Page 68 of Crimson Shadows
“Listen carefully, Little Dollie. I want to be Athens House Captain, and seeing as you are my partner, you’re going to help me get there.”
I turn my head, my face neutral of all expression as my gaze bores into his. He loosens his hold on me a fraction. “Yeah, well, I want to be Carthage House Captain, and I will hold you personally responsible if I don’t get it.”
He chuckles, but it’s dark and deadly. “Then you’d better be good at scavenger hunts.”
He releases me, and I resist the urge to rub my throat. I can still feel the phantom pressure of his fingers, a reminder of the danger he represents. “I guess we’ll find out,” I mutter, turning to face him.
31
ZEPHYR
The night airis crisp against my skin as Adelaide and I make our way across the moonlit grounds of MistHallow. The scent of magick hangs heavy in the air, tinged with the earthy aroma of the surrounding forest. I can feel the power pulsing through me, eager to be unleashed. It’s a familiar sensation, this restless energy, but tonight it feels different. More intense. I wonder if it has anything to do with the woman walking beside me.
I cast a sidelong glance at Adelaide. She’s trying to hide it, but I can see the nervous energy radiating off her in waves. Her eyes dart around, taking in the shadows and the strange, ethereal glow that seems to permeate MistHallow at night. It’s almost endearing.
“Right then, princess,” I say, breaking the silence. My voice cuts through the night air like a knife. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”
I pull out the envelope containing our task list, relishing the way Adelaide bristles at the nickname. Her eyes flash with annoyance, a spark of defiance that sends a thrill through me. It’s an attractive look on her, I have to admit.
“Don’t call me that, and while we’re at it, don’t call me Dollie either,” she snaps, snatching the envelope from my hand. Her fingers brush against mine for a moment, and I feel a jolt of something. Static electricity, perhaps. Or something more.
I chuckle, low and dark. “I don’t take orders from you,princess. Besides, there is shit you don’t know about yourself yet.” I lean in close. “You might be a vampire plus extras, but you’re still new to this world. You’d do well to remember that.”
She glares at me. “And what don’t I know about myself yet? That I’m capable of kicking your arse?”
I snort, caught off guard by the sass. “Do you know who I am?”
Her eyes narrow. “A Dark Fae dickhead.”
The urge to laugh and kiss her passionately war with each other. “That’s Prince Dickhead, to you.”
She squints harder and clicks her fingers loudly in my face. “I knew it,” she hisses. “You look just like your father.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Oh? Since when have you met him?”
“He’s in the book I’m reading about your kind. So, Prince Dickhead, where do we start?”
“We start with me calling you princess and don’t think that’s just some endearment, Little Dollie,” I snap, but not out of anger or frustration. I want her to know exactly what I mean.
She glowers at me but says nothing, instead focusing on the list of items we need to find. I watch as her eyes widen slightly, taking in the near-impossible task before us. The moonlight catches in her eyes, making them shine with an otherworldly light. For a moment, I’m captivated.
“A feather from a phoenix’s tail,” she reads aloud. “A vial of mermaid tears. A book that writes itself. A mirror that shows the future. A key that opens any lock. A flower that blooms only in moonlight. A stone that whispers secrets. A cup that neverempties.” She looks up at me, a mix of disbelief and excitement in her eyes. “How are we supposed to find all this in one night?”
I grin, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline that comes with a challenge. This is what I live for - the thrill of the impossible, the chance to prove my power and cunning. “That, princess, is where the fun begins. Now, let’s start with something easy, shall we? The flower that blooms only in moonlight.”
Without waiting for her response, I set off towards the edge of the campus, where stone wall meets towering tree. The grass is slick with dew beneath my feet, but I move with the grace of a predator, sure-footed and silent. I can hear Adelaide hurrying to keep up, her footsteps quick and light on the ground. She doesn’t move like a vampire. Not stealthy and smooth. This thing about her is needling me. How did she not know she was a vampire? How is that even possible for all this time? What is thatextrathat makes her not a vampire but something more?
Come on, Zeph, Figure it out. This isn’t like you to be so oblivious to the facts.
“And how exactly is that easy?” she asks, interrupting my thoughts, slightly out of breath. I can hear the frustration in her voice.
I stop abruptly, turning to face her. She nearly crashes into me, and I have to resist the urge to steady her. Instead, I lean in close, my voice dropping to a whisper. The proximity allows me to catch her scent that draws me in, and that I haven’t been able to get out of my nasal passages since I first met her. Jasmine and blood. It’s a heady combination that fires up the lust in me like nothing else ever has.
“Because, princess,” I murmur, my lips nearly brushing her ear, “I happen to know exactly where to find one.”
I can see the curiosity warring with caution in her eyes. It’s delicious, and I want to push her further, to see just how farshe’ll go. There’s something about Adelaide that draws me in, despite my better judgement. She’s a puzzle I’m itching to solve.
“Follow me,” I say, plunging into the darkness of the forest.
