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“He has no need to come back.” His touch left me as soon as I stepped onto the path, but the heat of it lingered, a mocking reminder of our altogether too brief kiss. “He’ll know Mason is now beyond his reach the moment he wakes.”
“I suspect he’s not going to be pleased.”
“I suspect you’re right.”
In the fading light, his hair glinted with silver, but the stubble lining his chin was dark enough to look black. It was an odd but rather nice combination.
You need to give up denying you’re attracted to the man, Belle commented. Because you’re certainly not fooling anyone. Not even your own hormones.
Okay, so I’m attracted. Admitting it doesn’t change the situation, Belle.
Give him time and space, and you just never know.
Except that I do know.
I could almost see her frown. You didn’t mention another dream.
Because I didn’t have another one. It’s just intuition.
Your intuition has been wrong on occasion.
But not often.
No. She paused. Still, I live in hope that in this case, it is.
The foolish part of me that never seemed to tire of having my heart broken secretly hoped the same thing. But there was no point in voicing a desire the universe and the man seemed determined to ignore.
We reached the rough road and made our way back to the district’s heart. By the time we reached the café, darkness had fallen and weariness had settled into my bones, making every step an effort.
“Would you like to come in for something to eat?” I dug the keys out of the backpack and opened the door.
He shook his head. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m dead on my feet.” He hesitated, and grimaced. “And that is a saying that will never again seem so harmless.”
“No.” I touched his arm lightly. Anger and horror still vibrated through him, even if its force was more muted. Whether that was due to control or sheer tiredness, I couldn’t say. “Thanks for saving my butt today. If you hadn’t caught me—”
“I did, so don’t even think about what-ifs.” He raised a hand and lightly brushed something from my cheek. Whether it was debris or merely an excuse to touch me, however briefly, I didn’t know and didn’t care. “Get some rest, because it’s totally possible we might have to call on your services again tonight.”
“For both our sakes, I hope not.” I hesitated. “Night, Aiden.”
“Night.” He dropped his hand, but his fingers, I noted, were clenched.
I went inside. By the time I’d turned to lock the door, he was gone. I placed the watch and Belle’s knife back into their compartments, but left the rest of the items in the pack. I could deal with them tomorrow, when I had more energy.
“Grab a shower,” Belle said, as I wearily climbed the stairs. “I’ll heat some lasagna for you when you’re done.”
The hot water washed the grime and the smell of death from my skin, and went some way to easing the ache in my muscles. But no matter how long I stood under the stream of water, my face raised and my eyes closed, it didn’t wash away the memory of Mason’s empty, broken face, or the stump that had remained once Aiden had finished firing. I eventually gave up and got out.
“Dinner is ready,” Belle said, retrieving the plate from the microwave as I walked out wrapped in towels. “I’ve also made a pot of ginseng tea.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed a tea towel before accepting the hot plate, then moved across to the couch. “Are you going out tonight?”
“No, I told you that this afternoon.” She raised an eyebrow and sat next to me. “Have you forgotten the full moon and the bloodstone?”
I swore and scrubbed a hand across my eyes. “Aiden obviously did, too.”
“I’m not entirely surprised, given this afternoon’s events.” She began pouring the tea. The sweet scent of licorice root drifted through the earthy, woody aroma of the ginseng—a combination designed to boost strength and help relieve pain and stress. “I feel sorry for Mason’s parents. This travesty will hit them hard.”
“They may never know.” I scooped up a mouthful of lasagna. “Aiden has them holed up at a safe house somewhere under full watch. He could very easily arrange for Mason to be reburied before he releases them.”
