“About the things I see in tea leaves.” He waited, puzzled but attentive, which gave me the courage to go on. Had he not told mehisunlikely truth? “Sometimes what I see is the future.”
“You practice tasseography.”
The same word Mrs. Moyle had used. “I suppose I do, though I’d never done it purposely until recently. It just comes to me.”
“What have you seen?”
“The day Mr. Roscoe died—was killed—I saw a dagger and a magpie in the leaves in his teapot. I was worried about it. Even mentioned it to Mrs. Moyle. But I didn’t know what it meant. Then I found him on the road.”
While he considered this, I watched his face for signs of disbelief. “It sounds as if you have a gift.”
I gave a small shrug. “I think my mother may have secretly read tea leaves for people, for extra money. The day you came to The Magpie, I saw something inyourteapot as I was emptying it.” Which suggested that I hadn’t looked on purpose, when in fact I had.
“What was it?”
“A wolf’s head.” His expression tightened. “Then, this morning, I saw the same in my own cup.”
He looked truly grim now, and his voice was deeper as he said, “Your gift seems to be trying, without much success, to warn you about me.”
“Or maybe to warn us both about this other vampire.” His eyes narrowed, but I continued, “The stories about the Wolf of Roche Rock may have started because of your ancestors, but the people in the village are wrong to connect it withyou.”
“While thus far I’ve found all yourreasoningsound, I begin to worry about your judgment.”
I folded my hands on the table. “Mr. Tregarrick, from what you’ve told me, both you and your father have always taken great pains to avoid harming anyone.”
His thumb rubbed the chairback, his expression going cold as he replied, “You seem to have glossed over critical points in my story.”
In my memory, I hunted. I let the bloodlust take me. The thrill of it was terrifying.
Shifting in my seat, I said, “I understand what you are. At least, as well as I may. But do you want to know whatIthink?”
His nostrils made a tiny movement—a slight flexing. “By all means, Miss Penrose.”
I took a breath to steady my courage. “I think that you’re a lonely man with a good heart who’s living with an awful secret. A man who decided he didn’t want to prey on his fellow creatures and found another way. You also risked everything you’ve worked for your whole life to save a woman who is nothing to you.” I leaned forward. “And she’s not about to forget it. I’m not strong or especially clever, Mr. Tregarrick, but now that I know your secret, it may be that I can help you.”
He leaned forward, too, bracing himself against the chairback—and pinning me with his gaze. “What happened to you being afraid of me?”
Though my heart raced, I didn’t allow myself to shrink from him. “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? To frighten me so that I’d stay away. I’m not fool enough not to fear you, sir, but you didn’t abandon me whenyouwere afraid.”
I couldseehis fear now, darkening his eyes and hollowing his cheeks. Both hands gripped the chairback, so hard his knuckles went white. With a sudden loud crack, the chairback snapped, and I scooted quickly away from the table, upsetting my own chair as I jumped to my feet.
“Go home, Mina,” he growled, then strode toward the stairs.
Dismayed that I’d angered him—and by his sudden departure—I did something foolish. I reached out as he was passing and caught his sleeve.
He stopped cold, sucking in a hissing breath. I saw the tips of his wolf teeth against his bottom lip. I let go of him and drew back, not daring to breathe.
His head turned, his eyes meeting mine, and for a long moment, he just stared deep into me while my heart galloped. I fancied even my thoughts couldn’t hide from him.
In a blur of movement, his hand came suddenly to close over my arm, and he dragged me against him. I let out a cry of panic as his other arm came around my waist. I tried to free myself by shoving at his chest, but he might as well have been a carved slab of marble.
His fingers dug into the hair at my neck, and I heard pins falling to the floor as he tugged my head back. He bent over me, and I whimpered as his breath puffed cold and dry against my throat. Then he drew a long breath through his nose, and I felt a shiver run down the length of his body, hard against mine.
Before my lips could form a plea for mercy, I felt those glittering white points against my throat like the prick of needles. My limbs and belly went warm, liquid, and pooling. My heartbeat slowed, and my body began filling with the most delicious heat and light. My handsmelted limply to my sides. I drew in a long, shuddering breath and let it out again.
I had already closed my eyes and wanted nothing more than to sleep, yet a small part of me fought this surrender.
Wake, Mina!
