Ever After by Kate Serine Read Free Book Online

She leaned against the edge, bracing herself with her arms in such a way that accentuated her breasts, squeezing them together beneath the thin material of her blouse and lifting them up to be admired.
    â€œAre you sure about that?” she purred. “It’s still early. Why not join me for breakfast?” She arched a brow at me. “Or dinner.”
    I didn’t even bother sensing her out to get at her ulterior motives for the invitation. There was no mistaking what she wanted. The story the Ordinaries told of Guinevere’s marriage to Arthur, her affair with Lancelot, and all of the variations thereof, paled in comparison to the truth as known to the Tales. Guinevere had been one of the most sought after women in Make Believe. And I suppose she was beautiful in the classical fairytale sense. She was fair, angelic, her features in perfect harmony, creating a true vision of loveliness. She was what every man should desire.
    But while I could see how some would be tempted by her and no doubt I would’ve found her a most willing partner in my bed, I found her beauty decidedly lacking in character. To me, she was neither enchanting nor captivating. There was nothing fascinating about her features, nothing remarkable or unique, and certainly nothing to entice me to follow her lead. Still, I would have to have been a eunuch not to appreciate what she was offering—and even then, it wouldn’t have been totally out of the question. But my reaction was a purely physical one, and not one I was inclined to indulge at the moment.
    I longed only for a pair of mischievous dark eyes and an impish smile that held a promise of adventure and danger and the sweetest love a man could hope for. And Guinevere possessed none of those. “Perhaps another time.”
    From the offended glint that came into her eyes, it was clear Guinevere was not the sort of woman who was used to having her advances ignored, even in the Here and Now. “You may not find my schedule so accommodating again.”
    I offered a polite incline of my head. “A risk I must accept. Good day.”
    I didn’t wait to gauge her reaction before I strode from her office and back through the museum to the gallery of medieval antiquities. Now that I knew their history, I made another pass at the case from which Arthur’s items had vanished. I frowned at the empty pedestals, curious why the thief hadn’t also taken the more valuable pieces. If he’d made it this far without detection, why stop with a few baubles?
    As I puzzled over the crime, I felt that familiar sensation of being watched again. My head snapped up, my eyes searching all the faces in the crowd. No Tales in sight. Not one.
    Then I caught sight of a woman in a red dress, black tights, and biker boots heading for the gallery exit, her face hidden by the gray hood of the hoodie she wore beneath her denim jacket. And in that quick glimpse, I saw it—just a hint of a Tale signature, the faint aura that surrounded each of us, identifying us to one another. Hers was pale, faltering, but it was there.
    I cursed the number of Ordinaries present in the blasted museum, preventing me from shifting to intercept my observer as I quickened my pace to catch up to her. Looked like I was going to have to do it the old-fashioned way.
    Based on the circuitous route she took, passing through the various galleries, winding her way through fountains and statuary without pausing to admire a single one, it was clear she knew she was being followed. But I kept my distance, always just a few yards behind, waiting for the opportunity to intercept her and find out who the hell she was and why she’d been watching me.
    When we eventually came to the Great Hall, she cast a quick glance over her shoulder then bolted toward the exit, surprising me with her sudden burst of speed. I took off after her, losing sight of her for a few seconds until I saw her racing down the stone steps