34. Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four

Eldrick

E ldrick leaned into the curtains. “Do you mind keying me into this plan of yours?”

Tovi rustled about on the other side. Clothing fell to the floor, possibly her cloak by the sound of the weight. Her boots went next, clattering across the room. Zippers cried open, buttons popped, and more clothes fell to the floor. Heat, scolding and maddening, traveled up his neck as he imagined her beyond that curtain, her pale flesh glowing in the yellow light.

Eldrick looked away.

It felt wrong to imagine. It felt wrong to think about it.

For so many, many reasons. All of them rational, all of them based on fact.

Yet, no matter how many Eldrick sifted through, his baser instinct grew hungry for the vampyr princess readying herself on the other side.

“Tovi.” Eldrick’s tone came off gruff and direct.

She pulled the curtain aside, and he reared back, heat now searing through his entire being.

A lilac-purple mesh corset molded to Tovi’s torso. The color complimented her pale skin and drew out the green in her eyes. They shined like mystic stones .

Eldrick fought a growl as he caught sight of her breasts, swelling atop the corset. Tufts of fabric created black and lavender roses sewn in a snaking pattern. More roses traveled the corset lines above her strong, slender thighs. Lace stockings with rose stitching stretched over her legs. Layers of tulle piled high and stitched to the back of her corset were a wicked concept of a very short skirt. She’d let her hair, still auburn, down, and shaken the roots to create a tousled, wild look. The light caught the dip and curve of her bare, muscular arms.

Stars above , she was the most breathtaking beauty he’d ever seen, the most frightening figure of death.

“You’re not wearing that.”

The words fell from his lips without any forethought. With her standing there like that, thinking wasn’t possible. Whatever warm, hungry sensation swam in his belly led him on.

Tovi scoffed, placing a hand on her hip. “I wear what I want, wolf.”

Eldrick fumbled with his words, trying to grasp onto reason. Why did it matter what she wore? Why did he care? And why had he made her think he did?

Eldrick shook his head, grounding him back to the present. “Again, what is the plan?”

Tovi ignored him, passing under the curtain.

He grabbed her arm and dragged her close.

Surprise flushed Tovi’s face. They both stared down at his hand gripping her arm. Eldrick let go, hand going cold without her skin against his. He didn’t have the energy to step back, his body tightly wound.

“I can’t wait here while you go dancing in that,” he said. “Especially if your plan involves him.”

The jade in Tovi’s eyes softened. “We need to learn how to get Kade and Bétar into the rings. Lord Oziel might know a thing or two.”

“That’s a wild guess. He might also recognize you up close. ”

Tovi grabbed something over Eldrick’s shoulder. A mask. She put it on, the black shell covering a majority of her face aside from her chin, lips, and eyes. With the black marring the brightness in her eyes and the auburn hair, she didn’t look herself. Not unrecognizable, but at arm’s length, perhaps she’d have a chance. Determination tightened Tovi’s jaw, and Eldrick sighed, his instinct telling him he’d not convince her otherwise.

“How can I help?” he asked.

Tovi pointed upward. “Do you see up there?”

Eldrick followed her line of sight. Past the chandeliers and draped curtains, he caught the sight of a grid of scaffolding and wooden beams. Some appeared to have banisters like they were walking paths to and from the other side.

Without another word, Tovi dragged him into the small fitting room. He collided into her frame, and they tumbled into hanging garments, tossing and turning in tulle and feathers.

“Stars above,” Eldrick cursed.

Tovi hissed, showing off her vampyr fangs. “Hush.”

She pushed aside the hanging garments and revealed a wooden ladder built into the stone wall. Up, up, and up it went to the dark and empty scaffolding above.

“While I’m out in the hall, you can keep watch up there. I’ll lure him to the alley. Once you see me heading to the galley, meet me outside.”

Eldrick let his gaze slide up and down the length of Tovi’s body once more. Her seductive outfit, her authoritative tone—the combination almost brought him to his knees.

But she was a vampyr. Maybe not his enemy any longer, but that didn’t matter. Eldrick had to ignore the temptation trembling through his muscles. “Alright, solid plan.”

He tightened his hands on one of the ladder’s railings, and with each climb up, he left the wicked thoughts in the fitting room below.