“She’s mine.”
“Myrtha wouldn’t?—”
“Myrtha does what I ask, so should you.”
They stared at each other without moving, not even their chests lifted, until Logan turned around slowly and walked away.
I didn’t relax though. Far from it.
The dark-haired one loomed over me. He gave me a long glance, and his throat muscles worked. “Did Logan hurt you?”
I staggered to my feet and leant against the wall.
His black shirt and waistcoat fit snugly across his shoulders. One of his fists was big enough to break my head in two. Yet an odd pull tugged at my chest, and a sense of safety suffused me. I wasn’t going to trust it though. He might be a wizard, capable of charming me.
He didn’t come close, but his eyes changed from obsidian to a striking silver-grey colour, his build became a little smaller, and his teeth shortened.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
I moved towards my bedroom, even though the tug in my chest drew me to him.
Footsteps approached, and Myrtha arrived in a flutter of white silk and glowing light.
“You’re frightening her, Ravenhill.” She shielded me.
He looked hurt. “I want to talk to her alone.”
The air was thick with Myrtha’s energy. It pressed against my skin like a heavy blanket, but if it bothered him, he didn’t show it.
He ignored the glow. “Irene, it’s me, Alex. Alexander Hart.”
A shock of stillness went through me. Once more, the wordsnot possibleechoed in my mind.
“You know her.” Myrtha’s radiance brightened to the point I had to gaze away from it. “That’s why you wanted her to be yours.”
I straightened. “You aren’t Alex. Alex is dead, and you’re taller than he was.”
Alex’s lines had been fine and smooth. This man’s face was all rough angles.
“I can explain.” He stretched out an arm towards the other side of the corridor. “Myrtha, leave.”
She didn’t move although her attitude lacked confidence.
“Would you like to talk to me, Irene?” He put a gloved hand on his chest. “I promise I won’t hurt you, and it won’t take long.”
I checked his aura. None. “You don’t have an aura.”
“I’m not…alive.” He paused. “The right term is undead, not dead, nor alive.”
The world tilted. I put a hand on my forehead as the floor lifted. There was a limit to the oddities I could deal with in a day.
Myrtha helped me stay up and led me to the bed. “You don’t have to talk to anyone.”
But he claimed to be Alex, and aside from his eyes, I didn’t find his features familiar. “I want to talk to him.”
He followed at a distance. “Thank you, Irene.”
“I’ll be close by.” Myrtha shot him a concerned gaze before walking out.
