Page 88 of The Reign of Blood

“That look in your eyes tells me a different story,” he muses, suddenly spinning me out and tugging me back in before I can make sense of it all.

“That’s not part of the dance,” I grumble, making him chuckle.

“Maybe not, but you look hot when I do it.”

I roll my eyes at him again, but his carefree warmth is exactly what I need.

“Mr. Orenda. Your father wishes to speak with you.”

Brody comes to a halt, his attention steering to the man suddenly at our side. “My father can go fuck himself,” he retorts with a scoff as I stand frozen in place.

“He assumed that may be your response. He also advised me to relay a message that can be delivered in private or for everyone to witness. Which would you prefer?” The man seems embarrassed by the words he has to repeat while Brody sighs, dropping his hands from my body.

“I won’t be long,” he murmurs, and I nod, eager to get the hell off the dance floor, but the second he turns to leave with the guy, another hand lands on my arm.

Whirling around, I startle when I find Kryll. Panic sets in, and I instantly search for Flora. He must sense my concern because he waves me off before pointing to where she’s standing with Arlo.

“Dance with me.”

Three words.

Simple. Small. Soft.

Yet they’re laced with heat, promise, and desire.

Fuck.

Before I can think better of it, my hand slips into his and he pulls me in close. I have to tilt my head back a little further to look at him as he sways us from side to side. The song in the background changes and the waltz everyone is trying to follow drifts into a calmer tune.

“You’ve garnered quite an audience tonight,” he states, peering around me. He slowly spins us, giving me the opportunity to note everyone looking in my direction, and I hum in agreement.

“So it seems.”

“I don’t know whether it’s how beautiful you look in this dress or the amethyst you’re displaying so carefree,” he offers, threatening to turn my cheeks pink at his compliment, and I shake my head.

“I thought it might have something to do with the fact that I’m Satan’s spawn.”

He grins, a snicker falling from his lips as he peers down at me. “It could be that too. Or the fact that you’re wearing combat boots with such a sweet dress,” he adds, and I grin.

“Damn. I thought it was the outline of the daggers underneath all this tulle,” I muse, watching his gaze shoot to my thighs, eyes darkening as he slowly raises them to meet mine, staring at me intently.

“Fuck. You’re something else,” he breathes, lifting a palm to my face. His hand is huge against my cheek, and I shiver at the way his thumb coasts over my skin.

The room falls still as he inches closer, and closer, and closer until there’s nothing but a millimeter between us. We search deep into each other’s eyes, for what, I’m not entirely sure, buta split second later, we must find it because we move in sync, eliminating the remaining distance between us.

Soft, full lips claim mine as I rise up on my tiptoes, palms pressed against his chest as I lose myself in his warm embrace.

My eyelids fall closed, separating me from everything around me apart from him. Goosebumps ghost over my skin as desire dances through my veins.

All too quickly, he retreats, his eyes almost black when I blink my lids open to see him.

“That was some of the most magical shit I’ve ever experienced in my life.”

I chuckle at his proclamation, stepping in closer as a wave of dizziness washes over me. The kind that comes with euphoria.

“This is the bitch causing a stir, Daddy. I want her gone. And I want her gone now.” The shrill sound of Vallie’s voice interrupts our moment, making my blood boil even more than usual when I’m in her presence.

I turn to find her standing beside a man who is practically the male version of her. Same nose, same eyes, same chin. They’ve even got the same shade of hair, which doesn’t feel like the most natural of colors, but that’s irrelevant when they’re both glaring at me with a fierceness that doesn’t fill me with a sense of joy.

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