Page 80 of Tales of a Monstrous Heart
‘That won’t be necessary,’ Emrys interjected.
‘I insist. Poor Mr Roydon needs his rest and it’s the least we can offer as an apology for this misunderstanding. In fact, you can stay as long as you’d like. Surely being in comfort while you investigate such horrid claims is for the best.’
Guest rooms? My focus darted to Emrys, a panic rising in my chest, but he wasn’t looking at me. No, he was straight backed and cold faced, considering the lord as if they were at a dinner discussing current affairs.
‘Of course,’ Emrys relented, although there was a stiffness to his words that told me there was no point in protesting.
‘That settles it then.’ Fairfax grinned, turning his attention to me. ‘A pleasure to meet you, Miss Woodrow.’
I should have said something, but I was still struggling with my disbelief. Emrys couldn’t mean we were staying here.
‘Come, Jonathan,’ Lord Fairfax ordered as he left.
Lord Percy muttered under his breath as he stormed from the room after his elderly uncle.
‘I’m sorry Emrys’ we—’ William began, looking like he wished the ground would swallow him up as the door closed behind us. But I wasn’t in the mood for grovelling.
‘Is Alma all right?’ I demanded, remaining in my chair as Emrys’s attention focused on me.
‘I don’t think you’re the one who should be asking questions,’ he replied coldly, still a threatening figure as he pulled off his coat, letting it drop heavily to the floor as the fire struggled to overcome his arrival. The fabric of his shirt was plastered to his forearms, showing the definition of his biceps and the scars that covered them.
‘Don’t be too cross with her, Emrys, she’s only just been able to wake up,’ William threw in, trying to be helpful. ‘That fiend didn’t half crack her head against the stone.’
Emrys went tense, jaw tight as his hands curled into fists as the fire gutted out. Something working behind his dark eyes at William’s words.
‘I surged to my feet, effortlessly turning my bonds to nothing but ash, which fell to the threadbare carpet. Something is wrong with those woods, and I think a dead body justifies our investigation.’
‘A body you’re a suspect inmurdering,unless you missed that part,’ he fired back, taunting me, and for a moment, I hated him.
‘Don’t beabsurd. We didn’t murder anybody !’ I snapped. ‘And if we hadn’t found it first, that caymor would have eaten all the evidence.’
‘She has a point,’ William offered weakly, still clutching his injured arm and looking paler by the second.
Emrys’s dark gaze flickered to his assistant, and I stepped forward, going boot to boot with him, forcing him to focuson me. ‘Don’t you dare be annoyed with William; he’s been through enough.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about that, Miss Woodrow. My annoyance is solely focused onyou.’
‘What else was I supposed to do?’ I challenged. If he didn’t have horrible unannounced guests that lurked in the dark and made it impossible for me to sleep, I wouldn’t have gone looking for trouble.
The thought of Montagor only reminded me just how enraged I was with Emrys now that my wallowing was done. How dare he leave me to that man.
‘Wait?’ His tone remained dry, which only heightened my anger.
‘I don’t sit awaiting your command. Fey are dying.’
‘I doubt you’ll be much use to them after getting soul-snatched,’ he pressed, leaning closer so I could see every angry speck of darkness in his eyes.
I laughed dryly at the ridiculousness of the suggestion. ‘Don’t be dramatic. The creature was half asleep.’
‘It was anancientbeing with a hunger for fey blood, and you offered yourself up on a plate.’
‘I think the dusty remains of it would disagree with that,Lord Blackthorn,’ I seethed.
His stern face became flushed as his temper grew. ‘Do you know how worried I—’
‘I’m much recovered, thank you for the concern !’ I shouted back. ‘Next time you should give warning in your partnership agreements that you relish hideous guests who can do as they please to whomever they so desire !’
‘He wasn’t my guest.’ He had the audacity to sound offended. ‘He came seeking some sick entertainment.’
