Page 36 of Angels Don’t Date

I smiled while Pearly White went through his spiel.

“Here we are, on the second week of the ultimate competition. Who will win the Princess’s heart? Will it be Monterose Fellicci, whose recent solo went viral? Or will it be Hughenot Raferty, the wolf with charm in spades? Will it be Banus Jones, the billionaire charmer who was the victim of someone we won’t mention? Or, ladies and gentlemen, will it be the angel, Richard the Lion, who has rescued our damsel not once, not twice, but three times from the fates of death? This week since we’ve already lost another candidate, our Princess will be giving out two red roses, one to the winner of the baking competition, and one to whoever has won her heart. Is it possible that one candidate will get two red roses?” He smiled at the camera and then gestured me forward.

I smiled as I walked to the vase, took out two roses, and then headed left. Banus deserved a rose, and so did Richard. I walked up the steps past Monterose and then stopped to smile at the surprised incubus and hold out the rose.

“Seems we have an unexpected change of heart,” Pearly White said in undertone meant for the audience and not me.

Banus took the rose and gave me a half bow and a soft smile. “Thank you Princess.”

I kept walking past him, twisting the rose and muttering a changing spell. The rose froze, turning white and crystalline as I walked to the landing above then continued down the other side where Richard watched me come with half-lidded eyes. Bored, was he? I slapped the rose to his chest, icy white and hardened.

“And for you the white rose. Congratulations on winning two weeks in a row.” I bared my hardest smile at him. With fangs.

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he only covered the stem, holding the bloom over his heart while he inclined his head ever so slightly in acceptance.

I continued down past him while Rafe guffawed incredibly attractively and held up a hand for me to slap. I ignored it, because I was too angry and I might accidentally rip off his arm. Then I’d beat Richard with it. How dare he put his life at risk for no reason? Maybe I should turn vampire now. Would that break the binding? I wanted to break his face. But he wouldn’t mind that. Didn’t even mind the public humiliation. What would make a dent to someone so incredibly bull-headedly dumb?

I took my place beside Pearly White who gave me a smile and then focused on the camera. “Unfortunately, since we’ve already lost a candidate, the white rose doesn’t apply. However, Princess, your feelings are noted. And now for a dance with our red rose winner. Banus, come down and show the world how it’s done.”

Pearly White started clapping while the incubus started and then came forward.

Richard vaulted over the stairs and landed as graceful as a cat right beside me. He smelled so good. I was so angry at him! He’d tucked the ice rose behind his ear again like a prize.

“I believe the one voted off gets a dance, but since Spinnera couldn’t make it, I suppose I’ll have to take his place.”

Richard grabbed my hand and spun me around, ending close against his chest, so I could glare up into those annoyingly bright eyes.

“How dare you?” I hissed.

“How dare I? How dare you? Pearly White is going to lecture you for breaking his program. I’m sure you have a very good reason for it. I’m the only completely unreasonable person here. Other than Fellicci who actually turned down a chance to duet with you so he could solo?” He tsked. “Now that’s madness.”

I glowered. “You life-bound us.”

He blinked, a moment’s startled unease before it vanished behind apathetic indifference. “Is that so bad?”

“I’ve had over a dozen assassination attempts recently. You’re tying your life to someone on the brink of death. And for what? Eventually I’m going to turn. You’re supposed to be my friend who can put me out of my misery, but if you die, you’re dead. Permanent. The end! Why would you do something so stupid?”

He stared at me and missed a beat before he pulled me closer and frowned. “Oh. I didn’t think about that.” He spun me out and in before turning and dipping me so my ringlets brushed the floor.

“Cut,” Pearly White said, and I broke out of Richard’s hold and stalked towards the kitchen.

“You ignored my instructions,” Pearly White called after me.

“Because they were stupid. Also, it’s my life. I’ll vote how I like.”

I marched down the hall, heart beating too fast. Richard didn’t think of that? Seriously? What was wrong with his brain? I should take him to the lab and dissect him so I could see. Maybe he had parasites or something making him so incomprehensibly idiotic.

I stopped when I realized I was in the kitchen. I didn’t need to be where he baked. I turned to leave, and there was Richard, blocking the door, looking like a Prince Charming who would burn you to ashes.

“Move.”

He raised a brow and then leaned against the doorway, blocking me even more obviously. “I want to talk to you.”

“How could you be so stupid?”

He smiled. “It’s a gift. How could you be so adorable? I love your dress.”

I glared at him. We could have matched if he’d bothered to tell me what he was wearing, but no. He hadn’t messaged me as SunRae since he bound his life to my death. Idiot.