A Violet Fire (Vampires in Avignon #1) - Kelsey Quick Page 0,81

I… I don’t get it,” I say through my blush and pounding heart. “How could you care for someone like me when all I do is—?”

His smile breaks me in a wonderful way. “You needn’t try to convince me otherwise. You are different from the rest, and as I have said before… I like that about you.”

Tears line my lashes. Uncertainty grips my heart. A novel happiness impatiently knocks at the door to my soul, while my scars and judgment force me to fight it, to continue to question this surreal reality.

My voice fluctuates slightly as I scrutinize him. “You are… the strangest vampire I have ever met. I can’t believe that you have somehow grown to fancy a human when it is everything against Cain’s law. And the only human who hates you, at that.”

He drops his face to mine, lips mere inches away as he smirks, revealing his fangs.

“I am not so fond of Cain’s rules, anyway,” he whispers, “And you do not hate me, Wavorly. If anyone, the only person you are fooling is yourself.”

Weakness peruses my body, and my muscles loosen with sudden vulnerability—the truth within me now released and revitalized. A truth that I had starved and locked up ever since Zein left me at Nightingale years ago. A part of my soul that offered thoughts and emotions so silly and unworthy of my time that I had refused it. A frothy truth that would wrongfully allow me to find comfort in him, a cruel and ruthless vampire, who is... not actually so cruel and ruthless.

His smirk fades while his gaze traces my lips. “Are you afraid of such things?”

I can’t answer him. I can’t even think. The strongest certainty that I have built my entire existence upon—that vampires only serve to hurt and betray—apparently stood upon a foundation of the most fragile of glass.

“I missed you,” I say beneath my breath. “Why did I miss you?”

He leans forward, and before I can even begin to understand the intriguing depths of his actions, he presses his lips into mine. Gently, he takes control of this moment. The warmth is addicting, the insinuation—unhinging. I soften my muscles and my hands loosen their grip on his armored robes, granting permissions that didn’t even matter.

Desire spreads through me like a wildfire. I find myself pulling him closer to me and his hands move from my elbows to either side of my face, fingers curling through my hair and along my scalp. After a few seconds he breaks his hold, letting his lips linger against mine while we take in uneasy breaths. Zein pulls away only inches, wiping tears I didn’t even know I cried with the sides of his thumbs. Sadly almost, he smiles.

“You have endured a lot tonight. That, I understand. But I will require you to take heed and mention Seriesa to no one until I can guarantee there is no lingering threat. I will handle Giomar. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Y-yes,” I say, sheepishly, still recovering from the kiss and all the emotions raging in my blood.

He nods and clears his throat—also appearing to be recovering from the moment.

“Go back to the seraglio, Wavorly. I will also see to it that nothing happens to you there from now on,” he says. “Prepare to be summoned again, however, for now that we both have acknowledged our desires, there is no sense in distance.”

“I understand,” I hesitantly reply, even though I don’t feel like I do.

chapter 14

I take a step back to fully take in the magnificent beasts; the same horse-like bat creatures from when I had first arrived. There are five chariots and five beasts per chariot. I edge closer to one of the creatures and raise my hand slightly in an attempt to touch it. Surprisingly, the animal makes only a few little nervous movements before allowing me to glide my palm over its back. I smile, taking in the very peaceful moment, until Gemini ruins it.

“Rawwwh!” He screeches from behind me while roughly grabbing my shoulders. I scream out with sudden and unimaginable terror.

“What are you doing?” I yell, clutching my chest.

“Oh, calm yourself child, if you’ve been in Lord Zein’s presence, or even near these Bastens, then a tiny roar shouldn’t scare you. Also, mind your manners.”

“Oh yes, forgive me, Master Bloodsucking-Scumbag, I shouldn’t be so rude.”

He cocks his head as he matches my humor. “Forgiven, Miss Dimwit.”

I laugh a little, glancing past Gemini as bright red and white flashes of linen