Page 73 of The Alien's Vicious Starflash Manor

The one who makes my blood sing in my veins with a single touch.

Lucilline returns with my clothes and a hairbrush, closing the door quietly behind her. She sets my sweater and jeans on the chair in front of the vanity and gestures at them. “I thought these would be easier to get into quickly. We can choose another dress for you.”

She helps me out of the crumpled court dress and into my familiar jeans and sweater. The fabric feels strange against my skin after the silk, but comforting too. A reminder of who I really am.

“What should we do with that?” I nod toward the dress.

She looks thoughtful. “I’ll take it to Madame Evangeny’s assistant Olgaena. She can mend it.”

“She won’t tell Izzy?”

“Oh, no. Olgaena can keep a confidence, I know. She’s a friend.”

My shoulders slump in sudden relief.

“We’ll keep your secrets safe, miss.” Lucilline’s voice is kind. “Now, take a seat and let’s see what can be done with your hair.”

As she works the tangles from my hair with gentle fingers, I stare at my hands gripping the edge of the vanity. The ribbons are a perfect match to the dress I just removed. Like everything else in this frozen hell—needle-sharp trees, glittering swords, the fragile patterns of frost on windowpanes—they’re beautiful and deadly.

Just like him.

“There,” Lucilline says finally, stepping back. “That should do it.”

I examine my reflection. I look normal again. Like myself. Except for my eyes—they’re too bright, my cheeks still flushed. My lips too swollen. And the ribbons...

“Thank you,” I tell her. She curtsies and slips away, taking the ruined dress with her.

I press my palms against my cheeks, willing the color to fade.

I can do this. I can walk into that suite and face my sister and pretend nothing happened. That I haven’t just given in to the man who bought me like cattle.

The man whose touch makes me forget why I should hate him.

I straighten my spine and lift my chin. I am stronger than this attraction. Stronger than whatever magic he’s woven around me.

I have to be.

Never again.

But as I step into the hallway, the memories of his lips on me, my mouth wrapped around him, send electricity dancing across my skin. The ribbons pulse yet again, and I know with sickening certainty that this is a vow I’ll continue to struggle to keep.

Because despite everything he’s done, despite knowing exactly what he is, my body craves his touch like a drug. I would fall to my knees for him over and over again, just to have him cry out my name like that. To have him need me the way I’m beginning to fear I could come to need him.

And that terrifies me more than any of his threats or manipulations ever have.

I pause outside my suite, gathering my composure.

I can hear Izzy moving around inside, humming tunelessly to herself. My sister, who I’m supposed to be protecting. Who I’ve failed by giving in to the very man who threatens her freedom.

Taking a deep breath, I open the door to face my sister, praying she won’t see the truth written in my eyes. Praying she won’t realize how close I came to forgetting everything that matters.

Praying I’ll be strong enough to resist the next time he looks at me with golden fire burning in those ice-blue eyes.

Because there will be a next time. In this frozen palace of lies and manipulation, that’s the one truth I can’t escape.

The door closes behind me with a quiet click that sounds like doom.

“Look,” Izzy says. “Madame Evangeny has just delivered our temporary wardrobes. She says the rest will be delivered to the Ice Palace once we’re there.”

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