Read The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker for Free Online Page A

to learn.”
    “I’ve much to teach,” Alexi murmured, his tone indicating not the Grand Work but instead something far more intimate. He seized her in an eager, questing kiss. Gasping with pleasure, she drew back. His eyes widened as her thin gown gaped open. The phoenix pendant around her neck dangled in the air between them, but the item of recent keen prophetic interest was overshadowed by bare skin.
    His gaze might have set the room on fire—literally—had Percy not righted herself, her entire body flushing with rosy-patched colour. “P-perhaps I’d best dress myself.”
    “Yes, yes.” He turned away, clenching his fists in the bedclothes as she rose and moved to the side of the room. “But I’ve gone a lifetime waiting. I shan’t wait much longer.”
    Percy turned to him, her hand on an ornate oriental dressing screen. She smiled, cultivating a never-before-used quality, the feminine wile. “I should hope it won’t be long, Professor, else our tutorials in your office shall take an entirely distinct turn.” His subsequent growl informed her he could well imagine it.
    She dressed herself as Alexi attempted to straighten his appearance. The best he could do was retie his cravat, adjust his shirtsleeves and smooth his waistcoat and hair. She glanced over the top of the dressing screen to find him, to herdelight, straining to catch a glimpse of her profile, his attempt to be a gentleman failing.
    Emerging in a layered, lace-trimmed muslin dress of her favourite light blue, she felt positively regal but unfinished. “Would you clasp the buttons up my back? I’m not used to such elegant trappings that require aid,” she admitted, breathless as he approached with smoldering eyes. Life with Alexi might make the mottled blush upon her cheeks a veritable tattoo.
    He clasped each pearl button slowly. As his fingers fumbled over the last, at the nape of her neck, his hands trespassed up into her snowy hair. He pulled her against him and mused, “I wonder if Science is disappointed in me. Reason and moderation fly when my hand encounters you.” Clearing his throat, he continued, affecting his instructor’s voice surely as much for his sake as hers, “Miss Parker, now you must pull yourself together. My fellows expect much of you. And me. Hide your beguiling eyes, for if I show evidence of distraction Lord Elijah Withersby for one will never let the matter alone. I’m sure they’re all heartily gossiping as we speak.”
    And yet they dallied and perhaps would have again lost track of time, reason and moderation, had Lord Withersby the Deceased not swept screaming again through the wall. Percy whirled to him with a firm look and a finger to her lips, shooing him off.
    “To be insufferable, I see, runs in the Withersby bloodline,” Alexi muttered, placing Percy’s arm in his. “Shall we to breakfast, love?”
    As they were about to leave the room, Percy noticed a colourful scarf upon a brass peg. She slid it through her fingers unconsciously, moving to wrap it around her head; such a habit it was, to hide her pearlescent hair and pallor from full view.
    Alexi caught her hands in his. “Miss Parker.” His voice was stern, as though she were in one of his tutorials again.“I would not allow you your shields whilst in my office at Athens. What gives you the notion you would be permitted to hide now?” He sensuously slid the scarf from her neck, kissing her white throat. Percy’s knees and breath gave way in a swoon and she steadied herself upon him. Smirking with a delighted haughtiness, Alexi recaptured her hand. “Come now. A mysterious group awaits us in the parlour below. You’ll be privy to incredible secrets known only to six people within the whole of London, but that the whole of London depends on. Welcome to The Guard, Miss Parker.”
    Alexi and Percy descended the mahogany staircase, and the waiting company fell silent. On the arm of their leader who, despite the fact that his attire was not at