A Forbidden Alchemy (The Artisan Trilogy)

by Stacey McEwan

I found it difficult to sympathize with those who seemed to take twisted pleasure in their own misery. Ma used to say it was one thing to be down, and quite another to dig yourself a grave.

I agree with this too much it seems

A sat beside a girl named Polly Prescott.

Typo?

“You are very young. Perhaps too young to imagine what happens when the means for destruction is placed in the wrong hands.

“We only know of history what is recorded. And records are easily lost or rewritten.

He chuckled dully. Lit another cigarette. Released the smoke into the sky. “You wouldn’t hurt me, Nina Harrow,” he said. “We know too much about each other. Don’t we?”

SCREAMING

Her glare burrowed deep and clung on, and Patrick was glad. It gave him permission to stare back. So he stared for as long as he liked.

Lord, those hazel eyes sank deep into a man’s skin.

Lord, he’d hoped she hadn’t grown to be beautiful.

Daww

“And did you ever think of me?” The coin lay forgotten.

“You haven’t mentioned why I can’t take your side,” I told him, stepping intentionally across the boundary he’d created. I wanted his insides to flinch in my presence as mine did in his, and I got my wish. His nostrils flared; a fire lit behind his eyes. He suddenly looked starved.

“Bloody hell. She’s a beauty, ain’t she? I can tell. Guess I’ve already blown me chances.” Patrick nodded, upending yet another glass of amber liquor to his lips. “Aye,” he rasped, not looking my way. “I’m afraid she is.”

Rather, our eyes caught on each other’s, and there was a long pause. Prismatic blue shifted, melted. A jump along his jaw. I wondered if there was something in his middle that cracked and spilled out, as it did in mine.

Giggle *twirls hair*

Patrick stood close by with a strange expression; his jaw fastened, eyes flashing.

I tried to put on a frown, but I was a slave to my thundering blood. “Am I not permitted to dance with anyone else?” He looked over my head, eyes surveying the crowd. “If you want to, you can dance with all of them. Lord knows every man in here is imaginin’ it.” I scoffed. “You can’t know the thoughts of every—” “Their eyes’ve been following you since you walked in. You’re gonna get them in trouble with their wives.” I blushed fiercely. “They have not.” “They have.”

“You’re too beautiful to be real,” he said suddenly, softly. With my ear pressed to his chest, I could feel the words, too. “There’s your compliment.”

NOW I'M BLUSHING. Giiiirl if you don't get that man!