“I prefer to hear the news from Celeste. She can make direct contact with him.”
Marcus sighed. “Fine. Now run along, Celeste,” he said, shooing her away with his hand.
Celeste said her final good night to Celine and disappeared up the stairs. Marcus and Celine were left alone to finish their conversation.
“There are several things we need to discuss,” Marcus said, once they were alone.
“Such as?”
“The arrangements of our next steps.”
“I leave those arrangements to you, Marcus. I can do nothing in here. Unless you can be persuaded to allow me out.”
Marcus smirked at her. “I admire your tenacity, Celine, but be careful not to push me too far.”
“Then you wouldn’t have to provide updates on my family. I could check for myself.”
Marcus shook his head at her. “What is it that you find so alluring about Grayson Buckley? For centuries I have pondered this question and cannot conceive of a suitable answer.”
Celine chuckled. “There are some things, Marcus, you will never understand even if I explained them to you.”
“I suppose it no longer matters. He is no longer any concern of ours,” Marcus admitted. “Well, I shall leave you, my dear. I have many things to attend to.”
“Good night, Marcus.”
“Good night, dear Celine.” He strode off, disappearing up the stairs.
Celine was left alone with her musings again. She pondered his last question to her, recalling the first moments she met Grayson Buckley. She closed her eyes, immersing herself in that memory from over two hundred years ago. She attended a ball at the governor’s mansion, a party given by the governor whom her father had preceded. Escorted by her fiancé of over two years, Marcus, and her sister and brother-in-law, she arrived expecting another tedious night. She had succeeded in postponing their marriage thus far, but the day she dreaded drew nearer and nearer. However, this night would change her life forever.
The governor’s wife introduced her to Grayson and his cousin, Alexander, traveling from the states on business. She recalled the moment her eyes met Gray’s. Stormy blue, his eyes gazed at her with great interest. The touch of their hands had brought such comfort to her.
They spent a large part of the evening stealing glances from across the room until he asked her to join him in a dance. To this point in her life, Celine had never entertained the idea of falling in love. But she had the moment she met Grayson Buckley. She smiled as she recalled twirling around the dance floor with him.
He used the dance to pass her a note, asking her to meet him outside. Celine had gone without hesitation. Much to her surprise, Grayson had not asked her to meet in the moonlight to whisper sweet nothings into her ear. Grayson, like her, was involved with the supernatural, a warlock. He assured her there was another side to their existence. One not born out of darkness but aligned with the light. He claimed together they could fight the darkness. The proposition intrigued Celine, who wished to escape her existence tied to Marcus Northcott and his evil desires.
After explaining his role in the supernatural realm, Grayson asked to see her again. “I will consider what you have told me carefully, Mr. Buckley,” Celine answered as moonlight cascaded around her.
“Please, Miss Devereaux,” Grayson beseeched her, “our supernatural similarities aside, I must see you again.”
“Oh?” Celine questioned.
“I have never met a woman like you, Celine Devereaux.”
“I can’t imagine there are many of us in existence, no,” Celine admitted.
“It’s beyond that, Celine. You are captivating. Please, I must see you again.”
His interest in her was clear. As was hers in him. She agreed to a clandestine meeting with him before returning to the ballroom.
Her absence as well as Grayson’s attentions did not escape Marcus’ notice. They would argue about it when they returned to her sister’s home. Marcus would forbid her from seeing Grayson Buckley again, not that it would do any good. Celine would go on to meet with Grayson multiple times under a shroud of secrecy, infuriating Marcus.
“I will not be played a fool, Celine,” Marcus told her. “You will end your liaisons with Grayson Buckley, or I shall end them for you.”
But Celine was not a woman easily contained. She had her own mind and a host of amazing skills that allowed her to abscond into the night to meet with Grayson. Their mutual love for each other grew and their bond became unbreakable.
She smiled as she recalled those moonlit nights in Martinique. She remembered their immediate connection, his affectionate glances, how his hand held hers, how tender he was caressing her face as they kissed. She longed to be with him again. She would be, she vowed. Their connection was unbreakable. They would be together again.
Damien awoke the following morning feeling rested but groggy. Alexander read a book in the armchair across the room. “Good morning,” Damien said, yawning.
“Good morning!” Alexander answered, clapping his book shut. “How do you feel?”
“Okay,” Damien answered. “Groggy but rested.”
“That’s good.”
“Did you and Gray make any headway with your adjudicator visit last night?” Damien inquired.
“Unfortunately not,” Alexander answered. “It confirmed Marcus’ return but had no other information to offer.”
“Damn,” Damien cursed.
“Not to worry, I’m not convinced that information helps us in any way.”
“Still, it may have. If we can locate the Duke, perhaps he’ll lead us to Celine.”
“Doubtful. He’s a careful man. However, if he doesn’t realize he’s been found out, he may have been less cautious.”
“Can’t anything go right for us?” Damien grumbled, throwing his arms in the air.
Alexander chuckled. “Often in these cases, they do not. But let’s consider the bright side. We have a connection with Celine.”
Damien nodded. “Perhaps Gray should have asked if the adjudicator spotted Celine in Shadow World,” Damien suggested.
“No. Alerting the adjudicators that you and Celine are using Shadow World as a conduit for conversations isn’t wise. We don’t need them lurking around in search of you in
