Page 113 of Hell Burns Between Us

Brennessel froze, looking off in the distance for a moment before whispering something in Perine’s ear. In an instant their expressions transformed into sheer terror. Brennessel shoved Perine behind a group of revellers and then she disappeared into the dancing crowd.

Oleander moved quickly, weaving through everyone until Brennessel spotted him and yanked him behind a group of rather large centaurs.

“Valus is here looking for Peri,” Brennessel yelled. “He’s coming this way. I can distract him. You go help Peri get away.”

“How the Hell did Valus even get in here?” Oleander asked, panic rising in his chest.

“Who knows?” she said. “But I’m guessing he has permission from your father to be here. It doesn’t matter! Just go make sure she’s safe, Brightmore.”

Oleander’s frown deepened. “I thought we were past surnames, Ness.”

She laughed and shoved him in the direction Perine had gone, leaving Oleander to trail after her through the crowd. She’d already left the air bubble and was swimming powerfully towards the surface. He followed, surging through the water after her. Some sort of magic surrounded the water in the lake tonight, allowing him to both breathe and remain dry despite swimming for long, torturous minutes. By the time he hauled himself out of the water, she had already slipped inside Brightmore Manor.

His pulse pounded in his ears, reverberating through his bones. He wrenched the door open and threw himself inside, finding the house empty. The silence pressed in around him, amplifying the frantic beat of his heart.

Oleander caught a glimpse of Perine as she made her way towards the family library. Why the fuck would she go to the library?

A hot, desperate fierceness burnt deep in his chest, propelling him forward. When he crashed through the door, seething, Perine spun around, eyes widening as a startled cry escaped her.

The silence between them pressed in from all sides—weaving around them, choking out all thoughts, rooting them to the spot. Oleander had a million things to say, but none of them felt right. He wanted to pull her into his arms, to hold her until they fused together. He wanted her to see him—the way he had been begging her to for so long.

His wrist burnt like an inferno.

“What were you doing?” His voice cracked the silence, low and strained. “You’re betrothed.”

He stood very still, his emotions swirling within him, aching to burst forth. But instead, he clenched his fists, his breath shaky and angry.

Her gaze flicked to him, before she pointedly turned away. “I know.”

“He’s here, searching for you at the party,” Oleander couldn’t help the words tumbling from his mouth.

“I know that too,” she snapped.

Oleander took a step closer, his frustration boiling over. “Why were you kissing all those other beings?”

She stepped back, a sharp retreat. “I’m not doing this with you.”

“Aren’t we friends, Wilder?” His voice was bitter, borderline cruel. He threw her surname at her, a dagger of detachment, watching her face crumple as the sharpness of his words hit deep.

“Don’t—” she whispered. When she looked at him, her eyes were a storm he couldn’t read—dark with conflicting emotions.

Even so, he couldn’t stop himself from drawing closer to her, feeling his resolve soften the nearer he came to her warmth. It was strange—her presence was a comfort, as though their bodies knew the refuge that came with proximity.

His voice dropped, raw and vulnerable. “Why were you kissing those demons and demonesses?”

“Oh, eat glass, Brightmore.”

It might have stung, deeply even, if not for the sudden flash of movement that caught his eye. She rubbed her wrist in agitation, a small, unconscious gesture that spoke volumes. When she noticed him watching, she quickly twisted her wrist behind her back.

But the truth refused to hide. Oleander felt the burn of their tattoos as they throbbed in unison, a reminder of their shared bond, undeniable and inescapable.

“After everything we've been through,” He tilted his head. “I thought we could talk about anything.”

She scoffed. “Why do you want to know?”

He shrugged, his gaze never leaving her face. “I’m curious.”

Slowly, she took another step back, until her back was pressed against the bookshelf. Like a predator, Oleander stalked towards her. His hands came up to rest on either side of her head, boxing her in, though their bodies remained distant. Her chest rose and fell with quick, frantic breaths as she stared at him.