Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

Chapter 70

I need air.

Not just because I'm about two minutes away from wringing Celeste Vaelor's scrawny little neck, but because my dress reeks of wine, my shoes are cutting into my feet, and I feel Enoch's gaze like a goddamn brand on my skin-even from across the ballroom.

The music is loud enough to shake the floor beneath my heels, but I barely hear it over the rush of my own thoughts. It's been two hours since I danced with him. Two hours since I dared to raise my hand like a damn challenge in front of everyone, since his hands were on me, since we were too close and too obvious and too much.

No. No more thinking about that man.

I should be smart and stay where Liam can see me. Should blend in, act normal, and let this night pass without more unnecessary bloodshed.

But when have I ever done what I should?

“Liam, I'm going to step out for a bit,” I say, already shifting my weight toward the nearest open balcony door.

Predictably, he stiffens. "Yeah, no, not happening.

"Why?" I feign innocence, picking at the wine stain on my dress. "Scared I'll throw myself off the railing out of sheer boredom?"

Liam doesn't laugh. He levels me with his signature you're-a-goddamn-menace look, crossing his arms. "I don't trust you alone for five seconds, Sinclair."

Zoe clears her throat beside us, looking everywhere but at us. Weird. Usually, she'd be backing me up, adding a dramatic "Let the girl breathe, Liam!"

But now she's red-faced and quiet, stealing glances at Liam like he's suddenly grown three heads.

What the hell?

I squint at her. "Are you okay?"

"Yep!" she squeaks, grabbing a champagne flute from a passing tray and downing half of it. "Just peachy!"

That's suspicious. I file it away for later. Right now, I have an escape plan to execute.

"Look," I say, turning back to Liam. "You and Zoe should dance."

"You two should dance," I say, mostly to shut them up.

Zoe startles like I suggested something illegal. "What? No. Why would I-'

"You've been stuck with me all night, I'm giving you a chance to

looking anywhere but at Liam.

Huh.

Weird.

"Excuse me?" he deadpans.

escape." I nudge her, but she just presses her lips together,

"Dance," I repeat. "You know, two people moving to music? Maybe you've heard of it?"

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Liam glares. "Sinclair-"

"Oh, don't be a killjoy, Calloway," I cut him off. "Zoe, tell him you want to dance."

Zoe turns the color of a ripe tomato. "I-uh-well, I mean-"

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Liam sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Whatever. But you-" He jabs a finger at me. "Stay where I can fucking see you."

"Cross my heart and hope to die," I sing-song, already slipping through the nearest exit.

He mutters something about regretting ever hiring me. Zoe, still visibly flustered, lets Liam pull her onto the dance floor, and I finally-finally-escape.

Jand

still pink in the face. I store that weird reaction for

balcony is

from the suffocating ballroom. Cool air, the scent of rain in

drift to something other than Enoch. Other than his hands on me, his mouth against mine, the way he looked at me across the

Not thinking about

a deep breath. The city stretches below in a glittering sprawl, endless lights flickering like a second sky. The moon is hanging

down at the wine stain on my dress, the one that Lady Celeste fucking Vaelor so graciously

more. I should've done more. I should've knocked her straight into the punch bowl when she dumped that glass onto me. My brain is doing that thing where it rewrites the entire encounter, this time with me

meaner.

the stain. “My bad, did I

at the wine stain, muttering under my breath.

near me, I'm throwing a whole bottle

I should've shoved her into the punch

own fantasy and shake my head.

faded, leaving me

my head, letting my

first time tonight, I feel

And then-

shift of light. A shadow stretching long behind

nerve in my body

Slowly, I turn.

He's there.

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Chapter 70

Enoch.

arms crossed, watching me. A smirk tugging at the corner of his

I swallow. Hard.

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in the world. That smirk is dangerous, lazy, knowing. His tux is crisp, his posture relaxed, but there's

My stomach flips violently.

I want to punch him. I want to crawl into his lap and bury my face in his

mkaes you thank the heavens you're a woman. Dressed in black, sharp angles and broad shoulders, eyes

smirk.

Lost your slipper?"

warm.

night is suddenly too

eyes, feigning indifference even though my heart is currently trying to beat its way out of my goddamn ribcage. I turn back around

I feel his hand on my waist. My knees are beginning to melt and I try to act cold, begging my legs to stay standing. As if I

to burst apart just from the way his thumb brushes absently

bone.

Silence.

locked on

That fucking mask.

I hate it.

can't see his face. That I can't

Or if this is the Enoch who left. The one who tore himself from my arms and walked away, leaving me to

Then-suddenly.

hands flex against my

Then-he moves.

Fast. Unforgiving.

throat

My heart is slamming against my

lean back even a

the fall that terrifies me. It's him. His touch. The way his scent crashes over

But I don't move.

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I know exactly

way his breath, hot and unsteady, fans against my lips. My breath is ragged,

me.

We are both starving

silence between