Queen of Ruin
ed little relief for Tessa as she sto
hands still wiggled with a life of their own as
s as he snatched the cigarette from her fingers.
and handed it back to her as he blew
They were both immortal creatures, and the only thing that would ever ki
ok in the spectacle of a thousand-year-old Viking in a well-tailored tuxedo. "You clean up well, Haldir.
tched out his neck. "Shut up, you spo
gave him the cigarette, then he squin
etter than most anyone. "Why are you hiding out here? That doesn't seem
oor and twisting it under her shoe. "It's a fucking meat market in there. These people sho
ed through the eyes of a child as he peered across the park. "Trust me.
d up from the wall he leaned on. "Well, looky here; there's the head of your fan c
her to finish her conversation. In faux annoyance, she rolled
y it while it lasts, Tess. That first taste of love is always the best
e birthday girl, he snapped his fingers and pointed
rick. "Why? Are you in a hurry to lose a whole bunch more of your money t
it, I got something better." Suddenly pulling it back out of his pocket, he fli
's shoulder as he passed by, then held his fing
nly, sir." Freeing his hands from his pockets, he crossed his ar
ffected by his presence, but the sound of his voice was like the Pied
moved in front of her and made sure she could turn
d the pearls around her neck and wrapped them around her
e motioned towards the bench with his
untrusting sneer curled up on her face. "You
st the half wall behind him to brace himself a
way into the world. "I know why everyone's here tonight, but I'm not interested. Y
und. "I didn't come here for that, but when I saw you..." His teary eyes met hers, and h
ubbed his fingers over th
entire world as the Fates wove their magic around them. "Wh
m as he resisted the urge to grab her like his soul begged him. "I could do nothing to
ssed the delicate curve of her jaw,
nose grazed her skin as he savored
told the truth despite what her voice tried to convince her o
he tilted her face to his. "Have
is palm to answer him, he smiled as his lips bru
st him as the anticipation of
d before he kissed her for just a moment, but that wa
uckled, sending her back into hi
ttered open. A drunken smile came to her face, and her smooth S
r bottom lip between his. He took his sweet time moving against her li
lips were like chocolate and candy canes and birthday ca
ther couple came to make out on the balcony, she pulled awa
nd he grabbed Tessa's wrist as she attempted to
e struggled to break his grasp.
as he explained why he spoke of her so lovingly. "It
gs struggled to decide which direction to take her in, she tried to brin
as he laid claim to his mate. "It doesn't matt
jection as his arms swallowed her up into them. He curled her hair around his fingers
eyes betrayed her. The warm spicy scent of cloves and cinnamon that dripped from Raf
his brain to find a way to squeeze out a few more mi
is lips to hers and moved his hand up her cheek. "Good night, Rohi. I
secret, she took back her hand as they entered
d and spoke to her in her mind as she tried to slide in
wrinkled her nose as she answered. 'None of your goddamn b
fill of fake smiles and ass-kissing, so he tu
or themselves against even the trickiest witch. There weren
nd raised his finger as his pointy eyebrow cautioned
m a timid smile. He touched the middle of his forehead and placed his hand over his
while they walked, and the ballroom splintered into shards of exis