The prince’s heartbeat was like a drum in this quiet, ancient ruin. She could hear it from here, and it called to her.
“Why, Viv? Why did you agree?”
He was pushing her.
Maybe that should have bothered her… but it didn’t.
It could have been the magic swirling in the black mists, or maybe it was how she imagined the prince’s eyes drilling into hers, but Vivienne decided to throw caution to the wind.
Something about being in this place without light, trapped by the sun’s deadly rays a few feet away, infused her with even more bravery than normal.
She breathed, “I agreed because of you. For you.”
She agreed so she could spend time with him.
Get to know him.
Just… be with him.
These feelings were forbidden. She knew that, and she was certain that if the king knew how she felt, he never would’ve agreed to allow her to accompany the prince on this journey.
But the royals weren’t here. She was alone with Marius in this place with its ancient magic, steady hum, and blinding shadows.
And Vivienne wanted this.
Hoping she wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life, she inhaled maple and amber, leaned forward, and kissed the prince.
Inky Shadows and Crimson Eyes
Vivienne tasted like cool ice and the darkest night.
Marius was frozen for one heartbeat as his bodyguard’s lips pressed against his. Just long enough for him to realize that this was real and not a dream. Vivienne was finally kissing him, rules and vows and everything else dividing them be damned.
As soon as the shock wore off, he moved.
The ache in his right foot was a steady throb, but he ignored it, focusing on the vampire in front of him. His left hand rose, finding the back of her neck through feel, and he threaded his fingers through her hair.
She sucked in a breath, and her lips lifted off his. “Marius, if you don’t?—”
He swallowed the rest of her words with his lips, a groan rumbling through him. He wanted this in the same way that his heart yearned for adventure.
This kiss was… everything.
It was barrier-breaking, world-changing, and utterly consuming.It was everything he’d ever hoped it would be, and he never wanted it to end.
She kissed him like she knew it was a bad idea but couldn’t help herself. Like she’d been thinking about him just as much as he’d been thinking about her. Like she wanted to know every part of him as much as he wanted to know her.
Gods above. Marius had been thinking about how Vivienne would taste since the night she pinned him to the ground in Hoarfrost Hollow. He’d remained awake many nights since then, wondering if she would feel as good kissing him as she had straddling him.
The answer was a resounding yes.
He groaned, tightening his grip on her hair. Their kiss deepened. Every single part of him came alive from this touch. Had anything ever felt as good?
He wanted more.
Angling her head so he could kiss her more deeply, he moved closer. His right hand found her knee again, squeezing as he shifted. The touch was small. Not nearly enough.
And then his bodyguard’s tongue flicked against the seam of his lips.
