Page 43 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

‘Do you remember what I told you about the time I lived under a graveyard?’

I do remember, though he didn’t share many details at the time. Even so, he said enough. I know it was a hard time to be different, to be anything other than human.

I nod.

‘That wasn’t the only time I, or any Veiled, had to hide. Only a few years ago I made a human friend. I thought we got on well, and I decided to take the risk. He seemed open-minded, but it turned out that I misjudged him. Complete open-mindedness is easier in theory, it seems.’ For a second, Leverett stares into the distance as he remembers something he doesn’t share. ‘It didn’t end well. While I hated the necessity, I made him forget that he ever knew me after I made him tell me his plans.’ His face turns pained. ‘He wanted to set my home on fire while I slept.’

I swallow but resist the urge to hug him. Leverett doesn’t want pity. He wants me to understand his position, and frankly, pity won’t change what happened.

‘Well,’ I say, partially to buy time while I fumble for words, ‘if it helps, I like your bookshop way too much to burn it down.’

Leverett laughs. It’s such an infectious sound, so unexpected after what he just told me, that I laugh, too.

‘I’ve told you a lot about myself that I haven’t shared with a human in a long time. But you’ve accepted everything I’ve given you. Nothing has put you off.’ His face clouds over again. ‘Although, I haven’t told you everything. If I did... maybe you would change your opinion of me after all.’

‘Never,’ I say before I can help it. ‘There’s nothing you can say to me that would make me leave.’

‘Really?’ He turns to me, and his eyes darken. ‘What if I told you about all the humans I’ve killed only a few short centuries ago?’ He closes the distance between us, his face so close to mine I don’t know where to look. ‘What if I told you that I want to bite you, drink enough of you that I never forget how you taste?’

Erm.

I don’t—

How do I—

I want to lean against the railing so I have something to hold me up, but I refuse to budge from him. He’s trying to prove something, and so am I.

‘That was centuries ago,’ I stammer. ‘I don’t know who you were then, but I know who you are now. You’re a good man, Leverett. The best man I’ve ever known.’ My voice is a little steadier by the end, but I flail for words again when I address his second point. ‘And I guess if you... if you wanted... I would...’ I clear my throat. ‘I trust you.’

His lips are on mine before I can rationalise what’s happening. I melt against him with my sigh on his lips. I let out a whimper in surprise, relief, lust, shock.

Just as I’m about to surrender into him and put my arms around him, Leverett pulls away slightly. His nose still brushes against mine. His eyes are shut, like he’s still savouring the moment. My own eyes are too heavy to keep open, but I needed to see the look on his face when he moved away. I needed to know if there’s any regret on it.

‘I didn’t read this incorrectly, did I?’ he murmurs against me. It’s almost enough to make me lose my sanity.

I slowly shake my head. ‘No,’ I whisper.

‘Good.’

Leverett puts one arm around me and cups my face with his other hand in the same moment that he brings his lips to mine. I throw my arms around him in complete surrender. I can’t think, and I don’t want to. He is soft, he is warm, and I can’t get close enough to him. I need to feel as much of him pressed against me as I can, need to burn it all into memory so I never forget how his lips feel against mine, how his breath feels in my lungs, how his fangs feel when my tongue scrapes against them. How his low moan sounds when it comes. How it sets me on fire and promises to melt me.

He urges me back against the wall, and I throw my legs up around his waist. His length hardens against me. A low gasp escapes me when his fangs scrape along my neck. I will him to bite me, because I can’t get the words out.

I’m barely aware of the library doors flying open, but Leverett slows. He doesn’t move away from me, though.

‘Esta, my dear, how are you fee—’ Anton freezes when he spots us. ‘Oh. My apologies. Pretend I was never even here.’

He shuts the door behind him.

My eyes slowly move to Leverett’s. He chuckles and, to my disappointment, sets me down.

‘Perhaps we shouldn’t rush this.’ But his eyes are still dark as he says it. I’m about to say that I don’t mind, but he adds, ‘If we do, we may have an audience.’

My eyes fly to the garden. No one is looking up, but we’re not exactly hidden. I need him, in every sense of the word, but maybe I don’t want to make it a public event.

Leverett kisses me softly and whispers against my lips, ‘I want you all to myself.’

Another whimper escapes me. I’ve no idea what to say to that, so I kiss him again. He closes his arms around me and pulls me to him. My legs are shaking—all of me is shaking, actually—but I could stay here, in his arms, forever.

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