Page 52 of Nocturn

I would rather take her help than not, so I kept my opinion of her exasperation to myself. With efficient, quick moves, she tightened the sashes until my breasts were secured where they were supposed to be.

“Why did you not tell them I had a part in you being attacked?”

Her whispered question startled me.

I was not sure exactly how to respond. I cleared my throat and finally said, “There is no need for more death.”

Lord Draven crushing a skull under his boot and reanimating a body had been so intense, I did not think to accuse her.

I . . . lusted for the monster that did that.

“Even if you do not feel the loyalty to a fellow redblood, I do.”

Her inhale was sharp, and her wraithling chirped. Instead of waiting around, I turned and thanked her. Having Lady Drusilla wait any longer would do me no good, especially since I wanted to understand where everything was to best get access to the Archives.

I left her as she stared at all the bedding.

I exited and almost collided with Officer Egan who had been waiting outside the door. A red tint painted the bridge of his nose. An external burn from the sunlight beaming on him, it added slight freckling across the base of his nose.

“Miss Amara,” he murmured.

I stuttered to a stop, lifting my surprised gaze to his. This was the first time someone had addressed me by my name and not as ‘mortal’ or ‘redblood. An odd yearning crowded my chest, spilling from the bloom Lord Draven had caused. It craved hearing my name from his arrogant lips.

“I am to escort you.” He motioned me forward.

I gave a half-hearted smile and nodded, continuing forward while he kept a few paces behind me. I descended the curving staircase fashioned with an iron base. It seemed much easier when Lord Draven was dragging me up the spiral.

Lord Draven . . .

His gliding length thrusting with a pace so encompassing I could not think. My body had been touched by a creature of such cruelty, and I could not cease thinking of him. Or the way his body undulated over me, moonlight playing along his pale skin.

I followed the path down the hall, toward the second set of stairs that descended to the foyer.

His breaths sawing from his scarlet-painted lips.

It was the first I had seen him so unreserved, so impassioned. His touch had ingrained itself into my skin.

I forced my shoulders to straighten. This was not the appropriate time to be thinking of all the delicious sensations he had wrung from my body.

“Where am I going?”

“I’m sure Lady Drusilla will explain it all to you,” he replied noncommittally.

I bit back my sigh. In truth, I had not anticipated a response.

Reaching the final steps led to Lady Drusilla waiting with that same serene look on her face. I fell into step beside her, waiting for her to speak, but she did not. Instead she guided me to a carriage before the base of the Citadel.

The officer, a younger man in a simple uniform, lacking the gold embroidery, opened the carriage door and held his hand out for Lady Drusilla. Once she was on, he held the door for me, but he did not reach out.

He seemed hesitant and awkward, as if not knowing how to proceed. I gripped the edge of the carriage from his other side and climbed onto the footboard. A hand wound under my arm and hoisted me.

My eyes clashed with Officer Egan. With a slight tip of his head, I was wrenched out of my shock and quickly hopped into the carriage, sitting across from Lady Drusilla.

The circular entrance was shut and left us in dimmed light coming in from the mesh curtains.

I had been in this carriage mere dawnlight rotations ago, but it felt much longer.

The carriage jostled as it was guided through a dip, and it wrenched me from heading down the path I should steer well clear of.