Page 31 of Sacrifice
Lucien passed a fingertip distractedly back and forth over the bow of his top lip, and Eve’s eyes fell to follow it. “That is fascinating,” he said, and Eve huffed out a laugh.
“You’re making fun of me.”
“Not at all. Sympathy with the weather is the hallmark of a goddess.”
“Youaremaking fun of me.”
“Actually, our little exhibition touches upon just that.”
“Actually,I know.” Eve’s mind summoned up the books she had borrowed from Henry, “Ishtar liked to wield a storm to punish enemies. I’ve been reading up.”
“Excellent,” said Lucien, “That will help.” He reached across the table to touch her arm. The fizz of energy that rushed across her skin made Eve jump. “Us running into each otherwas fate, Miss Areli. I think you are a perfect complement to my ambitions. We will do great things, you and I.”
He held his flute up in invitation.
“Cheers to that,” Eve said and tapped her own glass against his with a ching.
Twenty
It turnedout that flying in a private jet had other benefits besides the opportunity to quaff champagne. They also sped through security in a matter of minutes and were riding away in a chauffeur-driven car before the hoi-polloi would even have made it to baggage claim.
Eve could have pinched herself.
The drive out of Paris didn’t reveal any of the beautiful buildings or boulevards she’d been imagining in her mind’s eye. She conceded that main roads leading away from airports rarely held much charm and, as the density of houses dwindled, she started to appreciate the open space instead. After forty-five minutes, they turned into a broad, straight avenue that led inexorably to an elegant chateau.
The last rays of the setting sun glinted in its windows. The sparkle of frost starting to set in, twinkled in the sweeping lawns. Eve rubbed at the goosebumps that rippled up her arms.
“Wow. This place is beautiful.”
Lucien squeezed her knee. “I’ve had it a while. I mean, it’s been in the family for years. Being in Paris, it’s a balm to me.” He ran a contemplative finger along his own bottom lip. “You’ll see.”
The car crunched to a halt on the gravel. Their driver retrieved their bags from the boot and deposited them at the base of a sweeping flight of stone steps.
Lucien got out too and extended a hand to Eve. She slid out into the cold December air, its icy fingers reaching beneath the short skirt that no longer seemed appropriate. Her killer heels sank into the stones.
“I think that these might have had their moment.”
Lucien held out his arm for her to take and guided her up the steps. “You never know.” He had that glimmer in his eyes again.
“Wherearewe going this evening?”
He tapped at his nose. “Somewhere the like of which you will never have been to before.”
“Mysterious.”
“A private club. Very exclusive membership.” A smile twitched in the corner of his mouth.
“You’re teasing me.”
“No. It’s somewhere I think you, of all people, will appreciate.”
Intriguing.
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
“If I told you we were going to The Hellfire Club, would it mean anything to you?”
Eve shrugged.
