Page 25 of Stalked By Seduction and Shadows

I stared into the fire in my library, allowing the waves of desire, fury, and desperation to move freely through my body one by one. My shadows pulsed and expanded, contracted and leveled.

All impulses and obsessions could be ridden out. They just needed time.

I needed time away from her, and distance too. By now, she’d likely already left Crescent Haven, so we had a mortal lifetime of both at our disposal.

Soon I would forget about her entirely, and my sanity would return. I had no way of getting to her, no way of ever again watching her watch the stars. This should’ve been a relief, but it only made my shadows leak into the room, sucking out all the light and air until I was bathed in a thick cloud of night.

It was when I started to imagine her here in the darkness with me that I knew I’d entered dangerous subconscious waters. Waves rose and crashed into me, sweeping me into their hold of twisted torment. All I saw was her face against the backdrop of swirling onyx. I imagined towering over her, allowing my fingers to reach and brush against her fair skin. Those crystalline eyes pinned on me.

Finally.

She was a hex, a force of destruction. I was merely prey caught in her web, a willing votary at her temple, no matter how much I fantasized about my Scarlett on her knees calling me God.

14

SCARLETT

We went in for a landing, and my thighs tightened, hands gripping hard to Sheela’s saddle. It felt like we were still moving even after we’d stopped, my head floaty and my body made of gelatin.

We were near the heart of the city, in a small patch of green space with tall grass and looming trees full of red and orange leaves. Witch lights floated in the air, and I heard the call of another firebird. Sheela heard it too, making a low growling noise and stomping her feet.

“Easy, girl,” Adair said, snapping me out of my mesmerized daze.

“Where are we?”

“Firebird stables in the mortal district, Lumina. Lots of witches here, but plenty of human folk too.” He swung down to solid ground before reaching to help me, smirking when I awkwardly tumbled into his arms.

I quickly pulled away, and my head spun in circles. My whole body was sore and weary.

“Our birds are protected and cared for here, for a fee,” he explained.

I nodded. I figured whoever could afford a firebird had the funds for stable keepers. And of course, there wasn’t room for giant birds in cramped city living.

Everything here was entirely foreign to me, and I found myself again looking up at the glowing orbs of witch light floating between tree branches.

It was all new and grand and ethereal. I’d entered the land of the gods.

No. Not the gods. Just Lillian’s bloodthirsty descendants and their equally bloodthirsty enemies.

“Where are you headed, miss?” Adair asked with a heavy stare, and there were hints of both wariness and pity in his tone.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. I assessed him again now, as he still made no mention of payment for his service. We were no longer in the village. There were people everywhere, but would any of them help me if I needed it? Everything I’d ever been told painted city dwellers as cold and cutthroat, everyone out for themselves and themselves alone.

But Adair shook his head and sighed, conflicted and raw. I saw nothing threatening in his gray eyes, not even a hint of lust. Even as he held me with his gaze, I could see plainly that he wasn’t thinking about me at all, not really. His desire lay somewhere else, under the dirt of Crescent Haven’s cemetery, or perhaps scattered to the wind like my parents.

“There’s cheap housing nearby, off Gerrard Street next to the witch-owned bakery. I know the landlord; she lives on the first floor—the unit with the pale-yellow door. She’s tough but fair. Lumina’s one of the safer districts. Just be smart and you’ll do fine. Getcha a nice witch or shifter fellow to look out for you as soon as possible.” He grinned rakishly, a sharp contrast to the haunted emptiness in his eyes that lingered. “I have no doubt in your abilities to that end.”

“I can look out for myself,” I said indignantly, crossing my arms.

He held his smile, and we both knew that was a lie. Against vampires, I was nothing but an easy meal.

“Good luck, Scarlett. I hope you find what you came here for.”

Though it was dark, it was only an hour or two after sundown. The streets were still busy. I thought that maybe everyone here would know I didn’t belong. I thought they’d all stare and judge my very un-Aristellen fashion, and vampires would leap out of the bushes and grab me immediately.

Neither of those things happened. A few people’s eyes lingered, but I got more attention in Crescent Haven by a longshot. The mortals here were wrapped up in their own lives, walking together and laughing, and pouring out of lively restaurants, shops, and taverns.

They all seemed perfectly normal. Not just normal, but more… alive. There was an excitement in the streets that had tingles rolling across my arms, my heart fluttering despite my fear and cautiousness. I sensed magick rolling through the air from all angles, from too many beings to count. Were there vampires here? They had power to varying degrees as well. Some were born with more than others, and their gifts and talents varied, just like witch magick.

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