Page 73 of Cruel Devotion

Sapphire Sanctum

Lei

When we reached the top, my men set Monique down like a delicate blossom carried by the wind.

Good job.

I left Duck and Chen, drawn to her like a delirious moth to a blazing flame.

And when I got next to her, she looked up.

Our eyes met.

The space between us sizzled with raw emotion. There was no denying our connection.

Could she hear the frantic rhythm of my heart, mirroring her own?

Did her body hum with need like mine?

Did she finally understand?

Rowe Street Mob, Banks, and anyone else would never get in my way when it came to her.

Since their entrance into the Diamond Syndicate, Rowe Street Mob had been a thorn in my side. But now, with Monique in the picture, their menace had taken on a new, more dangerous edge.

How do I get rid of them. . .without upsetting her?

Those beautiful brown eyes shimmered in the moonlight. Her intoxicating aroma ensnared my senses, making me forget the world, our mission, everything except the allure of her presence

She parted those lips and I craved to suck on them.

Slowly, I slipped my hand against hers and tenderly took it.

Should I kiss her right now? She's mad. I'm stubborn. But we both want it.

I gently squeezed her hand and was about to pull her closer to me when Chen cleared his throat. “Lei, not only do you have an audience, you have a feast. Everyone is hungry.”

Every fiber of my being screamed to wrap Monique in my arms, to shield her from the world. But duty, that ever-present specter, gnawed at the edges of my consciousness.

Sighing, I dragged myself away from Monique's lovely view and rested my eyes on everyone in front of us.

Hundreds of eyes focused on us.

By daylight, the Sapphire Sanctum stood as a marvel, but as night draped its shroud, it morphed into a mystical realm.

The open hall pavilion unfolded before us like a dream, its intricate pillars of lapis lazuli standing tall, each one bathed in varying hues of blue—deep cobalt, brilliant sapphire, and soft cerulean, each shimmering like reflections off deep ocean waves.

On the floor lay a vast mosaic of azure tiles, inlaid with silver and turquoise.

Overhead, an elaborate chandelier of sapphire crystals hung, scattering blue light that mimicked the shades of the twilight sky.

Amidst this splendor and beneath the cascade of shimmering blue lights, a grand banquet table sprawled, covered in fine blue silk.

At one end, my throne stood, carved from blue-veined marble. Beside it was a vacant throne, equally grand. Long ago, my mother used to sit there.

My heart ached.

And a few chairs near, my sister, Yan, lounged, flanked by her men. Of course, she watched Monique and me with a curious, yet wicked smile.

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