Page 13 of House of Soot

"Then it's settled." He hooks a finger under my chin, tilting my face up. "You're cute when you blush." His voice drops lower, sending shivers down my spine.

"I'm not blushing." But I can feel the warmth in my cheeks betraying me.

"No?" He leans in closer, his breath fanning across my face. "What if I do this?"

His lips brush mine, soft and teasing. Immediately, the world falls away until there’s just him. The solid warmth of him, the way he makes me feel like I'm floating and grounded all at once.

When we break apart, I'm breathless.

His forehead rests against mine. "Now you're definitely blushing.” He presses a quick kiss to my temple. "I've got to get back to my rounds, but I'll see you then."

I watch him walk away, my heart doing little flips in my chest. For the first time in forever, I'm not thinking about Mom's illness or the strange tension in the house. Instead, my mind fills with possibilities.

"Miss Hart?" one of the maids calls from the terrace. "Mrs. Kean needs the floral arrangements for tonight's dinner changed."

"Coming!" I grab my garden shears but can't wipe the smile off my face. Even last-minute changes to the flower arrangements can't dampen my mood. Not when I have lunch with Blaise to look forward to. I can’t help but feel there’s something special between us. Like maybe he’s the one for me.

6

BLAISE

Ispread the blanket under the old oak tree, the same tree I used to climb as a kid and later make out with girls under as a teen. The memories of the house and yard have hit hard, rising up at unexpected times. This was my home and the Keans invaded it. They burned down the main house, but this is still my place. I can’t wait to run them out.

Until then, I play my part, which right now is setting up a romantic lunch for Jenna. This is the first time I’ve been able to make time to continue my plan to find out why she betrayed us and then make her pay for it.

Jenna appears around the bend in the garden path, her curly hair escaping its tie, cheeks flushed from the walk. She carries herself with a grace that seems effortless, like she belongs among the flowers she tends. Her smile lights up her whole face when she spots me. I push down the guilt that arises from her genuine pleasure at seeing me.

"This is beautiful," she says, gesturing at the spread.

I can't stop staring at her lips, remembering how soft they feel against mine. For a week now, that kiss on the porch has haunted me. I gave her another quick kiss this morning, wantingto prove to myself that the wild sensations from the first kiss were a fluke. Turns out, they weren’t. Her kisses are divine. But she's the enemy. She helped destroy everything I loved.

"I found it during my patrols," I lie, patting the space beside me. "Thought you might appreciate somewhere quiet."

She settles next to me, close enough that her arm brushes mine. The contact sends an unwanted spark through my body. She smells like earth and flowers and something uniquely her. I hate how much I notice these things about her.

"It's perfect," she whispers, and for a moment I forget why I'm here, lost in those green eyes that seem to hold no guile, no deception.

But I can't forget. Won't forget. No matter how innocent she seems now, she's the reason my parents are dead.

"Try the strawberries." I hold one out to her.

Jenna takes it delicately between her fingers, and my pulse jumps when her lips brush against the fruit. Nothing about her screams murderer's accomplice. No shifty eyes, no nervous tics. Just pure, unguarded pleasure as she savors the berry.

"These are amazing." She reaches for another. "I haven't had strawberries since last summer."

I spread some cheese on a cracker, watching her movements. "You don't get out much?"

"Mom needs me here." She drops her gaze. "And the gardens keep me busy."

The gardens. Where she learned all the secret ways into our house. Where she probably watched my family's routines, reporting back to Ronan.

"Here, try this." I offer her the fancy brie I picked up, anything to keep my hands busy, to stop them from shaking with rage. "It pairs well with the fruit."

She takes it with a shy smile that confuses me. How can someone so deadly look so damn innocent?

“You’re quite the connoisseur.”

“Did you think my being a guard means I don’t have any sophistication?”

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