Page 125 of Taken By Touch and Torment

I smiled and captured her lips with mine. “Wicked little demon.” I kissed her temple. “The sexual obsession pales in comparison to the love, baby. No matter how much we like to pretend.”

I guided Scarlett to the first set of pieces, and soon we were joined by a familiar face.

“Reggie!” Scarlett squealed. She hugged him, clearly taking the old vampire by surprise.

I could’ve sworn Reggie’s fair skin reddened a shade. He smoothed his elegant navy suit, his silver hair artfully styled. He glanced at me and nodded in subservience, taking a respectful step back from Scarlett.

“You finally made it,” Reggie said.

“I knew it would be incredible,” Scarlett said. “You deserve to feel so proud.”

Reggie shrugged. “It’s a work in progress. Always will be. But thank you, Scarlett. Taste recognizes taste.”

Reggie and I made small talk about the gallery while Scarlett appraised each piece. When she found an original Mellette, she spun toward us.

“That’s the piece you were telling me about in Odessa—by the artist that paints about immortality as a prison,” she said to Reggie, then nodded to me. “The same artist who did the painting in the castle library.”

Reggie and I both nodded, and Scarlett turned back to the painting. It was bright pink with strokes of peach, light yellow, and orange—the brilliance of the clearest sunset. Yet its abstract, humanoid figures were folded in on themselves, hands on their heads in torment. Chains led to nowhere, looping around limbs and necks haphazardly. Everyone was utterly alone. Life’s beautiful splendor expanded for an eternity.

“Does immortality have to be a sentence?” she asked.

My heart pulled. I knew she was asking for her own sake.

“No,” Reggie said, before I could. “Mellette is a drama queen. Much like his devotees.”

My lips curved at that assessment.

Scarlett threw a grin over her shoulder, her dangerous eyes ensnaring mine. “He must be Rune’s favorite, then.”

50

SCARLETT

Iwrote at 9 p.m. sharp.

Kole?

I was still buzzing from the art gallery, my face sore from laughing with Reggie and Rune. I even connected with new turned I’d never met before, which may have been an ulterior motive of Rune’s—to show me more of the clan I belonged to by virtue of belonging to him.

Rune and Sadie sat on either side of me in the deliberation room, and I forced them both to give me more breathing room after the initial cozy proximity.

I could hardly look at this damn table the same after Rune had bent me over it.

Kole wrote back immediately.

I’m going to give you ten seconds to describe the room I’m staying in.

I did as he asked, proving to him that it was at least me writing—whether or not I had ulterior motives or a knife to my throat.

I’m happy to see proof of life.

I rolled my neck, remembering my aims. I allowed my succubus nature to take over. I squeezed out every last drop of shame. Which was more difficult with Rune next to me, making me self-conscious of my games with other men. But when his broad hand raked through my hair and then retreated, I relaxed deeper.

A familiar scorch coiled up my spine.

I’m alive. Just traded one prison for another.

I held my breath, waiting to see how Kole would react to this statement.

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