Page 80 of Break Her Heart
She glanced over, lips parted like she was about to say something. Her gaze dropped to my mouth and lingered. Every inch of me tightened in response. I clenched my jaw, forcing my thoughts back into the box I kept them locked in. But gods, she made it hard. Everything about her unraveled me.
“You held back,” she said softly, a whisper in the wind.
“You asked me to.”
Her steps slowed, just enough for me to feel it.
“That must’ve killed you,” she added, the faintest trace of a smile playing at her lips.
I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Because it had. Watching her handle it, watching her burn like the storm she was born to be, and standing in the shadows—silent—was agony.
But I’d do it again. For her. Always.
“They might tell everyone that you’re a vampire.”
“What are they going to do? Attack a castle of vampires? Attack you when they know you have an endless amount of magic fromsaidvampires?”
She placed her hand on my arm to take us back and paused, looking up at me.
Her heart rate spiked. “August.”
I shifted my expression, trying to hide every emotion I felt from her. “Take us back before my guards start looking for me.”
“I’m hungry,” Winnie muttered as we appeared in our chambers.
“I’m sure you are after the mess you made.”
She rolled her eyes and tried to hide a smile.
You’d never realize it looking at her, but she loved to eat. She attacked a plate with the same intensity she brought to everything else. It used to catch me off guard. Now it just made me smile.
And I could use a distraction from those annoying feelings that were trying to come to the surface. I turned to open the door, already planning what food we could send for, and immediately regretted it.
Lavina stood just outside, arms crossed over her chest, her lips curved in that same cold, knowing smirk she always wore.
Of course she was here. Of all people.
Winnie stiffened beside me, and I could practically feel the wave of disdain roll off of her. Lavina’s eyes flicked down and I followed her gaze to see mud on my boots.
“What were you two doing?” she asked. “It’s not a good idea to go outside alone.”
“I don’t remember asking for your opinion,” I said flatly.
She ignored me and looked up. “You shouldn’t leave without your guards, brother. You know that.”
“And you shouldn’t still be walking around after what she did to you,” I shot back.
Lavina’s eyes darkened. She’d kept glorious distance between us since Winnie nearly killed her. And I preferred it that way.
“I was simply making sure no one was breaking the rules,” she said sweetly, then turned to Winnie with a tilt of her head. “But I suppose you two know all about breaking things.”
Winnie smiled and raised her hand. Fuck. I had to say something before Winnie decided to roast her right now.
“Go play court watchdog somewhere else,” I muttered. “Before you say something you’ll regret.”
She stared for a moment longer. “I’ve planned dinner for tonight.”
“Gods alive, Lavina! I thought we decided for the health of everyone that we weren’t doing that anymore.”
