by Meg Xuemei X
“Because of Vladimir Blazek?”
“I won’t betray him again.”
“He left.”
That reminder instantly brought a knife to her heart. It wasn’t just her pain she carried, but his, too. For a moment, she couldn’t breathe, then she inhaled. “He’ll come back to me.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“I’ll go to him,” Lucienne said, frowning at Ashburn’s cruelty.
“But you can’t be with him.”
“I know I can kiss only you, but it’s just the program, as you said,” Lucienne continued, despite the hurt surfacing in Ashburn’s eyes. “I’ll find a way to be with Vlad. He gave up everything for me. I’ll not cast him aside like he means nothing.”
“Did you know he’s already picked up what he left at Sphinxes?”
“Tell me where he is. You have his memory.”
“I can’t help you with that, Lucienne.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Won’t.”
Lucienne glared at Ashburn. He looked away. Even her frustration couldn’t make her pull away. The attraction continued to grow with a life of its own. Lucienne wondered if their kiss had spiced up the drive. She could tell Ashburn felt its calling, too, for he clenched his fists and moved a few inches away from her, as if that was the best he could do. Lucienne also moved a couple of inches away from Ashburn because that was the best she could do.
“Fine! I’ll find out myself,” she said.
“Good luck, then.” Ashburn lay down on the half-transparent rooftop, his hands behind his head. A stray silver hair dangled over the corner of his eye.
Lucienne ignored him, but not for long. She turned to look at him, drinking in his beauty as he smiled and gazed back at her through his long lashes. His eyes shifted from ice blue to a pale shade of gray, like the first light in the sky. “I won’t help you with him, but I’ll help you break the curse on you. I won’t ask for anything in return, until you have the freedom to choose.” Then he turned back to watch the sunset.
Lucienne joined him, watching the setting sun, remembering the words of the I-Ching master on the night of her coronation. “Nine years after the Siren has set things in motion, she’ll face two boys tied to her irrevocably. One will offer life disguised as death; the other will lead to death with great love.”
“What does that mean? Are they going to hurt her? Which boys? You got names?” Kian McQuillen had asked urgently.
Dr. Hsi’s smile grew unfathomable. “The ending is hidden even from the I-Ching, which is most interesting. What she chooses will decide the courses of many and how the world turns . . .”
Lucienne’s Eidolon vibrated in her pocket. Without checking, she knew it was from her crew. Black Lightning Seven was waiting for her to go home. But she would stay here, on Ghost House’s rooftop, a little longer.
In this twilight hour, while she watched sun and shadows glitter, she didn’t think of her pain. She didn’t think of anything. Not even Vladimir. She just watched the red, hot sun dive toward the cold, silvery mountain with the last lover’s kiss.
THE STORY CONTINUES IN . . .
NEXUS TEARS
LAMENTS OF ANGELS & DARK CHEMISTRY
BOOK 2
Author’s Notes:
Thank you, brave souls, for taking a chance on a new author. If you enjoyed The Siren (Laments of Angels & Dark Chemistry #1), I’d love to hear your comments. I appreciate every review, no matter how brief, on Amazon, Goodreads, blogs, or wherever you review books.
Thank you.
~ Meg
About the Author
Meg Xuemei X grew up in a backward, southern town in China, went to college in Akron, and dropped out from Tisch School. She lives in California.
Her official website is: http://www.megxauthor.wordpress.com.
You can also sign up to her mailing list at http://eepurl.com/YxOcn for news, updates, and announcements.
