Gerald’s face fell, but he nodded. “Of course.”
“May I send word tomorrow evening or the next?”
He perked up slightly at that promise, taking my hand and bowing over it. “I will wait with bated breath.”
I curtsied, pressing my fingers to my lips, and when I stood, I looked around the ballroom for Jules. However, it was Lord Azad I found on the dais, his attention fixed to where Gerald held my hand, a muscle twitching in his jaw.
Jules, goddess bless her, appeared at my side and curtsied as well. “Forgive me, my lord, but the hour grows late and our coach awaits.”
We werequiet as we settled into the opulent carriage. Liam sat beside me, his head on my shoulder while I gazed out the window, watching the estate grow smaller.
“Whose carriage is this?” Liam asked sleepily. “I forgot to ask on the way here.”
Jules shifted on her cushion. “It is Lord Azad’s. He offered it to us for the evening.”
A spike of adrenaline pierced my belly and I swallowed roughly.
“That was generous of him. So, what do you think, Addie?” Liam sighed as he pulled himself upright and scrubbed a hand over his face.
I jumped perhaps a bit guiltily. “Yes, it was very generous.”
He chuckled. “No, sorry. I meant what do you think about the hunt next week?”
Jules eyed me carefully. “Lord Montag has offered generous amounts for both of you—and Lady Pittard has added extra in for you, Liam.”
Both our brows bounced in surprise, but it was Liam who asked: “How much will we receive?”
“A bit over a thousandoyistaeach.”
“Merciful fucking goddess,” we cursed together.
I wanted to be sick at the thought of such a price, though Liam beamed at the prospect. Jules leaned forward a little, dark eyes flicking between us.
“Before you agree, you must understand there will be safety measures in place. Lilith will work the market with Hugo and his clients. I will be in attendance and will place my own wards around the forest to ensure your well-being. But that does not mean accidents do not happen.” Her voice dropped lower and I could hear Solange’s bite in it. “That is why the price for your attendance is so high and why I ask you to sleep on it before you give me an answer.”
“I—” Liam started.
“Sleep on it,” she cut across, pointing a finger at him.
A thousandoyista…I worried the inside of my cheek. That would be enough to send to my family and use the remainder for a new dress—two new dresses maybe. Even still, Jules’ warning rang in my mind. This job was treacherous at the bestof times, regardless of the magic put in place to protect us. Attending the hunt would be something else altogether.
As we rode back toward the city, Liam’s head dropped back to my shoulder, his soft snores filling the carriage, but I tried to fight the deepening dread pooling in my gut. By the time I was settled in my bed and watching the dawn spill through the top of the shutters, I knew that no amount of time mattered.
The letter in my hand now was worn from the countless times I’d opened it only to refold it. Each word was memorized and the sickening lurch each time I thought of them was enough to make me ill. My family’s faces swam across my lids when I closed them: the haggard look on my mother’s face, her beauty ruined by time, my father’s bloated cheeks, my brother’s tired eyes and haunted expression.
And here I was traipsing around great estates and playing on gorgeous pianofortes and dancing in the arms of ancient immortals.
An ancient immortal whose lips had barely brushed mine. I’d felt his agony as if we’d been connected by a golden thread—as if his heart had called out to mine, begging for me. While daylight grew within my room and I covered my face with a pillow, I gave my mind just a small reprieve from this life.
I allowed myself to imagine what might have happened had we not been interrupted. How his lips might have pressed against mine. Would he have drawn me up, pulled me closer, or would he have satisfied himself with that mere kiss? My hands slipped between my thighs as I wondered if he would have lifted me from the bench and on to the closed lid of the pianoforte. If he would have rucked up my skirts and drunk from between my legs as I’d heard other immortals liked to.
The slow press of my fingers to my sex had me clenching as I thought of Lord Azad and those golden eyes gazing up at me, his lips covered in my blood. I slipped them lower, pressedthem deep and curled while working my clit with the heel of my hand. Soft little moans slipped from my lips as I imagined what he might have said had he done it. The growl that would have rumbled across my skin.
Look at you, little bird,he would say.Dripping for me.
My pleasure crested as my imaginary Lord Azad dived again between my legs and I whispered his name to the empty room.
“Eamon.”
