“Study.”
“Same thing.”
Turn around! I’m begging you. I’ve never begged for anything.
Several things come to mind.Blood. Vengeance. Retribution.
Yes, yes, all those things. But not like this. I’ve got to know if it’s her.
“So you hate my stone, you mislabel my study and yet you’re still here.”
“I’d like to see the face of the man who invited my entire town to this ball.”
“And what if I say no?”
“You won’t.” Her skirts rustle again, and now she’s right behind me, her voice a purr. “You want all of us to know who you are. But my question is why? Why bring us here? The barrier exists to keep us out.”
“And usin,” I reply.
“So my question is—why.” She steps up beside me, and the fire brightens her face, her dress. I refuse to look, though flashesof pink fill the edge of my vision. “To destroy us? To give us nightmares? To feed off our lifeblood?”
“You’d be the first, you know, since you’re here.”
Look at her!
Very slowly—she turns.
So do I.
And recognition snaps my spine straight.
It’s her! Finally! I knew throwing a ball was a good idea.
My breath catches. She’s more beautiful than I remember. My eyes linger on her face, her collarbone, down her dress and back up.
She’s gone pale. And then she takes a very deliberate step back and says, “Where are the roses?”
“Back where we made them.”
Mostly.
One corner of her mouth flickers.
My God! You are ruining this!!!!!
She eyes me closely. “You never told me why you’re in here instead of out there.”
We were waiting for you—tell her that. Do it!
“I don’t like crowded rooms.”
Nooooooo! Okay, we can save this. Pivot. Ask her about her hair.
She stifles a laugh. “Then you’ve invited too many people to this party.”
“All I needed was one.”
A silence ignites between us that’s as loud as the crackling fire.
