Page 55 of Shadows in Bloom

“He’s never going to hurt you again,” Vivienne promised. “With your permission, I’d like Teeth to investigate him further as a potential Chosen. Would you feel comfortable providing me with his details?”

“Yes.” Reliving my worst memories had solidified something in me. Somehow, my former guardian had to pay for what he’d done. Not just to me, but to everyone unlucky enough to cross paths with him and experience his darkness.

“It’s settled. Leave it with me.” Vivienne stood. Brutus lumbered to his feet, pacing across the cracked earth to stand by her side.

When they left, and it was just me and Amélie remaining, she reached up, cupping my face and tilting my jaw so our eyes met again.

“After tonight’s show, will you come somewhere with me?”

I nodded instantly, and a gorgeous, bright smile curved over her lips, chasing the last of my shadows away.

AMÉLIE

Iled Wren up the steep stairs. Four floors, each with two sets of stairs, seemingly steeper the higher we climbed. Even with my daily regime of intensive exercise as a trapeze artist, I felt the burn in my thighs. Hopefully, though, this would all be worth it.

Finally, we reached the door, slightly chipped, with peeling pale blue paint. It was exactly as it had looked in the photos, and I relaxed slightly as I inserted the key into the lock. Swinging the door open, I gestured for Wren to go ahead of me.

“What is this place?” she murmured, her pretty eyes wide and curious as she stepped inside. So beautiful. Once again, I pushed down the urge to press my lips to hers, instead, entering the flat behind her and closing the door.

“This is ours for tonight. I thought we both needed to get away. Somewhere different and new. A place without any memories,” I admitted, taking in the tiny studio flat. If the photos had been correct...

There.

Sheer curtains covered a set of doors, glass panes encased in white painted wood. Pushing the curtains aside, I opened the doors to the night breeze.

Wren’s jaw dropped as she took in the sight before us. The flat was the highest in a series of Victorian buildings along the seafront. Beyond the buildings there was a road, and across the road was the sea. Out here, late in the evening, it was quiet enough to hear the waves lapping at the pebbly shore. Strings of lights between ornate black lamp posts illuminated the seafront, and to the left, the glittering, colourful lights of the pier lit up the night sky and the waves beneath the wooden supports.

She leaned back incrementally, and I took it as my cue to slide my arm around her waist, over the top of her hoodie. As she relaxed into me with a tiny sigh, some of my tension drained away. After the things she’d confided earlier, I wasn’t sure how welcome my touch would be. She’d never shied away from me before, but there was no way on earth that I’d risk making her feel uncomfortable, or even worse, bringing back memories of that monster.

And yes, he was a monster. If they knew what we did, people would probably call us monsters because we ended lives, but I truly believed in what we stood for. I’d been exposed to some of the worst examples of humanity in my life in the cirque. We meted out justice for those who never got a chance to speak out. For those who knew the monsters in their towns, in their homes—those evil, twisted people who lived to ruin and destroy. Monsters who slipped through the system, who avoided the traditional routes of justice.

This man...no, not a man. This devil in human skin had hurt Wren over and over, and he needed to face the consequences of his actions.

But it would be up to Wren.

“Amélie?” Her voice was so fucking soft, and it sent a delicious shiver through my body.

“Mmm?”

“Thank you. I don’t know how you knew what I needed, when I didn’t even know myself. This is...this is perfect.”

“Anything for you,” I murmured, giving in and lowering my head, running the tip of my nose up the side of her head, breathing in her sweet scent.

She trembled against me, turning her head, and our eyes met. Her lashes fluttered, her soft lips parting, and I leaned in, closing the final distance between us. When her lips touched mine, my stomach flipped again. Sliding my mouth over hers, I wrapped my other arm around her. She responded by turning in my arms, opening her mouth to me, her tongue tentatively sliding against mine.

How could a simple kiss make me feel so much?

No. There was nothing simple about this kiss.

“Amélie,” she breathed, winding her arms around my neck.

“Mmm. Wren. Fuck,” I gasped, letting her push me back against the wall, our kiss turning deeper, more passionate.

I edged my leg between hers, and she moaned, grinding down on my thigh. I was so fucking wet, so turned on from having this girl in my arms, right where I wanted her. She was delicious, addictive, and against all odds, it seemed like she wanted me back.

My mouth went to her throat, and she gasped, tipping her head back, letting me get my lips on her soft skin. “I didn’t know it could be like this,” she panted, grinding down harder. “This is...you are?—”

Without any warning, she broke off and released her grip on me, only to yank me into her, rubbing her own thigh against my aching core. It felt so fucking good. The need to mark her pretty skin burned through me, and I couldn’t wait any longer. I moaned at the delicious friction, kissing down her throat, and then sucking, branding her with my mark.

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