The League of Illusion: Destiny by Vivi Anna Read Free Book Online Page A

other ways as well.” She smiled at him from under the hood of her eyelashes.
    His eyes widened at that and he pulled hand away. “Drea, I’m not sure why you’re telling me this but...”
    She jumped to her feet and came around the table. “I’m a good woman, Sebastian.”
    “I have no doubt that you are.”
    She pressed her fingers to his lips, then settled herself on his lap. “Aren’t I pretty?”
    “Yes, you’re very pretty. Beautiful even.”
    She flushed, his compliment making her hot inside.
    “But do you not see? I’m no good for you. We can’t be together.”
    She frowned. “Why not? Is it because of Edward? I already told you twice I wasn’t going to marry him. That he means nothing to me.”
    “It’s not that, Drea. Well, maybe it is a little bit of that, but it’s that...I’ll be leaving.”
    “Now?”
    “Not now, obviously, but eventually. If a portal did indeed open, then that means my brother has come. And when we find each other we’ll be looking for another portal to leave through. I will eventually be going home.”
    In an effort to show him what he’d be missing, she grabbed his head and pressed her lips to his. What she didn’t expect was the instant jolt of pleasure that pierced her body. She’d kissed other boys—three, to be exact—but nothing had prepared her for the utter thrill of kissing Sebastian.
    His lips were surprisingly soft beneath hers. The taste of him filled her. A pleasant mixture of the stew they’d just eaten and wildness, a flavor she could only describe as magic.
    He didn’t deepen the kiss but he didn’t pull away either, so it afforded Drea an opportunity to sample him further. She opened her mouth a little and nipped on his full bottom lip, and that was when he pulled back.
    “Drea, don’t do this. You’re better than this.”
    She stood. “I can’t believe I kissed you.” She had every intention of stomping away and going upstairs to one of the rooms to sleep off the tipsy feeling, but she stumbled sideways and nearly fell. If it hadn’t been for Sebastian’s quick hands, she would have.
    With hardly any effort at all, he carried her up the stairs to one of the vacant rooms. It would’ve been as black as pitch up there if it hadn’t been for the lightning flashing now and then illuminating the way.
    He laid her on the bed, found a blanket and spread it over her. She sighed in pleasure at him tucking her in. He’d done this even after she made a fool of herself. He was the gentlest soul she’d ever met.
    “Get some sleep. We’ll find our way tomorrow.” He turned to leave.
    “Who’s Evangeline?” She hadn’t meant to ask, but the mead and lack of sleep had made her extremely loose-lipped.
    Sebastian stopped but didn’t turn around. “Where did you hear that name?”
    “You were mumbling it in your sleep.” In the flashing light she could see the tension in his shoulders and back. “She must be very important to you.”
    Slowly he turned. “She was.”
    “She’s back where you came from? This London?”
    “She’s dead.”
    “Oh Sebastian, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.” She’d asked selfishly about the woman and seeing the pain on his face made her ashamed. The healer in her wanted to soothe it away. She’d healed his body, now she wished to heal his heart, if only he’d let her.
    She reached out a hand toward him, afraid he wouldn’t take it.
    But he did. And she pulled him toward the bed, shuffling aside to make room for him. He sat beside her and she continued to hold his hand.
    “Did you love her?”
    “Yes,” he said, “but not romantically. Everyone thought we were lovers but we weren’t. She was my closest friend.”
    Drea didn’t know what to do—she could tell it was painful for him to talk about, but she sensed deep inside that he needed to talk about it. Maybe he’d never had a chance to.
    “How did she die?”
    He closed his eyes and his hand tensed in hers. “I killed her.”

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