Page 31

I watch Sage walk away from us with the red ribbon wrapped around her wrist. Laughing. Drinking—alive.

Rhett stands beside me, still wearing his mask watching her too.

Of course he is.

The bastard has been watching her since she stepped onto the field.

“You touched her.”

His head turns toward me slowly.

I don’t need to see his face to know he’s smiling.

“Don’t.” I warn him.

He lifts both hands like he’s so fucking innocent. We all know Rhett Winslow has never been innocent a day in his fucking life. Not when he was mortal and certainly not now.

“She touched me first,” he says.

I close my eyes. “Christ.”

”Hand right here.” He pats his chest. “She’s a very forward woman.”

“She’s marked.”

“I noticed.”

“You chased her.”

“That was rather the point of the evening.”

“Not her.”

His amusement fades slightly then he looks toward the maze exit. Sage has disappeared into the crowd. The red ribbon went with her.

My stomach twists.

“You heard her name?” I ask.

“I did.”

“And?”

”And I thought the universe had finally developed a sense of humor.”

I grab the front of his shirt. He doesn’t fight me, that only makes me angrier.

“It’s not funny.”

“I know.”

“Then stop fucking smiling.”

“I haven’t smiled properly since 1847. Allow me my pleasures.”

I shove him away and he laughs.

The same insufferable bastard. Except it's just a different century.