Graves.”

He brushed his lips over my hand, and my insides clenched. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.” He rose and paused at the door. The bond quivered with an emotion I couldn’t place as he parted his lips. “Good night.”

I was sure he’d meant to say something else.

Graves was in Lucy’s bedroom, hunched on a chair and holding his sister’s hand. He had nothing of the strong, confident man I remembered. He was pale, gaunt, and a haunted expression clouded his face. Dark shadows circled his bloodshot eyes, and his body had lost muscle mass.

He stood up when I entered. “Miss Harlowe.”

I took the armchair next to him. “I’m so sorry about Lucy.”