Page 45 of Hunt the Dusk
Ezekiel held his hand out to me. “Shall we?”
I took his hand.
“This could be a trap,” Hemlock said. “A summit in the farthest reaches of Dracul territory in a location cut off by mountains? Don’t you think it?—”
“I don’t need you to explain it to me, Mr. Singer,” Ezekiel snapped, his fingers tightening around mine. “I am aware of the risks, and like I said, I will be prepared. I formed this government of houses, and it is my duty as their king to be present when they air their grievances.”
“Which they could do here at Branwood,” Ordell pointed out.
“Dracmore is neutral ground,” Ezekiel said. “Chosen by us all to be the home of such meetings. But Miss Lighthart is free to remain here if she wishes. It was not my decision to take her with me.”
Hemlock tensed, his neck stiff as he turned to look at me. “Youaskedto go?”
I didn’t like the accusation in his tone. “Yes. Iasked. It’s my job.”
He threw up his hands. “Great. Just fucking?—”
“It’s fine,” Ordell said. “I’m sure Ezekiel has it under control.” His gaze dropped to our hands, still joined.
I was holding hands with the vampire king. Yuck.
I tried to pull free, but Ezekiel held fast.
One of the horses huffed. “We should leave, Miss Lighthart.Ifyou’re still coming with me?”
There was a soft vulnerability in the question that threw me off guard for a moment. “Yeah, I’m coming.” My bag was already loaded, packed by Ingrid with appropriate clothing. But no way was I traveling in a dress.
He helped me into the carriage then closed the door before striding out of view.
Ordell and Hemlock stood side by side like summer and winter, so different, yet in that moment with their wind-tossed hair and stormy gazes, they looked every bit the brothers that they were.
Ezekiel climbed into the carriage and took the seat opposite me. He rapped on the roof, and we lurched into motion.
I craned my neck to watch the guys for as long as I could.
“Do you want to get out?” Ezekiel asked.
“No.”
“Then sit back and enjoy the ride. The scenery will be beautiful.”
“It’s nighttime. How much of it will we be able to see?”
“Close your eyes and sleep, then. I’ll wake you when we’re almost there.”
The idea of sleeping in a carriage alone with him made my scalp tight. “I’ll check out the scenery.”
His smile said that he knew exactly what I was thinking. “Very well.” He pulled a small volume from his pocket, flipped it open, and began to read.
Was that it? He was going to read all the way there?
“The scenery is outside of the window, Miss Lighthart,” he said, never taking his eyes off the page. “Unless the scenery within is more captivating to you.” That smug self-satisfied smile again.
Urgh. I turned to the window and the silhouette of mountains in the distance. “How long before we get there?”
“We’ll be there before dawn.”
“Wait, what? That’s like…ten hours?”
