chapter Forty-Eight
Mimi
ingsley's sword was at her throat. "Why is this happening again?" he asked. "Why do we always seem to find ourselves here?"
"Destiny, I suppose," Mimi said, finally breaking her silence; though she knew it probably wasn't the time for joking around.
"You know I love you," he said.
"Do you? You're so in love with me you've been running around with half the girls in London?" she said with a raised eyebrow.
"They meant nothing - and I did nothing with them. I tried to forget you. God knows. I was mad. I tried to find something - anything - that would make me forget you. But no one could. I've been faithful, I swear. Appearances can be deceiving. You of all people should know that."
Mimi continued to glare at him even as she felt a tremendous sense of relief.
Kingsley brushed his sword on her skin like a caress. "And I know you love me. You told me that you'd love me no matter what, and I should remember that. So why are you trying to get me to forget that now?"
"Because this is how it has to end," she said.
"You know that's not what I want," he said, but Mimi could see doubt in his eyes. He didn't understand why she was doing this, and that was good. She needed to confuse him, to convince him that she was hateful.
He was better off without her. He'd have a chance at happiness, at a better life. He could find someone else, someone who wasn't so complicated, so difficult. Someone nice. That was a word no one would ever use to describe her.
Kingsley's sword hovered at her neck, then slashed at the collar of her blouse.
"Hey!" she cried. "Careful! It's Chanel!"
But his eyes were locked on the emerald stone sitting at the base of her throat.
"Is that what I think it is?" he said, horrified.
Lucifer's Bane. The Star of Heaven. A treasure more precious than the stars themselves. Given by the Morningstar to his dearest love.
"I told you, I am with him now," Mimi said. "He is my Dark Prince and master."