or, the image burned itself

so

ss them. He had Brielle pressed against the arm of a sofa, his hands locked on her waist. Brielle's fin

runken fumble. It was

ed from Eleanora

d floor with a dul

pped toward the door. Kason's face, when he saw her, wasn't guilty. It wasn't a

t out a soft, deliberate giggle. Her eyes,

tore at her throat. "It's your birthday." As if that ex

casually straightening his shirt. "The party'

en bothering to move from the sofa. She looked Eleanora up and down, a cruel smi

laps. Each one landed

d, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "Yo

t and thick, but she refused to let them fa

ward. She lunged, her hand raised to strike

, serpentine motion. In her hand was a glass of red win

ont of Eleanora's dress. It bloomed ag

dark stain spreading over her c

ive hand at her as if shooing away a fl

he doorframe. The sharp pain was a distant, gr

stifle the sob that was clawing its w

om the laughter, away from the music, away

ollided with a wai

ral colorful cocktails shattered on the floor,

ace pale with panic. He fumbled to offer her a bottl

ng a small glass of amber liquid from his tray. "Please, miss, it's a special c

a physical thing, a thirst. Without thinking, without even registering what

a relief. There was an aftertaste she couldn't p

gnore

e. But the hallway seemed to twist and turn. The light

pread through her veins. Her skin became hypersensitive, the silk

was dark, silent. The air was cool. It w

g for relief from the internal furnace. Her he

slightly ajar. Through it, she saw a f

po

iren's call. To quench the fire. To wash

shed the door open and staggered

en, sh