Page 29 of Tragic Ink
He responded by pulling me closer, his hands roaming everywhere before slipping underneath my shirt. I panted against him, arching into his palm as he cupped mybreast.
Outside, a hawk called sharply, and we both wentstill.
My shoulders sagged as Rhys eased me away. He rose and went to the window. I followed reluctantly, adjusting my shirt and bra and then running a hand through my hair, which was probably already anightmare.
“Is he okay?” Rhys asked, throwing the window open and peering out into the nightsky.
“He’s fine,” I said wryly, bracing myself against the gust of cold air that blew in. “Just letting us know it’s allclear.”
Rhys turned back to me, his confusion melting into amusement. “He can sense us...? I mean, he knew wewere...”
“He’s my familiar. I see through his eyes, and sometimes he sees throughmine.”
“I see.” Rhys smiled mischievously. “No punintended.”
“Funny.”
“You should call him back before the sun comes up,” Rhys said, and I nodded, knowing he was right, but wishing Ethan had kept his mouth shut for a while longer. I still wasn’t entirely ready to trust Rhys, but I couldn’t deny how badly I wanted totry.
“And when the sun does come up?” I asked, already sticking my arm out the window to call Ethan back tome.
“We’ll pay a visit to a friend at the Court,” he said. “See what we can uncover about Ada. And the deputy. And figure out where to look next.” He turned and began building a fire in the cold hearth near thecouch.
I called Ethan back to me and then sank onto the soft couch as the fire crackled to life. We sat in silence for a few minutes, finishing our beers. When mine was empty, I leaned my head back against the soft leather. Between the warmth of the flames and the crackle of the wood, I couldn’t keep my eyesopen.
Soon, Idrifted.
I woke to the jostle of being lifted by a pair of strong arms. When I opened my eyes and saw Rhys staring down at me in the firelight, I protested against his firm grip. “I can walk,” Iinsisted.
“You looked so peaceful. And tired,” he said quietly. The firelight danced strangely over his features. “Let me carryyou.”
Struck by the hard planes and strong lines, I looked away and let him carry me to the spare room without further argument. He tucked me into bed with gentle hands that contradicted his sharp edges, and didn’t help the pitter-patter of my traitor heart. When he was gone, I tried not to register the disappointment that he hadn’t carried me to his bedinstead.
* * *
Iwoketo the smell of coffee and the sense that I wasn’t alone. When I rolled over, my breath caught, and I gasped. Rhys jumped back, nearly spilling the coffee he’d just set on the nightstand. I blew out a breath, clutching my chest and willing my pulse to steady as I sat up. “Shit. You scaredme.”
“Sorry. I wanted to offer caffeine before I started overloading you withinformation.”
“What time is it?” I asked, inching toward the steaming mug and trying to blink the rest of the exhaustionaway.
“Almostten.”
“In the morning?” Isquawked.
Rhys winced. “My contact called me back a few minutes ago, and I think we should meet with a couple of people today. I didn’t want to wait too long to getmoving.”
“Why? Who? What did he say?” I grabbed the mug and took a sip, mostly so I could comprehend whatever details he was about togive.
Rhys hesitated. “Take another sip of coffeefirst.”
“Rhys,” I warned, irritable and wary. “Tellme.”
He didn’t respond, and finally I took a large gulp of coffee. Then I raised my brows. “Now tell me,” Isaid.
“They found Walter’s body thismorning.”
“What?” It was the last thing I’d expected, and for that reason, it confused me more than upset me. For about five seconds. Then my eyes stung with tears that I blinked back. In an effort to hold it together, I gulped more coffee. “How did hedie?”
