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

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

balcony is empty,

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

Let my mind drift to something other than Enoch. Other than his hands on me, his mouth against mine, the way he looked at me across the ballroom as though I was a goddamn feast laid out for

thinking

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

the wine stain on my dress, the one that Lady Celeste fucking Vaelor

dumped that glass onto me. My brain is doing that thing where it

meaner.

the stain. “My bad, did I trip and accidentally push you into the fountain? Damn, what

wine stain, muttering under my breath. "Next time

me, I'm throwing

shoved her into the punch

fantasy and shake my head. The adrenaline from earlier

leaving me

letting my gaze

first time tonight, I feel

And then-

of light. A shadow

every nerve

Slowly, I turn.

He's there.

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Chapter 70

Enoch.

watching me. A smirk tugging at the corner of

I swallow. Hard.

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though he has all the time in the world. That smirk is dangerous, lazy, knowing. His tux is crisp, his posture

My stomach flips violently.

to crawl into his lap and bury my face in

kind of good that makes it hard to breathe, hard to think. The come-fuck-me look that mkaes you thank the heavens you're a woman. Dressed in black,

smirk.

Lost your slipper?" The night

warm.

is suddenly too

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

me when I feel his hand on my waist. My knees are beginning to melt and I try to act cold, begging my legs

apart just from the way his thumb brushes absently over my

bone.

Silence.

locked

That fucking mask.

I hate it.

That I can't tell if

the only 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 shattered pieces

Then-suddenly.

flex

Then-he moves.

Fast. Unforgiving.

throat as my back arches instinctively,

heart is slamming against my ribs, adrenaline

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

me. It's him. His touch. The way his scent crashes over

But I don't move.

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know exactly

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

devours me. Unapologetic.

We are both starving

between us is