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“I’m not sure.” He wrapped his cloak more closely around his body. “None of them have enough power.”
“Could they have purchased the spell?”
“From whom? I could have made it, but I assure you that was not my work.”
“Someone just traveling through?” My voice faded as I became aware of his proximity.
He must have made the same realization. Only a few inches separated us, not as far as a foot apart. Once again, he looked at me, his cold, dark gaze penetrating the amber lenses. For several heart beats, neither of us spoke.
I licked my bottom lip and he tilted his head, as if curious about something. I thought about asking if he’d ever kissed someone or if he’d mind if I kissed him. One of us should say something. Anything.
“You are unusual, Vincent Fairchild. I didn’t intend to like you, yet I find I do.”
Though the nightmare spell still echoed around us, I smiled. “You’re not an easy man to like, yet I find I like you, too.”
His gaze was no longer cold. In fact, it was hot enough to make me sweat. I could not have looked away for any reason. I reached for his hand. His fingers were warm and strong, and I gathered my bravery, ready to ask for that kiss.
The light flashed again, catching me dead in the eye. I flinched, dropping his hand, and the tension between us fell away. I blinked hard, trying to force my eyes to adjust to the darkness. When my sight returned, Rafe was smiling. I laughed, and so did he.
Good Lord but he was handsome when he smiled.
His gaze drifted away from me and he clutched his cane, his knuckles turning white.
I exhaled slowly, wondering how far I dared go. “Thank you for breaking the spell on the handle.” Those weren’t the words I wanted to say, but they’d do for now.
“You’re welcome.” His faded smile hadn’t entirely disappeared. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to reset the protection wards.”
A-ha. “Itwasyou. I noticed a spell when we first arrived.”
He turned toward the window, shutting me out. “Yes.”
“I’ll leave you to it, then, though…I hope we can talk, soon.”
He nodded, his attention already on his next task. “Tomorrow.”
“Of course.” I clattered down the stairs, certain I’d hold him to that promise. By the time I left the tower, however, that certainty had turned to frustration. I should have asked him how he went about setting a protection spell and whether or not he possessed the Ferox Cor. I should have asked him if he’d ever kissed a man, or if he’d ever wanted to.
I should have asked him many things, but Rafe Gallagher, with all his rough edges and fearsome power, could damage me in more ways than one.
I’d save my questions for another day.
Chapter Twelve
“So.” I warmed my palms with a morning cup of coffee. “How do you think someone set a nightmare curse on the winding mechanism despite Rafe’s protection spell?”
For once, Margaret and I were alone in the kitchen. She’d poured my coffee after I’d filled her in on the conversation I’d had with Rafe. Most of it, anyway. I left out our mutual confession, although knowing that Rafe Gallagher found me appealing made me slightly giddy.
“I think…” She set the coffee pot back on the stove. “There aren’t too many possibilities. Either one of us set it, or there’s someone out there with more power than Rafe.”
I raised my mug in toast. “Which is saying something.”
“True. He might be the most powerful witch I’ve ever met.”
A wind gust sent a splatter of rain against the kitchen window. “My Lord does the sun ever shine? Can’t you conjure something.”
Margaret’s laugh was amused without offering any promise that she’d make good on my request. She tightened the woolen shawl around her shoulders. If I wouldn’t look ridiculous in a shawl, I’d have begged her to borrow the thing. The cold had settled so deep in my bones I wasn’t sure I’d ever warm back up.
“Have we established what Della’s gift is?” I asked, mainly as a distraction from my self-pity.
