Page 120 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
“What?” Instinctively my gaze swung in that direction, and I found the people he was pointing out before the exact spot he’d described.
My friends. All of whom were beaming at me.
“And now you can breathe again,” he whispered.
“Thank you.” I smiled, looking down at my feet as we descended the last few steps. “I feel better already.”
“I thought you might.”
But such a feeling wasn’t meant to last, because we’d barely stepped off the staircase when I heard them.
The infamous whispers of high society, the lifeblood of gossips and bitches everywhere.
“She doesn’t look like she’s being held hostage.”
“They do look quite good together, but I feel sorry for her.”
“Isn’t she supposed to be a snob? No wonder she doesn’t care about the rumours, she’s marrying up.”
“How could Marquess Vermillion allow her to marry him? Or is she twisted, too?”
“It’s bad enough having to bow to a cold-blooded murderer, never mind that witch, too.”
“Do you think he’s using her to improve his reputation? Although hers isn’t great, either.”
Kalon tensed and took a step forwards, and if his emotions were visible, there’d be nothing but a thick black cloud of rage swirling around him right now. I needed to quell his anger, but I also needed to see if I recognised any of the voices.
And I did.
Plenty of them.
I could play with that.
“Ignore it,” I said, taking a step into his side and resting my hand on his chest. I slid my other hand around from where it’d rested on his and linked our fingers together. “They’re cowards.”
“Cowards who don’t deserve their tongues.”
I’d heard him threaten such things a hundred times now, but there was something very real about the chill that ran through his words this time. It even sent a little something shivering downmyspine, and I knew I was the safest person in this room right now.
“Do you have a tongue fetish?” I reached up, cupping his cheek.
He paused, meeting my eyes. “What?”
“You keep going on about cutting out tongues, so I thought it might be a fetish of yours.”
“You say the strangest things,” he murmured, laying his hand on top of mine. “I know you’re only trying to distract me.”
“I’m not trying. I’m succeeding.” I grinned as he turned his face to kiss my palm. “They’re just chattering birds with nothing better to do than gossip about others. They’re doing it even now, if you listen.”
He tilted his head, keeping his eyes on me.
“Oh, my gosh, did the Grand Duke just kiss her hand?”
“How is she so comfortable being so close to him?”
“Isn’t she afraid of him? Perhaps she’s as evil as he is.”
“Alicia,” Kalon growled.
