Page 76 of When Day Breaks

October 29th

The day escapes us. The sun rises and moves throughout the sky. It pierces the clouds and projects its bright beams against what's left of the light layer of snow left behind. Then it dips below the horizon and allows for luminescence of the moon to make an appearance. It's full tonight, and as it hides behind some of the clouds that blanket the night sky, it creates a glow that is an undeniable comparison to the color of Lucynda's eyes.

I'm glad I have her back. We haven't left the room all day. We didn't need to.

The buzz of tonight's party is all the rage amongst the Nocturnes and I know everyone is waiting for the time to come.There's only an hour more before curfew ends and then we can all make our way to carouse.

I had the guards send out invites to random Outsiders as usual, there are accommodations being made at the club as we speak to make sure everything is good to go, and all that's left is our arrival.

"Do you really think this party will be a good form of distraction for the Society?" Lucynda asks as she slips on the dress she'll be wearing tonight, cloaking the bites and bruises I've left all over her body. I watch as the burnt orange colored silk covers her like a second skin, loving how easily she's readjusted after nearly succumbing to the curse that plagued her.

It did a number on her, but my sweet sin is stronger than anyone has ever given her credit for.

"Not only do I think this party could serve as a decent distraction, little one," I say to her as I approach her from behind, wrapping my hands around her waist and peppering kisses over her shoulder.

I reach for the zipper that sits at the small of her back and slowly pull it upward as I continue, "I think that someone in this Society might know more than they're letting on and might unintentionally lead us to some sort of…"

"Clue?" she asks. She shivers as I finish zipping up her dress and then she turns to look at me.

"Yes, little one.A clue." I pull her into me, gripping her by her waist as she brings her arms up around my neck.

I smile against her lips, loving how it fucking feels to let go of the bitter dissension my own personal issues have caused me. I'm knowledgeable of the fact that there is still work to be done where my resurrection is involved and a trauma I've instilled in my wife to eradicate. But right now, I soak in what I have andallow myself to savor these small moments before the unknown of tonight's events threaten to take all of that away.

Lucynda presses her lips to mine before pushing off me, playfully swatting at me to go get dressed.

"What is your plan for whomever might lead you to said clue?" she questions as I turn to the closet to find my suit.

"Follow them," I respond simply. I step into my pants and tuck in my white button-up before slipping my suit jacket over it.

"Okay…" she trails off sarcastically. "Then what?" I hear the gaiety in her tone and I smirk at the sound of her pretty voice.

I swoop my tie around my neck and start to tighten it up.

"The hope is that they'll lead us to the person responsible for all of this or that maybe they are the betrayer," I start, turning to exit the closet and facing her as she pins her curled, snowy strands up into a bun.

"So you think that the perpetrator actually does come from within Hollows Trace?" I find her reflection in the vanity mirror; her eyes focused on what she's doing.

"I don't know if there is any other explanation," I respond.

Last night as I held my wife's body against mine—tangled legs and her hair a mess as she closed her eyes for sleep—I couldn't stop wondering about who or what could be behind all of this. Nothing I came up with made sense, and I berated myself for not being able to find a solution easily.

"We know that someone could have been scheming with Viktrum and unfortunately, he's dead so we can't ask him." I shoot her a little devious grin at my sarcastic jab.

She dips her head in shame and turns from the mirror to look at me. "I really am so sorry for that. For all of that, I-"

I pin her up against the vanity while gripping her hip and throat simultaneously.

"What the fuck did I say about the wordsorry, Lucynda?"

She gasps at my words and I can feel her pulse quicken as her face heats up in a brazen flush.

I let her go before I can't, feeling the absolute need to lock us away and just forget about all the chaos.

She rubs her neck and smirks to herself, knowing damn well what she's doing. Little Vixen.

"You were under a spell, Cyn. You don't owe anyone anything for that. All that matters is that you're back now." I swipe my thumb across the curve of her bottom lip and watch her look back and forth between my mouth and my eyes.

She nods and I step back, allowing her to finish readying herself.

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