The Sweetest Shade of Red: An MM Vampire Medieval Romance by Myna Arrow

Author:Myna Arrow [Arrow, Myna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Independent
Published: 2023-10-02T16:00:00+00:00

10

In Control

As the meager candlelight burned ever dimmer, it became clear to Estienne that neither he nor Helias would soon have a leg to stand on when it came to criticizing Innocent.

Estienne’s drinking skills had never been so tested. For every cup he downed, Helias could drink four. They easily depleted the cask, moving on to the second and draining it to the dregs as well. With every sip the wine grew more delicious, its sweetness blooming and drowning out all other tastes. As he drank what could have either been his tenth or fiftieth or hundredth cup, Estienne could see that lovely red flush returning to Helias’ cheeks, could feel the heat blossoming on his own face. His head was light enough to float away. Everything was fuzzy and warm. And Estienne was wonderfully dizzy. The world was spinning, yes, but it was spinning in perfect rhythm with the slow beating of his heart.

“You’ve had too much,” Helias slurred, pointing his half-full chalice at Estienne as the wine sloshed against the sides.

“You,” Estienne replied, pointing right back. “You have had too much.”

“I . . . yes, yes I have.” Helias downed the rest of the cup with a hiccup. “This’is horrid. I’m supposed to stay in control. Why can’t I stay in control around you?”

“‘Cus I’m a good and pretty lad.” Estienne framed his face with his hands.

“You’re a bad influence.” The chalice dropped from Helias’ hand. “Wicked thoughts race through my head when you’re around. You get me into trouble. No more. No more getting into trouble or thinking wicked things or wanting wicked things. I’m going to sit here and do nothing until the trouble is gone.”

Helias’ eyes fluttered as he drew up his legs, leaning his forehead against his knees. He turned his head toward the side, catching what little candlelight remained. The light made his features softer. Estienne stared at the lord’s dark lashes, the pink trailing his cheeks, the lush curves of his lips and the rise and fall of his shoulders with every breath. It was the first time he’d looked truly vulnerable.

Estienne suddenly felt very far away from Helias.

He found himself leaning in closer, closing the space between them until his face was inches from Helias’. Estienne lingered there and simply looked, gazed and gazed at Helias as though it were his only remaining purpose. Perhaps it was.

Helias eyes flickered up. “Mm, what’re you doing?”

“Staring at you.” Estienne traced a line from Helias’ lips to his cheek with his fingertips. His skin was still so cold. “D’you know, you have a freckle right here, on the side of your cheek?”

Helias scrunched up his face as though this statement were the most baffling one ever uttered. “What?”

“And when you make that face, you get this little line right between your eyebrows.” Estienne poked it, then brushed his thumb across Helias’ forehead. “And you’ve got a tiny scar on your right eyebrow.”

“This?” Helias pointed at it, then snorted. “I don’t count that one as a scar.

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