Read Novel Full Chapter 445: The New Ace [I]
Chapter 445: The New Ace [I]
Liquor bottles were scattered everywhere along with half-eaten plates of expensive food. The once-pristine minimalist interior was littered with mounds of powdered glitter, discarded clothes that were forgotten, and enough vomit stains for me to sincerely hope they came from the alcohol and not some unfortunate medical emergency.
Suffice it to say, Ray’s new place was thrashed. He and the rest of the crew were on the balcony.
By the time I saw the last of the revelers out the door — a drunk girl leaning on her boyfriend as they slurred their goodbye — I felt like I had aged about forty years.
Upon slamming the door shut, I was greeted by silence.
Beautiful, wonderful, heavenly silence.
I stood there for a while, staring at nothing in particular, then exhaled and brought the beer mug I had in my hands to my lips. It was empty.
I was parched.
So stepping around and hopping over all those colorful bottles, crushed cups, and random articles of clothing, I made my way to the kitchen.
“Someone’s a mess,” came a sultry, melodiously soothing voice that was somehow equally irritating.
Juliana was holding a carafe of water, smirking at me before tipping the container over her mouth and drinking directly from it.
“This someone needs a drink,” I grumbled, swaying a little as I stalked for a decanter on the other side of the counter.
Juliana narrowed her eyes at my stride. “Are you drunk?”
I gave her a look. There was a light dusting of glittery powder smeared across one side of her jawline. “Are you high?”
Ever so slowly, Juliana gazed down and noticed even more glitter coating her sleeve. She made a face. “That… is unrelated.”
I could see her pupils were dilated like saucers. Yup. Definitely high. Just not enough to lose inhibitions. “That is the least convincing denial I’ve ever heard.”
“I said it was unrelated.”
“That is not the same thing as saying no.”
She loudly clicked her tongue, looked away, and then started to leave, putting away the carafe next to the sink. “Come out to join us after you’re—”
Thwack–
Long before she had even finished turning, my arm shot out to block her path, slamming into the cupboard beside her head.
The wood rattled against the framework and Juliana stopped dead in her tracks like a startled cat cornered in a dead-end alley, her shoulder a hair’s breadth away from my chest.
To my disappointment, she masked her fluster fairly quickly, the brief widening of her eyes smoothing out into a cold stare.
“Oh?” Her tone was condescendingly amused. It should not have excited me as much as it did. “What’s this?”
“Why, am I not allowed to kiss you?” I posed mock innocently. “You certainly didn’t show any restraint the last time.”
Her answer to me was a huff of sharp laughter, though I caught her pupils going back to their original state, the striking azure of her icy eyes returning to focus entirely on mine.
Internal Circulation.
She had quickly used Essence to burn away the effects of whatever substance she had partaken in, clearing her mind to sober up in a blink.
A neat trick. Not all that surprising, considering she had begun her alchemical studies under the direct tutelage of Rexerd Cromwell and was also fairly experienced in dealing with toxins and poisons.
Still, very practical. I remember Rexerd used something similar to regain his autonomy when Juliana had drugged him.
I decided I should learn it.
“Come now, it was only one little kiss. Aren’t you supposed to be experienced in all kinds of romantic pursuits? Don’t tell me that was all it took to break you in?” She accentuated the final words with an infuriating pout of her full lips, ridiculing pity dripping from her tone like molasses. Damn it, she knew how to get under my skin. “Talk to me when you’re not on liquid courage,” she said firmly. “And don’t— Huuuh!”
I squished my body against hers and pressed my lips to the side of her face, giving her a loving peck.
She stiffened. Her breath hitched and whatever haughty retort she was undoubtedly preparing died right in the back of her throat. “W-What? Hey—”
Her voice was so small and adorable as she pushed against my chest and turned her face away, though the efforts were so weak it felt more a strong suggestion than an actual rejection.
“Don’t start games you don’t know how to finish,” I growled a chuckle against the curve of her ear, letting my breath fan across her skin.
She squirmed hard, this time allowing more strength in her hands to shove me back.
Really, so cute.
I responded by giving her another peck, this time directly against the soft line of her jaw. She hissed something, though her words were cut off by an involuntary gasp escaping her throat. It was music to my ears.
I leaned in until the small of her back was pressed flush against the edge of the counter and she was practically bent backward under my weight, her fingers digging hopelessly into the fabric of my shirt for leverage.
From on top of her, I grabbed her face and started showering tender, feather-light kisses everywhere — from her high cheekbones to the low of her chin, from her softly flushing cheeks to the side of her endearing nose.
It was hardly anything sexual.
Each kiss I gave her lingered for barely a heartbeat before another stole its place, more teasing than possessive, more affectionate than hungry.
Juliana’s breathing had gone completely uneven.
“W-What are you doing…” she whispered, sounding more offended by how breathless she was than by the actual kisses.
Gods, she was exquisite. I loved, loved, loved how she was writhing under me. Her eyelids were down and her face was contorted like she was both in agony and bliss, no doubt wanting to push me back but not wanting to at the same time.
Her long, beautiful lashes were fluttering, her breathing growing shallower and ragged and desperate.
All that cold, untouchable majesty nowhere in sight.
And I hadn’t even done anything yet.
Nor that I was going to.
I pulled myself up unceremoniously, severing the sudden heat between us so abruptly that the cool penthouse air rushed in to take its place.
Juliana’s hands remained on my shirt for a fraction of a second longer before she realized the pressure was gone.
Those piercing blue eyes were completely unfocused and heavy-lidded when they flickered open. A vivid shade of crimson had crawled all the way from her collarbones up to the tips of her ears.
And when she blinked up at me, heaving and confused and frowning, I was giving her my most arrogantly smug, punchable smirk.
I couldn’t have hidden how giddy I felt even if I wanted to.
The blush on her cheeks darkened from a delicate rose to an angry scarlet, but she regained her composure just as soon, straightening up and smoothing down her rumpled clothes.
Then, biting her lower lip, she gave me a death glare. “Are you done licking my face like a dog?”
For a Shadow to talk to its master like that was a treasonous offense.
But here, it was a laughable attempt at resetting the power imbalance by emasculating me. I could challenge her on this, but… where was the fun in that?
And truth be told, I enjoyed seeing her act so bratty.
“Sometimes I think you take advantage of the fact that I’d take this attitude only from you,” I grinned, then very politely stepped aside. “But yes. I’m done.”
I didn’t get any witty replies.
Juliana practically marched out of the kitchen. If her steps were a little too hurried and her spine was a little too straight, then I must’ve just imagined it.
Once she was gone, I started fixing myself a much-needed drink, consciously choosing to ignore how fast my heart was beating.
I also ignored the stupid smile plastered on my face that I caught in the faint reflection of a glass cabinet. Though it was soon wiped clean when my phone pinged.
I took it out and checked to see it was a text from Ivan.
Apparently, he was presently in the Grand Coliseum. And after a lovely chat with Willem, he had sworn his alliance to Thalia’s faction.
My spy was in position.
And with that, I was as prepared for the Mock War as I could ever be.