There weren’t any other rooms to dodge into, and a wave of panic burst inside my chest. I pressed myself against the wall, blew out the flame in the lamp, and whispered an incantation.
One by one, the sconces winked out, leaving me in total darkness.
I held my breath as the figure crested the stairs and stopped on the landing. Whoever it was didn’t continue down the hallway—they just stood there, motionless. My mind flashed to the reflection of boots standing on the ice above me while I sank under the water. The same pressure built in my lungs as I remained still, afraid to take a breath in case even that whisper of a sound would alert the figure to my presence.
What are they waiting for?
The figure stepped closer until only a few feet separated us. I strained to see through the dark, certain he could hear my stuttering heart. Icy fear paralyzed my limbs.
Neither one of us moved.
Can he see me?
Maybe I still had the element of surprise? Strike first, and then run. Magic warmed my palms, and sparks ignited from my fingers. But before I could lift my arms, a soft laugh reached my ears, and the figure lurched, wrapping strong fingers around my wrist.
The lamp thumped against the floor, followed by the ledger tucked under my arm.
Hauled forward, I crashed into the solid wall of a man’s chest.
His rough voice filled my ears. “Did you think I wouldn’t find you?”
Chapter 12
Ashaky laugh burst from my lips at the sound of Derrick’s voice, but the relief was short-lived by the harshness in his tone. I cringed, thankful for the darkness that must be hiding his furious glare.
His tension seethed as he backed me against the wall, trapping me with his body. “Light the lamp, Tessa.”
“Um…actually, I prefer the dark. You’re less angry in the dark.”
“No, I’m not. I’m the same level of angry either way. Getting angrier.”
I flicked my wrist and whispered the spell. Above our heads, a wall sconce flared to life. The flame cast shadows over Derrick’s features, highlighting the sharp angles and revealing the tic in his jaw.
“You weren’t kidding about being less angry. Now, before you say anything—”
“Do you know what it’s like, Tessa?”
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. “The way you keep saying my name like that is alarming.”
Derrick’s gaze hardened. “I’m alarming you?” He bristled, muscles quivering, as he tried to regain control. “Do you have any idea what went through my mind when I went to check on you and found the storage room empty? There’s a damn killer in this house! A woman was bludgeoned to death, and you’ve been shot at and nearly drowned. Then you have the nerve to go missing?”
My mouth opened, but I struggled to find the right words. Remorse made my chest tight. If the situation had been reversed, I would have lost my mind too.
“You see, what happened was, Edward…” I faltered when Derrick’s brow rose, and his scowl deepened. A different approach was needed—something more nuanced and tactful. “What I mean to say is—and I should have started with this—I’m sorry for going off on my own and scaring you.”
Derrick relaxed his jaw. “It’s a start. A small one.”
“See?” I trailed my finger along his collarbone, noting the way his gaze dipped to my mouth—a tactic I knew as distraction. “I can admit when my actions may be slightly impulsive. I can even appreciate how wandering around in the dark with a homicidal maniac in the vicinity isn’t ideal. But—”
Okay, I was losing him. The frown had returned.
Time to switch tactics.
I crossed my arms, bumping my elbows against his chest, and returned his glare. He held his ground, but so did I.
“Derrick, your family thinks I’m a murderer. A bloody killer, for cursed sake! It doesn’t get worse than that.”
“Tessa—”
