bChapter /bb58 /b

Traitorous banshee, I think, ring at her. Ank, for her part, opens her eyes wide and wears a face that betrays just how desperate she is for gossip and entertainment.

“So you’ll tell her and not your dear friend Ank?” she blurts, offended.

“Since when are we friends?” I ask with an amused smile on my lips.

“Since I share my library with you!”

The tiny smander clenches her fists, causing her body to re with more heat.

“Fine! Fine!” I exim in defeat. “Cassian kissed me.”

Ank stares at me without saying a word, scanning every inch of my face, and I don’t know if I should say more, or if my confession has hit her so hard she’s speechless.

When I think I’ve lost the little fireball, she surprises me with a shriek so high–pitched I wrinkle my nose.

“I knew it! I knew Cassian would eventually fall for a human!”

I nce sideways at Evanora, who looks just as surprised as I am, her eyebrows raised as she tries to hide the tremble in her lips.

“You know what?” I raise my voice.

“You’re bothpletely insane. Cassian has not fallen for a human,” I say, looking at Ank.

“Nor does he desire me or anything of the sort,” I add, now looking at the banshee.

“You’re just putting silly ideas in my head.”

“If you want to lie to yourself like that…” Evanora sings softly.

I grit my teeth and then gently lift Ank and ce her into Evanora’s hands.

The Banshee lets out a small surprised sound from her throat, and Ank looks at me with puppy–dog eyes as if she can’t believe I’ve

abandoned her to the hands of a banshee she clearly doesn’t like. Well, since they both love gossip so muchb, /bthey might as well findmon

ground.

“I’ll leave iyou /itwo to be besties.”

“Oh,e on!” Evanora says aloud. “You’re already abandoning me? Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re off to smooch with the

mosquito!”

I shoot her a deadly re before quickly climbing the spiral staircase.

Once I’m back in the castle’s grand entrance hall, with the ptial staircase before me, I start climbing, muttering curses for the two gossiping lunatics I’ve ended up with aspanions in this lonely castle.

I don’t realize that my feet have carried me elsewhere until it’s already toote.

I think that kiss is taking a toll on me—my head won’t let it go, and now it’s making my feet move on their own, like there’s an unbreakable bond between him and me. I blink in disbelief, telling myself I’m stupid. I n to turn around and return to my wing, where no one bwill /bbother meb. /b

b1/3 /b

?? b? /b??

Then I remember that he’s probably already aware I’m here. My scent must be lingering in the air. I suppose it would be even more embarrassing for him to know I came here snooping for nothing–maybe I shoulde up with an excuse.

To thank him for letting me send the letters to my parents, for example.

To be honest, it was something I thought I’d lost for good.

Cassian isn’t sentimental. I don’t expect him to understand the gaping wound of being far from my family.

With renewed determination, I walk down the corridor, repeating to myself that I’ll just knock on his door to say thank you.

It’s not because I feel the need to see if his face shows any sign that he’s also been thinking about what happened.

Of course not–just to thank him for the letters.

b75/bb%/bb0 /b

20

I haven’t even made it halfway down the corridor that leads directly to his door when it opens and Narkissa appears, her red hair tousled. She hasn’t seen me yet, but when she does, a smile full of malice spreads across her lips.

She’s wearing a ck silk robe that shows off her curves quite clearly, and as she walks toward me, I can see her skin is smeared with traces of blood.

The smile on her lips and the flush on her cheeks make me feel sick.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t go in nowi,/ii” /ishe says as she reaches me.

“I’m afraid a prudish little human like you might get scared seeing what a man looks like after some good sex.”

She winks.

“Don’t worry, no matter how prudish I am, I won’t be scared of something so mediocre,” I lie–because I’ve never seen anything like that or been anywhere near it.

I don’t wait for her to reply or get into a verbal war.

I walk with determination to the doors, feeling her gaze on me the whole way.

At some point, she disappears and leaves me alone before the jaws of the wolf–or rather, the vampire.

I knock my knuckles on the door.

Cassian takes his time before he finally appears, his suit pants hanging loose at his hips and his ck shirt half on.

When his eyes meet mine, they show nothing.

And that, if the bite marks and scratch wounds weren’t enough, is proof enough that I’m the only one who gave a damn about that miserable

kiss.

bI /bcurse him for stealing that kiss–my first kiss./

“What are you doing hereb, /bra?” His voice is cold. “You know you’re not allowed to be here.”

“…” I almost forget my excuse.

“I just wanted to thank you for letting me send the letters.”

He leans his shoulder against the doorframe while his bring/b–covered hand strokes his chin.

1843 Tue, 5 Aug

outine at the way here to kad me that shes*Y

My eyes want to drop to the foot, but I don’t let m

To the being grateful fan’t Hansence*

You could show me your gratitude in more interesting ways*

I feel my cheeks start to burn.

Like disappearing from my sight, for example,” he adds.

I take a step back, ready to leave with what’s left of my dignity and not look at him again.

I’m already turning when his hand grabs a bit of my dress and forces me to stop.

“Though since you’re here, you might as well wait a moment ande with me to the city.”

1 stay silent.

“I have a meeting, and I like to have my favorite little snack nearby.”

He doesn’t wait for me to ept the offer–he’s already made it clear he sees me as one of his possessions, so I doubt saying no will make a

difference.

He reappears a couple of minutester with his shirt buttoned and smoothed out, and his pants properly adjusted.

He closes the door and walks ahead of me. When he sees I don’t follow right away, he stops and nces back.

“Did I offend you? Ohe on, ra, don’t get all sensitive now. Where’s the beast of the castle? Don’t you have some sharpment for

me?”

I give him a look as empty as the color of my eyes and walk right past him.

I don’t know if the beast he speaks of ever existed, but that damn kiss has thrown her off, and I have to find a way to bring her back.

He can keep my first kiss-

I’ll keep the satisfaction of knowing that, for a moment, he gave in to a human.

b3/3 /b