Kiss of Crimson Samantha Coville (best short books to read .TXT) 📖

a way that no one else does, and I think you're an amazing, beautiful woman with a positive spirit that is so rare in this world."

I rubbed my arm against my leaking eyes and sniffled back the waterfalls that I knew would come the second I was back inside the mansion. "They're just words, Arden. I can't trust you now."

My voice trailed off, and I began to turn away from him. I was going to march myself right back inside and start the painful process of putting this all behind me. I felt his hand grab my arm and something inside me snapped. I swung around, my palm open and flat as it met his cheek with a resounding smack. He recoiled and staggered back. It probably hadn't hurt him all that bad, being a vampire and all. But it sure did startle him. He rubbed his cheek and looked at me wide-eyed.

With a hiss that barely escaped through my clenched teeth, I warned him. "Don't ever try to talk to me again. I don't want to see you anymore."

The words were a lie. I wanted to see him. I wanted him to tell me that everything was okay and that it was all one big misunderstanding. I saw his lips open and close, and for a moment I thought my wish would be granted. But he decided against whatever he had thought to say, and his head hung in shame. I bit my lip hard enough that I tasted the coppery taste of blood, and I turned back around and marched into my home.

There was not a servant in sight when I got through the front doors, and I was grateful. They had probably turned tail and fled to the servant corridors the moment they saw my confrontation with Arden had come to an end. But it was for the better. I didn't want any of them to see my tear-stained face or hear my gut-wrenching, choking sobs as they escaped me. I considered slumping into a ball right there in the entryway, in front of the grand staircase, but there was somewhere else that beckoned to me.

I took the stairs sluggishly and ascended to the second floor. But I passed my bedroom door and continued down the hallway. Pushing open the large oak door, I stepped into my father's library. The smell of ancient books filled the air, and I breathed it in deeply. It had a calming effect. I made my way to one of the couches in the middle of the room and dropped onto it. The cushions enveloped me like a warm embrace, like a hug. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to imagine I was being held by my father, soothing me as I cried.

The door creaked open ever so slowly and my mother stepped into the library. She rarely ever came in there, and I always assumed it was because of the memories attached to it. But coming to my side at that moment was important enough for her to overcome those ghosts of her past. She pulled me up as she sat down next to me and placed my head back down in her lap. Her fingers gracefully and softly played with the strands of my hair as she cried with me.

"I tried to save you from all of this," she whispered.

I swallowed hard. "I know."

Twelve

Arden

I slammed on the breaks and my car screeched to a halt in front of Jardin’s mansion. Rolling down the passenger window, I motioned for the guard at the front door to come over. He looked annoyed, but I frankly didn’t give a damn.

I was furious.

That sweet girl... her eyes had been full of fire and hatred.

I’d ruined the one good thing life had decided to give to me.

But maybe that was the price of my vampire life. Eternal life without sickness or weakness.

Just also without Eloise.

“Is there something I can help you with?”

The brute was massive. I thought he’d dent my car as he leaned through the open window.

“Yes, I need this delivered directly to Monseigneur Jardin. Go straight to him, you understand me? If I find out you took any detours, I’ll skin you myself.”

The guard nodded his head nervously as I handed him the microchip I had pulled from my phone. All the photos from Madame Leona’s office would be on there for Jardin to begin his plotting and scheming.

“And where are you off to, Master Arden?”

I waved my hand to dismiss him. “I’m taking the last few hours before dawn for myself. Tell Jardin I’ll be back in the morning for my next assignment.”

Without another word, I pushed the button to roll the window back up and my foot was hard on the gas pedal. My car purred as it raced down one road and another.

The traffic light in front of me turned yellow. I pushed harder on the gas and barely slipped through, red light basking the street in my rearview mirror.

I peaked out of the corner of my eye at the empty passenger seat. It’d only been an hour earlier, if that, that Eloise was sitting there next to me. She’d been going on and on about some book and then some society gossip or other.

I couldn’t give two craps about the topics themselves. But when Eloise spoke, it was enchanting. Her excited demeanor was enough to thaw my vampire heart.

My fists slammed into the steering wheel.

“Damnit, Arden. Pull yourself together. This was always just a job.”

The lie stung.

I slowed the car as I arrived at my destination. A sign reading “Casa Del Sangue” flashed red and purple, illuminating the line of people waiting to get into the vampires only nightclub. Luckily for me, I was a regular at the House of Blood and the bouncer was an old friend at this point.

I threw my keys to the valet attendant and strolled up to the entrance. Sure enough, the bouncer gave me a big