Page 36 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

So, I lean against him and give him the most loved-up smile I can muster. It’s not hard.

‘I’m so glad we met,’ I say. ‘There’s no one else I would rather spend all my time with.’

I hope she reads the same ambiguity into my words. It seems to be working—she turns to me and would probably spit pure venom into my eyes if she could. Thank fuck that’s something vampires can’t do or I’m not sure Leverett could protect me.

Leverett puts on a pretty believable loving gaze and pulls me closer.

‘Esta, meet Chiara. I’m not sure I’ve mentioned her?’

I make a big show out of trying to think. He did mention her in the car, but he needs her to think that he forgot all about her, so...

‘No, I don’t think you have.’ I give her my kindest fake smile. ‘It’s so nice to meet you.’

People who hate you hate the kindness you show them even more. I may be writhing internally to get away from her, but I show her that she doesn’t bother me.

‘Likewise,’ she purrs. ‘It’s always lovely to meet another of Leverett’s temporary playthings. I’ve known him for many years, and it never gets old. Of course, none of them are alive now, are they?’ She gives me a pitying look. ‘You poor things. Humans live such short lives. It must be strange to think that Lev and I will still be here long after you’re dead.’

‘Not at all.’ My voice shakes slightly, though. Confrontations like this are not my natural habitat. ‘As a poor human, I’m rather aware I don’t have centuries. Is it strange to have so long and yet still only catch up once every few decades?’

I wanted to say something clever and conversation-ending about how she may have all the time but he still isn’t spending his with her and me being dead won’t change that, but I couldn’t think of the words. I never can in the heat of the moment. I think she gets the point, though, because her face grows still as fire blazes in her eyes.

‘You are nothing, silly human.’

Leverett tightens his grip on me. I let myself feel every inch where his arm touches me.

‘She is mine, Chiara,’ Leverett growls. I forget how to breathe. ‘You will not hurt her. If you can’t remember your manners, don’t come near her.’

She takes a step back like he slapped her. ‘You would choose her over me?’ It almost doesn’t sound like a question, but her eyes are off me and on Leverett again. I feel like I can breathe more easily again... except for what he just said. Nothing we told her before this was a lie, we just embellished the truths a little by being vague. But what he said just now... If I wasn’t flushed before, my whole body is now hot enough to melt.

Leverett relaxes and smiles at me. ‘Let’s find Anton. He must be done greeting guests by now.’

I completely ignore Chiara when I smile at him and say, ‘Yes, let’s.’

I’m also more than happy to get away from Chiara, who is glaring poisoned daggers into my back, neck, and gut. She said all that to get to me. I know that. But it did hurt, even while I know that it shouldn’t. Was any of that true? Leverett said she toys with humans by torturing them and killing them slowly. But from what she said... No, he hasn’t hurt anyone. He wouldn’t do those things. He told me he didn’t, and he definitely doesn’t now. Unless...

How would I know? My feelings for him could be fabricated. Even the meeting with Chiara could be staged. They could be lovers who destroy their oblivious prey together.

But then Leverett pulls me into him as we walk away from her, and all doubts disappear. I won’t let her get to me.

‘Are you alright?’ he asks.

I nod. ‘She seems nice.’

Leverett chuckles and eases away from me a little. I wish he’d stay. I liked his arm around me, and my head is still on how he growled ‘She is mine.’ I will never not hear that in those quiet everyday moments.

‘You handled her well,’ he says. ‘I’m afraid she doesn’t understand a clear no, which is part of the reason why I stay away from her. Vampires are proud creatures, though. She will hate it, but she will respect that you’re here with me, especially now she thinks we’re together.’ He gives me an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry about that. She wouldn’t have accepted anything less.’

It didn’t look to me like she’ll accept anything other than my violent death, but Leverett knows vampires a whole lot better than I do. If he says she’ll respect this, albeit very begrudgingly, then I believe him.

‘That’s alright,’ I say. ‘I don’t mind.’

My voice comes out a little too soft.

Leverett leads me into the mansion. It’s a greeting hall, of sorts. A wrap-around staircase leads to the first floor, and the wooden double doors to the left and right are open. There are so many people around that I don’t get a good glimpse into either room. I do, however, get a good look at the large painting by the staircase. It’s of Anton and a man I assume to be Saif. It looks like a Renaissance painting, and for all I know, that’s when it was created.

We hear Anton call Leverett’s name before we see him. One glance up the stairs, and I don’t know how I missed him in his bright blue suit.

He beckons us up to him. ‘Come, my friends! Let us talk in private.’

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