Page 206 of Bitten & Burned
“That… could mean anything,” I said.
Dmitri’s voice was casual, but there was an edge beneath it. “Weallthought the worst until the bond returned to normal, Mishka.”
Quil’s gaze found mine, his hand covering mine where it lay on the ground. In it, just a flicker of something, something almost unreadable, but enough to send a shiver running down my spine. He, too, had been worried. More than worried.
Dmitri took in the two of us, eyes glancing over the fact that Quil was nude, and I was wrapped in furs, clearly nude beneath them. “So…” he said softly. “You’re really alright, Rowena?”
“Mmhmm,” I nodded. “I am. I… I feel foolish… for causing you all to worry…”
Dmitri frowned a little. “What do you mean?”
“Sweetheart, you couldn’t have known,” Quil murmured.
“You and Vael warned me. I shouldn’t have gone to Blackthorn alone.”
“Blackthorn should have been safe,” Quil reminded.
“Yeah. It was supposed to be, until I learned… Silas told me he was the one who set all the wards there,” I replied hollowly.
“He did?” Quil asked, surprised. “Well, shit. Nobody knew that, Rowena. How could you think it’s your fault?”
All I could see was Vael pacing through my apartment the night before everything had happened. How he’d warned me against going alone.
“Vael knew.”
“He idles at overprotective; he didn’t know outright.”
“Still, I should have listened. He has been right about everything else…”
“So?” Quil asked, reaching for both of my hands now. “He talks so much, he’s bound to be right sometimes.”
“He doesn’t care that he was right, Mishka…” Dmitri added. “He cares that you are safe now.”
I looked at Dmitri. “Can’t he do both?” I asked.
Dmitri scratched the back of his neck, clearly looking forsomething to say, but Quil spoke over him, and he looked relieved.
“Are you hungry, Rowena?”
My stomach growled loudly as if answering for itself.
Quil smirked a little and turned to go find his clothes. It was at that point I realized… Quil was still naked. As was I.
I blinked, but Dmitri didn’t seem phased. Again, I supposed Dmitri had done the same to Quil after we’d first lain together, but all this posturing was… well, exhausting.
Quil got dressed quickly enough, pulling up his leathers and lacing his boots. Weapons got stashed in several places.
“Pheasant, right?” he asked, eyes locking on mine.
“Whatever you find is fine, as long as it’s not rabbit,” I said.
“Pheasant, right?” he repeated.
I nodded.
He leaned down to press his lips to my temple, his fingers combing through my hair. “Don’t let him spoil you too much.’
“I’ll be back. Take care of her,” he directed to Dmitri.
