possessed you to wear such a ridiculous gown?” he asked. “How in the bloody hell did you think you’d be able to fight a vampire in that? Or did you think they might stay home tonight, merely because you wished to attend a masquerade ball?”
Victoria lifted her chin, infuriated despite the fact that she had already bemoaned the fact herself. “I don’t see any vampires about, so apparently I managed the task just fine.”
“You very nearly didn’t. That one nearly had you over the chair.”
“But I did. No thanks to you,” she added, realizing that he must have been standing there, watching, as she and her skirts battled three undead on her own. Blasted arrogant man.
Victoria suddenly realized Phillip must have long been waiting for her, and she shoved the stake back into its little hiding place. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, starting toward the doorway blocked by Max.
“Ah, yes, waltzes and walks in the moonlight await. I do hope you enjoy your evening,” he said. He stepped back to allow her to brush past, her gown catching for a moment before she made it through. “And, for the sake of the guests here, that no other undead manages to breach the party.”
“Good night.” Her teeth gritted so hard her jaw hurt as she hurried along the corridor back to the foyer.
When she arrived, there was Phillip, waiting for her, holding a much-needed cup of lemonade.
“Ah, there you are,” he said, his attention scoring over her in a way that made her face heat up. “Whatever happened to your mask?”
She looked up at him. “It’s nearly midnight. And,” she added, sweeping her lashes down demurely, “I thought it might get in the way.”
Phillip pulled off his mask, then slipped his arm through hers, lining her next to his tall body. “Indeed it might,” he said. Then, pausing, he reached out to brush something from her shoulder. “Wherever did you get so dusty all of a sudden?”
Victoria smelled the mustiness of undead ash and looked up at him. “I stumbled into the wrong chamber, and stirred up a bit of dust,” she explained, smiling up in delight at the expression on his face.
“Indeed?” he replied, his hooded eyes dark and seductive. “Well, I certainly hope that stirring up dust doesn’t become too much of a habit.”
Victoria merely smiled. Little did he know.
