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Despite meeting my great aunt’s long-time partner earlier, I’d had little time to speak with her. Unlike Liliane’s wild exuberance, Willa appeared more grounded. A quiet, comforting presence that radiated strength as she worked in tandem with Liliane to lead the large Coven.
“I wondered why he and Alexei came tonight,” I replied.
Willa sent Liliane a sly grin behind her back. “Your great aunt has worked tirelessly with Henry to duplicate your Coven’s bond with the other creatures in New Orleans with our own version of a Council. But other than Henry, most vampires choose to remain near Boston, or as loners, committed to the old ways.”
My brows etched together. “The old ways?”
“Your vampire prince will know. They’re his father’s laws, after all.”
With a familial pat on my arm, she returned to the circle to speak with a small group of witches huddled together.
I caught sight of Sara as she and her friends beelined for the vampires. Watching him flirt his way into another witch’s panties would surely burn away any lingering hints of desire for him.
As I approached, I watched Alexei listen to Sara proposition him with a simpering grin, but when he lifted his coffee and crimson gaze to mine, the mask slipped for a moment. Turning back to the fire witch, he winced apologetically.
“I’m afraid I am unavailable for such attentions, Sara. As it is, there is only one witch who has a claim over my black heart.” He angled his imposing frame towards me, and the other witches watched as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Come, Jade. Let me walk you home before the veritable monsters come out to play.”
Frozen with shock, I allowed him to guide me out of the cemetery gates, the creaking metal finally snapping me awake from my trance.
I bolted away from him, cognizant of the mutters from the witches as we stood alone in the dark street. “What the fuck was that, Alexei? Do you want the entire Coven to think we’re together?”
“I see you’re catching on,” he mused lightly, though his lips twitched with victory. “Think about it, Jade. We’ll be working together to find the staff, meaning you’ll be in my presence quite a bit. Unless you plan on lying to everyone.”
I could see his point, but that didn’t mean I appreciated his manhandling. Or using me as a means to an end.
“It’s not like I’m unfamiliar with lying and keeping secrets from everyone in my life,” I sulked as we walked down the quiet street.
He arched a brow.
The red cobblestones caught on my boot heels until Alexei grew irritated with my pace and merely lifted me in his grip until only my toes brushed the ground. “What are you—”
“Surely, your reputation could do with some intrigue,” Alexei interrupted me, smiling deviously, the barest hint of fang peeking past his lips. “No doubt the only image your name invokes is a mother hen, always picking up the messes of her younger sisters who live much more colorful lives than yourself.”
I gasped, the etches of hurt crinkling through my anger. “Wow. Is that what you think? That becoming one of the many females salivating over you is supposed to help myreputation? You think I should be more like the simpering nymphs who flood Bite, opening their legs for anyone,especiallythe Prince of Pleasure? Fuck you, Alexei.”
His hand caught on my nape, dragging me into a dark alley when I made to escape his hold. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that,” he said huskily.
Regret simmered in his dark gaze, but there was frustration, too. It only fed my own.
“What do you want from me, Alexei?” I stalked to the opposite wall, leaning my back against the cold brick. “Is this cat-and-mouse game we’ve been playing all year just an act? Because the only reason we have to be in each other’s presence are the talismans.”
He stood preternaturally still like I’d come to expect from the vampires residing in his court, but there was an unmistakable strength that belied his true nature as a ruthless prince.
“That’s all we are to each other? And what about before on the balcony?” he asked, his hands tearing through his hair until the strands hung askew. “Are you going to pretend that moment between us didn’t happen, either? Pretend you didn’t look at me like I wasn’t something beneath your shoe, for once.”
“Nothing happened.” I gave him precisely that cold-hearted stare he despised. “Nor will it ever happen, Alexei.”
He cocked his head, suddenly looking dangerous.
For a moment, the grim realization hit that I was a warmblood, caught in a darkened corner with a vampire who hungered for my blood, amongst other things. I couldn’t help but imagine his glistening fangs piercing my skin as I felt his muscles bunch under my grip.
“No?” he purred, stalking closer in slow, measured steps. “You’ve never thought about it during our late nights in your office? Or when you pace through my courtyard garden, simultaneously furious and excited by our latest argument?”
Alexei could hear the pounding of my heart and let his gaze travel from the slip of cleavage to my lips, lingering there. “What about the nights you come to Bite and watch the filthy tableaus of pleasure? Do you never imagine it’s you and me performing such acts? Me pleasuring you until you scream for the entire city to hear?”
“N-no,” I insisted, but my claim lost its strength when I licked my lips.
He let out a small moan—part possessive growl, part need. It settled over me like a caress. I shivered, my nipples pebbling through my top, unable to disguise my body’s response to him.
