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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Chapter 70

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

face. I store that weird reaction for later before slipping away

balcony is

Cool air, the scent of rain in

mind drift to something other than Enoch. Other than his hands on me, his mouth against mine,

thinking about

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

wine stain on my dress, the one that Lady

when she dumped that glass onto me. My brain is doing

meaner.

the stain. “My bad, did

rub more at the wine stain, muttering under my breath.

near me, I'm throwing a whole bottle

shoved her into

at my own fantasy and shake my head. The adrenaline

me exhausted

sigh, shaking my head, letting my

the first time

And then-

of light. A shadow stretching long behind

go rigid, every nerve in my body

Slowly, I turn.

He's there.

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Enoch.

watching me. A smirk tugging

I swallow. Hard.

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crisp, his posture relaxed, but there's something in the way he looks at me-like I'm the only thing worth seeing-

My stomach flips violently.

to punch him. I want to crawl into his lap and

that mkaes you thank the heavens you're a woman. Dressed in black, sharp angles and broad shoulders, eyes like the deepest part of the forest-dangerous, endless, impossible

that smirk. That

Cinderella? Lost your slipper?"

warm.

night is

my eyes, feigning indifference even though my heart is currently trying to beat its way out of my goddamn ribcage. I turn back around to face the moon as I hear his steps move closer from behind

on my waist. My knees are beginning to melt and I try to act cold, begging my legs to stay

to burst apart just from the

bone.

Silence.

locked on mine,

That fucking mask.

I hate it.

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

thing tethering him to that ballroom earlier. Or if this is the Enoch who left. The one who tore himself from my arms and walked away, leaving me to pick up whatever

Then-suddenly.

hands flex

Then-he moves.

Fast. Unforgiving.

sharp gasp rips from my throat as my

is slamming

the realization that if I lean back even a little, I'll

to break bones, but it's not the fall that terrifies me. It's him. His touch. The way his scent crashes over me like a drug,

But I don't move.

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know

unsteady, fans against my lips. My breath is ragged, my chest rising and

devours me.

We are both starving

silence between us