Page 29 of The Pureblood Daughter
“Youmustknow.” His voice is low and rough, as though he can’t decide whether to kiss her or wrap his hand around her throat. Perhaps both. The thought of it excites her in ways it shouldn’t. “You expect me to believe you have no idea?”
A sudden burst of heat explodes inside Adelina, and she pushes the viscount roughly away. “What I expect is thetruth. I’m tired of being deceived and lied to. If you don’t intend to tell me the whole truth, I’ll fetch my horse and be gone, and I won’t look back.”
Her chest rises and falls rapidly, and she slips her hands beneath her cloak to hide their trembling.
Standing a few feet from her, the viscount rakes a hand roughly through his dark hair. He turns away, hands on his hips, and stalks into the dark before returning.
“I never meant to deceive you. If you’ve been the victim of deception, it most certainly has not come from me.”
“To withhold truth when asked for it is to deceive,” Adelina snaps. “Now, make up your mind promptly. I’ll not ask you again, my lord.”
The viscount levels a hard stare at her, his head tipped down just enough that the moonlight casts sharp shadows across his chiseled face.
She draws herself up and pulls her shoulders back. She’ll not show him what his touch, his verypresence, does to her. There are enough people in her life who choose to consistently withhold the truth, and she’ll not allow him to be another.
“Very well,” she says when it becomes clear he has no intention of unveiling his secrets. “Good evening, Lord Rosetti.”
Adelina turns, and though each step is harder than the last, she forces herself to walk away.
Chapter Twelve
“Stop.”
It’s not a request; it’s a demand.
And she disobeys.
Octavia snorts and lifts her head from the grass as Adelina approaches. She raises a hand to reach for the lead, but then Lord Rosetti is behind her, wrapping his hands around her waist, spinning her around to face him. She lets out a startled gasp.
“I don’t know what’s in it,” he says gruffly, “and I can only guess at its purpose. But you mustn’t take it again.”
Adelina presses a hand against his chest, meaning to push him away, but he’s firm as marble, unyielding. “You’ve still not told me how you know, or even how it concerns you.” She tries again to push him away. “Release me. I’m going home.”
“If I tell you...” His green gaze shifts between her eyes, though she knows not what he searches for. “I cannot be certain how you’ll respond.”
She softens, pausing a moment in her struggle to break free of his hold. “Then I suppose you’ll just have to take a chance.”
His hands tighten around her waist, his fingertips pressing eagerly into her soft skin. Overhead, thunder rumbles, and Adelina casts her gaze to the sky. Heavy storm clouds move to obscure the moon, and the breeze has become a strong wind that sends her skirt snapping about her ankles.
“We’re out of time,” Adelina says. “Now, I really must bid you good—”
Lord Rosetti grips the back of her head in one hand and brings her lips forcefully against his. Her body tenses up, her heart galloping beneath her breast. But as his lips move upon hers, she softens to his touch. She curls her fingers against his chest, gathering the fabric into her fists. Eyes falling closed, she allows him to explore her mouth, lets out a gentle sigh as his tongue slides along her lower lip.
But then he’s pulling away, pressing his forehead to hers.
“This,” he says, “is what I am.”
As the first bolt of lightning flashes above them, he pulls his lips back to reveal elongated canine teeth, the tips pointed like—
Fangs.
Adelina wrenches herself from his grasp, nearly tripping in her haste to escape.
“S-stay away from me,” she says. “Don’t touch me.” Thunder crashes, startling her, and she turns and runs toward Octavia.
The mare’s eyes are wide as Adelina gathers up the lead and swings with some difficulty onto her back.
“Miss Gray!” Lord Rosetti calls, still standing where she left him. Lightning flashes again, illuminating him—tousled dark hair, troubled green eyes, and razor-sharp fangs.
