Chapter 10

Scarlett His breath scorched across my cheek like molten lava. I swore the side of my face turned scarlet, burning all the way down to my neck and ears. I kept my expression unreadable, though my skin betrayed me with every pulsing vein. Lucien stood so close I could feel the controlled heat radiating off him. I didn’t answer right away. I looked down and said softly instead, We need to talk. Alone.” His eyes flicked sideways. Alexander was across the room now, consoling a wounded Faye like she hadn’t just been publicly humiliated. Good for him. Let him hold his precious disaster. Lucien gave me a single nod. Like ghosts we slipped through the side door of the banquet hall and proceeded up the marble stairwell towards the presidential suite. Every clack of my heels sounded in my head like a countdown. Inside, the air shifted. No more performance. No more witnesses. Just him. Just me. He slowly let the door close behind us. A shot rang out as the key turned the lock. I didn’t sit. Didn’