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The awareness that she was there, just within reach, wreaked another wave of havoc on his system, one he disliked as much as the first one. His cock didn’t get the memo, morning wood cheerfully staring him in the eye and complicating the process of pulling his pants up. But he managed not to make a fool of himself as he directed his thoughts elsewhere—particularly last night, which his mind was stubbornly trying to elude.
What happened after the hit and the pain? After the shadow attacked him and he blacked out? Before Pearl and her friend Moon found him? Everything was a myriad of broken images, but he did remember following the shadow at some point. He also remembered the sight of his house and Pearl by his side, her body a soft cavern and her voice a haven.
“I still can’t remember anything,” he announced. “Should we track down your potion?”
“When I said I lost the trail, I meant I lost the potion trail. It just shut off. It’s supposed to last longer than that.”
He turned back around. So did she.
“So, it’s gone?”
“I can make a new one, but it might have the same effect. I need to alter the potion or try a different approach.”
Which meant they were back to square one. When Pearl ambled out of his bedroom, he followed her.
“Martin reported the incident to Gunther and your brother did an inventory very early in the morning,” she continued, her voice revealing nothing of her opinion of his brother. “You’re missing a few more gemstones and another sculpture.”
“And the shadow?”
“Gone. Any traces of it disappeared as soon as the potion shut off.”
“But it was there when you and Moon were there.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t follow it?”
“I was taking care of you.”
“That wasn’t part of your job. Your job was to track it down and finish your task. You should have done that.”
She halted in her tracks and spun to face him, her mouth dropping open. Belatedly, it sank in that there were bags under her eyes and she probably hadn’t slept while trying to see to his condition. Despite the calm façade, she was also in a temper, and he suspected that had a lot to do with his early morning visitor.
“I’m sorry if I value life more than some missing gemstones and a sculpture. It’s not like Gunther bragged about how he could easily duplicate that sculpture to placate your kin because apparently, news of those missing items is a matter of life and death.”
“With our reputation, it might as well be.”
She lifted her chin. “Well, you don’t have to worry about that because Ruby’s on the case. She’s better than me when it comes to tracking stuff without potions and she’s checking out the forest patches we went to as we speak.”
“You shared the issue with your sister?” he blurted out.
“I described the shadow to her without telling her what it was and how it was connected to you and your family.”
“Oh. Okay—”
Seconds later, she was in his face, a cool mask of fury that wanted to erupt.
“And I don’t know how many times I have to remind you that I’m a professional and so is my sister. We wouldn’t share what would be perceived as your weakness just for shits and giggles. If I ask her to do something, she does it because she wants to help me. There are no political or manipulative strings attached.”
“I’m sorry—”
“She’s not the villain, either—”
“Pearl.” His hand wrapped around her elbow, willing her to listen. The touch startled her enough that she did stop her rant and looked up at him. “I don’t think Ruby’s any kind of villain. Please thank her for her help.”
Silence. Her tension-coiled shoulders relaxed. “I will.”
When she didn’t move, neither did he. He studied the dark circles on her face again.
