An Oath In Blood (Book #3)

Chapter 41: A Beautiful Death

WARREN HALE

I shifted from one foot to the other, nerves crackling under my skin, lighting it on fire. My stomach seemed to be doing somersaults inside my body, flipping this way and that until I was sure the lunch I had a couple of hours ago would make a reappearance. I would rather it not. This suit was expensive.

I waited by the front door for Corvina to appear from her room. I went to get her but Lilian only opened the door an inch to inform me that she would bring her to me before slamming it closed in my face again. Glancing at my watch, I tried to push the nerves down so I couldn't feel them anymore. But when I looked away, I realized that I didn't remember what the time was.

Luckily, before I could lose any more of my mind, Lilian appeared in the hallway leading to the foyer where I stood. A grin was plastered on her face as she shifted slightly to the side so my focus shifted towards the woman who appeared behind her.

Fucking Hell–

I sucked in a sharp breath as Corvina walked down the hallway towards me, her grey eyes darting around nervously before her gaze settled on me. Her lips, painted a deep red, pressed together in a thin line before she forced them apart. They stretched into a tight, anxious smile meant for me. I tried to return it but my brain showed a syntax error, keeping me from giving her a reaction.

She looked...like the Grim Reaper. And in the moment, I found myself thinking that if death could look so beautiful, I wouldn't mind dying a couple hundred times.

Her beauty was haunting, taking every inch of the space around us, tainting the air with its intensity. The black a-line gown she wore reached her ankles, a slit running up on one side, her good leg peeking out with each step she took. The fabric cinched at the waist dramatically, a strip of sequins dancing along the side of the waist before disappearing in the back. Long sleeves covered her arms and my gaze traced them up, up, up, until it came to rest on the plunging sweetheart neckline that made every nerve in my body stand on alert. Gloved hands came up to brush a strand of hair—curled to perfection—over her shoulder, a diamond ring glinting on her index finger.

Nervous eyes scanned their surroundings once more before Corvina finally came to a stop before me. Even with the crutch tucked under her right arm, she looked elegant, indestructible...insatiable. I swallowed.

"It's too much, isn't it?" she whispered, uncertainty flickering through her words. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. I closed it again before repeating the motion as if it would reboot my brain and it would start working again.

"Uhhh..." I began, struggling to find my voice. She touched the diamond necklace around her neck, her hand shaking slightly. The design wound its way down her chest, one single drop of diamond disappearing into her cleavage. "Y-you–" I stuttered, wanting to console her but finding myself incapable of stringing two words together.

"Cor, he's mumbling like an idiot. You know what that means? It means you look hot!" Lilian exclaimed, clapping her hands together. I shot her a glare that did nothing to calm her down before I turned to Corvina again.

I opened my mouth again, determined to speak this time but once again, the words died down before they could even touch my lips. So, I reached forward, taking Corvina's hand and placing a soft kiss on her gloved knuckles. Her cheeks turned an adorable red and I found a smile tugging on my lips.

"Now, come on. Stand together. I want to take a picture." Lilian ushered Corvina forward, helping her come to a stand beside me.

"Lily, we aren't going to prom. We don't need to take a picture." I saw Corvina roll her eyes at her friend. Slipping a hand around her waist, I shifted closer to her.