Page 184 of Taken By Touch and Torment

Then his lips went lower, gently sucking on the sensitive flesh of my throat.

When he pulled me back up, I was breathless. Vampires were all around us, pretending not to watch Rune’s uncharacteristic display.

“Any more political inquiries, baby?” He grinned devilishly.

I shook my head. “I know everything is going to work out for us. I’m ready to celebrate.”

“Yes it will,” Rune agreed. “This is your world, Scarlett. You’ve proven that. And I intend to help you keep it that way by any means necessary.”

“You give me far too much credit,” I said incredulously.

Rune was the one who’d waged a war and ruled an entire island for centuries.

“And you give yourself far too little,” Rune countered.

He led me out back, where witch lights floated above and people in lavish attire danced to live music. A haze of warmth magick countered the chill of winter.

I caught a glimpse of Reggie in a light pink suit that only he could pull off. He danced with Maize, one of the friendlier human courtesans from Odessa. They both waved at me with smiles.

Rune pulled me close, and I rested my head on his chest as we moved to the sound of beautiful string instruments cascading over us.

Snow danced with Uriah, and I winked at her. She rolled her eyes, still pretending not to be hopelessly in love with her brutish blond vampire.

Uriah was looking down at her like she was the most perfect thing he’d ever seen. His honey blond hair was pulled back into a bun, and he was in a black suit with a lavender pocket square.

Sadie approached from the gardens, and Rune and I exchanged an amused look before laughing to ourselves. She was wearing a shiny black dress and matching gloves that came to her elbows. Her long brunette waves fell down her exposed back. Her heels were so tall, I wasn’t sure how she was standing. The dress pushed up her breasts, and she radiated such intense dominant energy that it was hard to look away.

She scanned the crowd, eyes narrowing on Imogene as she approached a stagnant Mason standing by the doors.

“I have never seen Mason nervous,” I gossiped to Rune, tilting my head in that direction.

He tactfully repositioned to give us a better view. Imogene was blinking up at Mason, her eyes trailing over Mason’s bulging muscles in her all-black pantsuit. Imogene’s curves were cloaked in a navy blue silk gown.

Mason stared down at her, both of them speaking in hushed whispers. Mason rolled her eyes, hard.

My mouth fell open. Rune chuckled.

“Baby, you are not being covert at all,” he whispered.

I watched as Imogene led a painfully stiff Mason into the crowd of dancers, Mason’s hands falling to Imogene’s waist as they began to move to the music.

“Mason is dancing!” Uriah blurted.

Snow elbowed him.

Mason shot us all glares that might’ve been laced with real poison.

I laughed, and Rune kissed the top of my head and pulled me close.

The witch lights sparkled above, and the air smelled of pine and firewood. I was surrounded by more love than I knew what to do with.

I relaxed into Rune’s hold and fell into the beautiful melody of the current song. I knew that just like Valentin, I had a long road of healing ahead. But surrounded by shadows and loyalty, I’d never been safer.

Rune gently peeled me off him, and I was drunk with happiness when I stared up into his eyes.

He smiled, stroking my cheek. “The first of many surprises and grand romantic gestures has arrived.”

I lifted a brow, biting down on a smile. “Oh?”

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