Page 103 of Disillusioned (A Lay of Ruinous Reign #2)

It was hard to believe that was the end of what happened with the red book—also, that he’d waited fifty more years to look for it again, on the off chance he’d ever returned to the Trécesson castle. He’d never mentioned it to her until now.

It was unlike Garin to give up, but the intensity of his stare killed her curiosity.

“You’re cold,” he observed, shrugging out of his black coat lined in gold filigree. He draped it over her.

Lilac clamped a hand to her mouth to smother a cry of surprise and pressed herself against his chest. Warmth enveloped her entire body once the coat rested on her shoulders.

“Herlinde sent me with a few garments that would emulate mortal body heat, since mine waxes and wanes depending on how recently I’ve eaten.”

Marveling, Lilac reached for his hand. When he pulled it away, she stroked her fingers along the hollow of his cheek, the defined structure of his jawbone. With the heat of the garment quickly fading, his skin was nearly as cold as the room.

“You need to eat. Something more than milk and bread.” Lilac couldn’t hide her enthusiasm, yanking her sleeve up her forearm.

“So desperate to feel my fangs inside you.” He bent his head and pressed his mouth to her inner wrist, flooding her body with a painful thrill.

“Should my pitiful disguise falter for any reason, you’ll have more blood on your hands than we’ll know what to do with when I walk out of this room, eyes red as the fringe of dusk. ”

“But my blood doesn’t turn your eyes red,” she finally said.

Garin laughed. “All mortal blood does.”

“Then why are yours gray now when it’s only been a couple days?”

“Myrddin and Lorietta suggested it might’ve been a one-time occurrence after the completion of our bond.”

He seemed satisfied with that answer. Whether they’d genuinely thought that was what had happened or, for some reason, wanted to downplay the phenomena, Lilac didn’t argue further.

At the brothel, her blood had appeared to do the opposite for him.

The witches had said magic was fickle. She couldn’t offer him her wrist or throat without being completely sure.

Maybe it only worked this way when his eyes were already red.

How, then, could she explain the silver stardust of his eyes after he’d first drank from her in her tower?

She wasn’t sure of anything under his hungry gaze. Who he was. Whom she’d become, the things she wanted. What she feared… and what she’d risk.

His eyes grew wide. Lilac bit her lip invitingly as he leaned in.

But he only reached past her waist to grab the doorknob. “I’m sorry. I need air.”

Foolish . “Yes, of course.”

“I should get to those bottles.” Apology shadowed his tone. “Our room’s in the hall just there.”

Lilac pushed herself off the door to let him open it, but there was a sudden sound in the distance. They both froze, Garin’s arm instinctively slinking around her middle, pulling her body against his. Gently, he guided her around him, until he stood between her and the door.

A door creaked open, then shut in the hallway. “Hello?” It was Rupert, voice barely above a whisper. “Ciel?” He seemed to linger in place for a moment. “Ciel?” His footsteps jogged in their direction. “Anyone?”

Being caught together wouldn’t be as bad if Ciel’s body wasn’t slumped behind her.

“Fuckers,” Rupert muttered to himself. He was right outside their door.

Garin’s shoulders tensed when another door creaked open in the hall.

“Rupert, what is all that noise?” It was Emma. “You’ll wake everyone.”

“The armory guard isn’t here. They need me out east,” Rupert said, his voice retreating. “I was supposed to meet Ciel here for my supplies.”

Emma made an incredulous sound. “Why at this hour?”

As their hushed conversation moved back into the hallway, Garin wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Lilac sidestepped him and cupped his face; he was drooling, his forehead once again frosted in cold sweat.

“You’re more than hungry, Garin,” she said, alarmed. “I think you’re sick. ”

“My hunger is the sickness.” He wiped his mouth again and straightened until he loomed over her.

“What do you need? Tell me and I’ll do it.”

“Take caution in your generous offers, Ms. Trécesson.”

There were more voices outside now, barely heard beyond the immense rush of her pulse. Panicked, Lilac pressed her ear to the door.

Myrddin was among them. “I saw him last night on my way to the washroom. We’ll find him.”

“Thank you dear,” Emma replied. “You are so kind.”

Garin’s arms encased her from behind. “All I can think of,” he said into her ear, “is sinking my teeth into your supple flesh. The way you look in my coat doesn’t help one bit. A distraction would be much appreciated.”

Lilac laughed at the irony. He expected her to distract him from something she wanted herself. But, for his benefit, she would try. “Speaking of your pitiful disguise, where is Albrecht?”

Garin’s mouth rose at the corner. “Really? Is that the best you can do?”

