Dust to dust, darling. We are nothing but immortal.
“Valeria?”
Silas’s voice snapped the images in my head off, the laughter of the boy fading until it no longer existed. Untilheno longer existed. Much to my displeasure, the thoughts and feelings from the image lingered, shadowing the growing anxiety. Hands were on his face, and I was no longer on the table.
Instead, I straddled him with only a hair’s breadth between us to share and lips close enough to taste.
“Are you alright, Little Dove?”
I flickered between his gaze and his lips. The burning knife at my thigh was starting to become restricting underneath my dress. I traced his soft lips, and Silas stiffened under my touch, clutching the arm of the chair as his other hand cradled mine.
For my mission, this is all for my mission, I repeated to myself.
“Valeria, I—”
I pressed my lips to his, and his hand grabbed my waist as his mouth opened to me. Fire cascaded into me, injecting directing into my skin as flames licked down my body. Silas’s hands explored, devouring my skin in fine sin. I wove my fingers through soft strands, tangling them beneath my touch as Silas groaned.
Silas’s lips quirked under mine as a finger traces lazily across my thigh, stroking it higher just under the knife strap. A soft moan escaped my lips as I balled my fist into his blouse and tried to regain control of my thoughts.
“Sweet,sweetValeria.”
Shivering, I broke the kiss. “Apologies—got over excited.” I placed a finger to his lips, getting up from his lap and depositing myself onto the table, fluffing out my skirt.
I had one shot and one shot only.
His lips quivered. “Eager, are we? And here I thought you hated me.” He stood, towering over only to descend again. His lips crashed against mine with power and need as a frenzy drew us further into the abyss.
I resisted the urge, the very thought, my resolve slowly breaking the lower his mouth pressed against my body.
I wanted more.
Silas’s lips traced the bony edges of my collarbone. His fist, from the thickness of my hair, fell out of the bun as he cradled my neck. His other hand was at my back, bracing me, restricting me from receding onto the table. Silas kissed me with a deep fury threateningto consume us both, breaths moving in tandem as we fought for control over one another.
He pulled away, hovering near my neck, peppering tender kisses. I tilted my head as a moan escaped my lips before a tight gasp took over, pleasure and pain. My fingers scraped at the knife, Silas distracted as he kissed along my body.
I unsheathed the blade, bringing it over his back, fingers shaking against the grip.
For the villagers—for the children. I had to. Ineededto do it.
Silas bit down at my neck, and pleasure ebbed and flowed in blissful awareness. My resolve began to shake, and the knife came to rest against my side.
I couldn’t do it. Perhaps I am just a selfish girl.
I gazed out of the corner of my eyes, sharp edges dripped crimson.
Silas tugged his lips back, wetness coating them. Flickering out across scarlet mouth, his pale pink tongue licked my blood off them.
I pushed him away, sending him barreling into the chair.
Silas stared up in bewilderment, his mouth red as the metallic scent lingered.
Among a beast, my own virtue was questioned in a place I knew I could not be selfish—I wanted to be, yet staring at Silas’s inhumane eyes was an indication I couldn’t be.
A shaky hand went to my neck, and I drew it back to see crimson glaring at me.
How long until he kills you?
“Monster,” I breathed. I stifled the emotion, adjusting my bodice and shielding movement to tuck the knife back in. I clutched my neck, trying to regain composure and my own dignity. “You are nothing but a monster.”
