I close my eyes to shut out my reality for a moment. But the stillness only heightens the sensation of Christine’s blood coursing through me. I despise myself.
My gasping cry escapes before I can stop it.
I open my eyes, fangs out. “I stillfeelher. I can’t do this,” I say, my voice cracking.
A girl is dead, and the only consequence is ecstasy rocketing through me.
This is why vampires lose themselves to bloodlust.
I can see why now.
Second assesses me for a brief moment, then abruptly tosses me over his shoulder, strides into the bathing room, and flips on the wall fountain. He walks us under a freezing sheet of ice water and stands there with me drooping over him. Each chilled drop feels like a ping of reality against my skin, pelting away at the pleasure consuming me.
“It won’t last forever,” Second whispers as I sag against him, the heat blazing down my core finally cools.
After several minutes, I pat his shoulder, and he sets me down.
I peer up at Second, recovered and drenched, water cascading down soaked black silk. “We were supposed to scout the west wing while everyone was resting today.”
Second smirks at me. “I’m still up for it.”
And I’m desperate for a worthwhile distraction.
“Let’s get some dry clothes on, then.”
Second looks warily at me. “You good?”
I nod, trying to ignore how shaken I feel, and he spins on his heel to get changed.
Killing the fountain, I step off the tile onto the fine carpet of my bedchamber, stripping my dress as I go. I opt for a thick sweater and leather trousers and stuff my feet into tall boots.
“Ready?” Second asks, peeking in as I thread another gilded wooden pin into my bun.
“Ready.”
We snap down the east wing hallways and stairwells to the center corridor, skirting by human daylight guards with ease, and land at the edge of the west wing.
“Emmanuel said there are two main corridors that intersect at their end; he believes Nerian’s rooms are beyond that. These halls are galleries, drawing rooms, and offices. But that’s as far as he got,” Second whispers.
I snort. “Of course Em’s already been down here.”
Second looks at me. “He made use of his time after dinner.”
As any good assassin for the crown would.
“All right, let’s each take a hall to confirm and meet at the end. Then we try to find Nerian’s chambers from there.”
Second posts his hands on his hips. “In what gods-blessed world are we splitting up?”
I roll my eyes. “Em scouted these halls, but I need to ensure there’s nothing of interest here. I want to check the offices, learn what we can.”
“Which we can dotogether.”
I shake my head at Second in frustration. “We’ve already lost time today, and I don’t know how long we’re going to be here, given how difficult the first few hours have been. This could be our only shot.”
Second groans at my reasoning. “I already know I’m going to regret this.”
I start moving down my hallway before Second can change his mind. “See you on the other side in twenty.”
