Everest’s gaze was locked on Sweyn.

I glanced around again then half turned so I was face-to-face with Everest. I pulled my knees up and leaned forward to block the view of that compartment. The crystal throne flashed. I frowned. The compartment snapped shut. I dove for it again when the ground rumbled beneath me. I grabbed my bag—Everest lifted me off the step, pressing my body to his chest then letting me slide down his chest until my toes hit the stone.

Sweyn’s throne and the entire top step began lowering into the ground.

My jaw dropped.

“Daylight is upon us,” Everest called out to the ballroom. “Take this ball to the salon.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

FRANKIE

The next thing I knew we were inside a room underground. This room was twice the size of mine with its own hearth on one wall and another wall lined with books. The sound of a lock clicking into place behind me made me turn but it was just Everest.

We were alone.

I rushed up to him, gripping the lapels of his coat as I pushed up on my tiptoes. His lips crashed against mine, his tongue plunging inside my mouth. I moaned — he pushed me back. His cheeks were flushed and his lips were already puffy. He shook his head, took my hand, then led me to the wall on the left. He knocked on the stone and a piece of the wall slid away. It was just like in the cliff wall outside our oasis. Before I could ask, he pulled me through the opening then closed it tight behind us.

The second we were drenched in darkness his lips found mine again. We both moaned. I gripped his coat, pulling him down onto me but gravity took over and we toppled over. Pain speared through my back and my hips as I hit stone stairs but the pain wasn’t enough to break this kiss. I didn’t have vampire sense of sight to see him in this dark room but I knew his body. I didn’t need my eyes for this. I licked the roof of his mouth as I shoved his coat off his shoulders and down his arms.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

“Lord Everest?” Someone yelled through his door, the main one to the hallway. “Everest?”

He growled a curse and pushed off me. I couldn’t see his face or what he was doing until that secret door slid open and light from the hearth flickered into this stone stairwell. He stopped in the doorway and looked me up and down then he pressed one finger to his lips. “Go upstairs and wait for me.”

Then the door slid shut and I was in the dark again.