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“What do you want?” I asked skeptically as he stepped a few paces closer to me. He lifted one hand, brushing a wayward curl behind my shoulder, exposing my neck to his gaze.
Gods but this man was gorgeous. And the way he stared at me…
Down girl. This guy is bad, bad news. Like, so bad he’d rot your teeth. He literally beat the crap out of you.
The dark part of me growled.
Well, he didn’tactuallybeat me, just subdued me. I didn’t even end up with any bruises. Yes, because that’s an excellent gauge of friendliness.
Semantics.
“I wanted a chat.” He said as he stalked about me like a caged animal with a treat.
“About what exactly?” I raised an eyebrow as he circled to the front of me again. “Maybe about how you accosted me at dinner?”
“So you did feel that, did you?” And there went that scar again. Distracting.
“Don’t play dumb, it doesn’t suit you.”
“You know what suits me, do you?” he asked, amusement filling his voice.
I rolled my eyes. “Anyways…as fun as this isn’t, I would like to go to bed.”
He ignored my dig. “And I’d like to chat.”
“We don’t always get what we want,” I said flatly, shoes clacking together in my hand as I folded my arms over my chest.
“I usually do,” He replied with a sultry promise. He tilted his head to the side, studying me with a predatory gleam that made my traitorous body hum. “So, tell me, how long have you known you could control sins and virtues?”
I pinched my lips to the side and gave him my best ‘you’re bat shit crazy’ expression. “Now, Marik, I’m sure you know that’s simply impossible. You must be mistaken.”
“Nah,” He replied flippantly, winking at me. “I’m not mistaken. It’s not every day I get simultaneously tickled with justice and wrath.”
“Hey!” I shouted before I could control my mouth. “There is no way that tickled.”
He raised both eyebrows as if to say ‘gotcha.’
I shrugged my shoulders as he came closer again, lifting two strands of hair from either side of my face and pulling them delicately toward him. I had no choice but to move closer. What could I say - I did not like my hair being pulled. Although from the traitorous way my body hummed, it may not agree with that.
“Even your mind doesn’t want to lie to me,” He said, bending forward so his warm breath fanned over my lips. And Gods but I wanted to close that gap. Traitorous hormones.
Just as I thought he might, a harsh alarm rang out from the cell in his pocket. He let out a heavy breath, backing away from me. “I have a previous engagement. We’ll finish this discussion later, though.”
He went to walk away but turned back to face me before he could disappear. “And just so you know, your secret is safe with us.”
Chapter Seven- Serpents and Care Bears
Marik
I pulled the damnable cell out of my pocket, checking the time. 23:27. I hoped to all the souls in Hell that these people were punctual. I would hate to have ruined my moment with my Little Thief for tardiness.
The annoying chatter of excited casters drowned out the sound of my thoughts and ruined the space's ambiance with the scents of champagne, various brown liquors, and cigar smoke. Damn humans still had no appreciation for their lungs.
I folded my arms across my chest and leaned back against the wall, my stance casual as I took in every person who spread across the long rectangular room capped with a high vaulted ceiling and gold filigree. Despite being a hall designed for a more intimate gathering with its long mahogany table and matching chairs with inlays of dark red velvet and golden trim, it felt more regal than the grand hall. Perhaps that was because this room had, for many centuries, been the source of much of the mystery of this castle, and where nearly countless futures had been decided in rounds of bids.
The table only held ten chairs: one for the ambassador of each guild, one for the Abbess and the sister overseeing the upcoming selections, and the chosen representative from the Guild Council. This year’s representative was Lord Tarrel Harseth, formerly of Helorac. I was intimately familiar with the South African caster, having previously investigated him for possible involvement in an experimental demonic organ harvesting ring that was still running rampant.
Just one more bull shit problem for me to solve once I had my Thief safely ensconced in Sanctuarium.
