Page 13 of Mirror of Vanity

I glanced at Justice, my heart skipping a beat as I met his intense gaze. He had been by my side through every battle, his strength and courage never wavering. Now, as we faced the unknown, I felt a different tension between us. The way his eyes lingered on mine, the brush of his hand against my arm. Almost as if the Demon of Lust had already begun to work its magic.

I tried to push those thoughts aside, knowing we needed to focus on the task at hand. Yet, as I sat beside my brother, I couldn’t help but wonder if our greatest battle would be against the demons within ourselves.

Justice glanced at my empty cup. “Would you like some more tea?”

“Sure.” As I handed it to him, our fingers brushed briefly. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through my body, and I quickly pulled away, trying to ignore the way my skin tingled where we’d made contact.

What I really needed was a cold shower and a dose of reality on why he was forbidden. He was a vampire, and my family would never accept him. Getting involved with him would only complicate our mission and put both our lives at risk.

My brain had all kinds of reasons why I should keep my distance, but my heart couldn’t care less. He was more tempting than a hot fudge sundae with whipped cream and a cherry on top, and every moment spent in his presence only weakened my resolve further.

I drew a deep breath, trying to focus on the task at hand. We had a shadow dragon and demons to fight, and I couldn’t afford to be distracted by my desires. Still, as I watched him head to the kitchen, I couldn’t tear my gaze from his sculpted back. The muscles rippled beneath his skin with every movement.

As he reached up to grab something from a high shelf, his back muscles flexed and contracted, creating a mesmerizing display of raw, masculine beauty. The smooth expanse of his skin was interrupted only by a few faint scars, each a reminder of the battles he’d fought and the challenges he’d overcome.

I longed to trace my fingers along the ridges and planes of his back, to feel the warmth of his skin beneath my touch. The desire to press my lips against his shoulder blades, to trail kisses down his spine, was almost overwhelming.

With a shake of my head, I tried to banish these thoughts from my mind. We had a mission to complete, and I couldn’t let my growing attraction compromise our focus. But as I watched the play of muscles across his back, I couldn’t help but wonder if the greatest danger I faced was the one smoldering in my heart, threatening to consume me from within.

“Boo, Sawyer.” Damon clapped his hands with a mischievous smirk.

I jumped, my heart pounding. “What the?—”

“Time to round up the gang, sweetheart. Let’s hash out our game plan with everyone.” He shot me a knowing look that made my cheeks burn, clearly catching me eyeing Justice.

“I’ll go get Lisa,” I mumbled.

“And I’ll wake the rest of the beauty queens,” Damon quipped as he followed me out of the living room.

I rapped my knuckles firmly against Lisa’s door, the sound echoing through the quiet hallway. In the background, I heard Damon’s muffled voice as he attempted to rouse Brody, Grady, and Scott. A chorus of grumbling and disgruntled murmurs drifted through the air, punctuated by a particularly colorful string of expletives. I had a sneaking suspicion Scott was the source of the creative cursing.

After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing a disheveled and exhausted-looking Lisa. She stifled a yawn with the back of her hand, her tousled hair sticking out at odd angles as if she’d been tossing and turning all night. Her red flannel pajamas were wrinkled and twisted. “God, it’s so early,” she groaned.

As I met her gaze, my heart clenched in sympathy. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy, the telltale signs of a night spent crying over her missing animals. I felt a surge of determination to help her through this ordeal.

“I know,” I said softly. “But we need to come up with a plan.” I gently squeezed her shoulder, hoping to convey my support and understanding. We couldn’t afford to waste any more time. Every minute counted when it came to finding her beloved creatures.

Lisa nodded slowly, a flicker of determination sparking in her eyes despite her exhaustion. She straightened her shoulders and drew a deep, steadying breath, ready to face the challenges ahead. Almost absentmindedly, she ran her fingers through her tousled hair, attempting to bring some order to the unruly strands. The simple action seemed to give her a small sense of control.

Together, we turned and made our way toward the others, our minds already racing with ideas and strategies. As we walked, I couldn’t help but admire Lisa’s resilience and strength. Even with her world turned upside-down, she refused to give up hope, and that determination only fueled my resolve.

In the living room, the rest of the team had taken their seats. The only empty places were on either side of Damon. I had a feeling he sat there so I couldn’t sit next to Justice, who’d taken one of the dining room chairs.

Damon flashed a dimpled grin, clearly pleased with himself.

I rolled my eyes, sat on the other side of him, and elbowed him in the ribs.

He cocked his eyebrow. “What was that for?”

I folded my arms, my fingers digging into the soft fabric of my sleeves. “As if you didn’t know.” My voice dripped with sarcasm. I couldn’t help it. Something about Damon’s self-assured attitude always managed to get under my skin.

Damon chuckled, the familiar sound bringing a small smile to my face despite my annoyance. “Oh, dear sister, you know me too well.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the fondness from creeping into my voice. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? I know all your tricks, yet you still manage to be an insufferable know-it-all.”

Damon grinned, leaning back against the couch cushions and draping an arm across the back. “Ah, but that’s part of my charm, isn’t it? Keeping you on your toes, always ready with a witty comeback.”

I shook my head, a laugh escaping my lips. “Charm? Is that what you call it? I think most people would call it annoying.”

---