“Fine. Last summer I sucked Rupert’s cock in this very closet.”

His smile vanished.

“A few times.” She watched greedily as a delicious darkness swallowed his teasing.

Garin exhaled and attempted to blink his thoughts away; whatever they were. “What is wrong with you?”

The door knob jiggled. He immediately released her; in their bickering, they hadn’t been paying attention.

“Perhaps they’re—” Myrddin swung the door wide open and saw Lilac barricading herself in front of Garin, saliva dripping from his fangs.

The warlock’s eyes bulged when they fell upon Ciel’s crumpled corpse in the corner, Lilac’s bruised handprint around his crushed throat.

“Nope!” Myrddin hastily shut the door, casting them in darkness once more.

“There’s nothing in there but a few old coats. ”

A flash of color blinded them. The doorknob glowed violet before gradually fading.

“No . ” Garin gripped it, twisting and pushing. “ Fuck . Myrddin!”

Lilac shushed him, but he slammed his shoulder against the door. It didn’t budge—and no one came running to check on them .

“I’ll open the armory for you,” Myrddin was saying, his voice back in the hall. “Stand back now!” A loud blast shook the room; shouts were heard as dust rained down on them.

Lilac licked her lips, unable to tear her eyes from Garin’s wrists—the veins popping there and the way he grunted as he strangled the knob. If he jostled it more, he’d make too much noise and they’d be discovered. Or, the handle might come off.

Suddenly, she couldn’t bring herself to care about being locked in a closet with a starving vampire. All she could focus on was the thinness of her kirtle. How easily he could bunch it at her thighs and access her.

More footsteps sounded outside, and shouting. There was her father’s alarmed shout among some of the staff. Doors were opening in the hall, Gertrude, Helena, and Agnes chattering groggily.

Agitated, Garin lifted and flexed his fingers, seeming unsure of where to put them. “I’ve never met someone more bent on tempting their own fate, or?—”

Lilac reached for him before she knew what was happening. She swallowed thickly and fumbled with the clasp of his belt. A desolate sound rasped from Garin’s throat. It wasn’t protest—and not quite alarm, either—as she slipped her hand down the front of his pants.

Unsurprisingly, he was already hard.

“Or?” She arched against him, kissing his neck, sucking his flesh lightly into her mouth. The tip was deliciously wet; Lilac smeared it down his head.

“Or going out of their way to chase after it.” He groaned deeply. “Have you no semblance of self-preservation?”

“I am bound to you.” Every tremble her touch elicited from him felt like a trophy. “You won’t hurt me. You are no stranger to longing.”

His laugh was cruel. “Longing is a tragically subdued term. Desire comes close.” Garin’s lips parted when Lilac leaned over and released the glob of saliva that had been collecting at the mere thought of him in her mouth, slicking his cock in it.

His head fell back, his hands curling into claws at his side.

“Desire plagues you, doesn’t it? You cling to your restraint,” she said, stroking him slowly. Too slowly. “Like a raft at sea. ”

“It is to your benefit, I assure you.”

“Has blood always reigned over you so easily, Garin? You’re determined to fight for my sovereignty, yet your hunger thwarts your resolve. You lean on your slipping humanity to convince yourself you’re making the right choice.”

“It’s our thrall bond that’s done that,” he said tightly. “Not blood. Not my failing restraint. I know I’ve made the right choice.”

She couldn’t take her eyes off his mouth. She wanted to kiss him, even as it seemed he might devour her if she got any closer. “I’m sure you believe that, seeing as you betrayed me in order to do so.”

“Gladly, if it meant your kingdom continues to know peace.” His deliciously trembling breath ruffled her hair.

“I’ve seen even the most primed brigade backed by England’s finest archers march into a field and return with less than a fourth of its men.

I know what a losing battle looks like. I refuse to have you at—” His breath hitched. “At the center of it.”

“You’ve never seen me at the helm of an army.

” Lilac stroked him at what she hoped was a tortuous pace.

She almost stopped fisting him there, but savored the ravenous disdain on his face far too much.

She sank her fist to the base of his cock and squeezed her fingers around it.

“I refuse to stand by while my kingdom remains unprepared. Who knows, we might need it the day your restraint snaps. You couldn’t even stand the thought of me doing this to Rupert without wanting?—”

Garin brought his mouth to hers. His kiss was soft and pleading, yet possessing as he claimed her. She tasted his anger, relief cooling her burning face.

It was delicious.

His dick twitched in her palm. “Put me in your fucking mouth,” he rasped, low and soft against her lips.