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“If I wanted to murder you, there’d be no body to bury.”
“At least you’re honest,” she quipped, amusement riding heavy in her tone. “A consequence of your position or a personality trait?”
Taken aback, Isaiah frowned while his feet continued to tread over the dusty trail. Very few people questioned him about his inherent characteristics, and he’d seldom pondered the significance of such attributes.
Had he always been so blunt?
“Don’t hurt yourself, sparky,” Rukia’s voice called from behind him. “I can literally see the wheels turning in your head.”
Pausing on the path, he pivoted to lock eyes with her as she abruptly came to a stop to avoid running into him. “Am I so easily read, Elemental?”
The sly smirk that lined her lips was nothing if not telling. “Like a book.”
Isaiah scrutinized her, the corners of his eyes tightening judgmentally. This female, infuriating siren that she was, tore through his defenses like he was a hapless fool. He was entirely disarmed by her presence and yet covetous of her company with a necessity that ravaged him.
And she had no idea of her power over him.
The last time he’d been this powerless against another, he’d paid the price in blood. He’d laid utterly defenseless as a dagger speared into his flesh, through the taut muscle of his chest, and into the fragile tissues underneath. Blood had exploded on his tongue, iron filling his mouth as he gasped fruitlessly for air.
His death had been a near certainty.
Isaiah snapped back to the present with an imperceptible jerk. Spinning on his heel, he scowled over his shoulder and growled, “The stream’s up here.”
Chapter Fifteen
RukiagrimacedatIsaiah’srapid change in demeanor. One moment, he’d been fairly placid, almost companionable. In the next, he’d become gruff and severe, a literal mirror image of his previous disposition.
He was hiding something.
Frowning with the realization, she trotted to catch up to the Raeth who traveled the ascending hiking path with nimble agility. More than once on the hike, her eyes had betrayed her, leisurely assessing him from behind. He was built like a warrior; every muscle toned and rippling with good health. Beneath the soft black fabric of his t-shirt, she could clearly make out the well-defined structure of his masculine physique.
Absently, Rukia licked her lips.
Dropping her gaze, Rukia wondered if he’d ever read her thoughts. Though they didn’t flaunt the ability, strong telepaths could dive into the minds of others.
“Have you ever read my mind?”
“Yes.”
All at once, her fiery temper ignited at Isaiah’s bland one-word answer. Jolting to a stop, her lips pulled back in a feral sneer before she shrieked at him, “When?”
He kept walking, clearly unimpressed. “When I needed to.”
“That isn’t an answer!”
The Raeth continued moving forward, undaunted. Vision hazing a hostile red, she drew upon her abilities and gathered what little water the Utah air contained. In a juvenile display of outrage, she soundlessly maneuvered the water a foot above his head and let it loose.
It drenched him with a satisfying splash.
Isaiah’s now soggy form swiveled around to face her, and she fought against the insane urge to laugh at his ridiculously wet hair, incensed eyes, and outraged expression.
He must’ve seen it in her eyes.
The Raeth stalked toward her with a predatorial gait. Coming to stand less than a few inches from her, he straightened. Using his height as intimidation, and he peered down at her.
“You’re like a child.”
Rukia was undaunted. “Better a child than a man with a penchant for hurting people.”
