Page 27 of Soulbound
Power brewed within him, stark and dangerous like the roll of a thundercloud on the horizon. The dancers fled as a coating of frost began to settle over the grass, and Sebastian stepped through into the open space just as Gray swept Cleo's back against his chest, and caressed her throat.
Their gazes collided, but all his sorcery was for naught, as he could not risk assaulting the bastard, not with Cleo there.
"Let her go," Sebastian said, and his words echoed with a dangerous power.
Gray's eyes grew heavy and he did something that made Cleo gasp. "Perhaps I'll keep her. She's so ripe. So hungry. It makes me ache...."
Rage obliterated his reason, and he took a step forward, but something was holding him back. An iron shackle around his arm—or no, his brother's hand.
"Remember your lessons," Bishop hissed. "He's baiting you."
Sebastian forced the rage away, grinding his teeth together and reining in the sheer amount of power surging through him. The ground shook a little, and it scared him, for he hadn't been aware of how on edge he was.
The grass had turned into sharp little shards, tipped with ice.
"Or perhaps I'll keep her as a concession for trespassing." The bastard whispered in her ear, but his gaze was locked on Sebastian, as if he welcomed the rage, and the thrill of violence in the air. "There is a price for coming here, especially uninvited. And perhaps if you tell me who sent you I'll forfeit the payment. Perhaps. Why don't we retire to my parlor to discuss the issue?"
"A rather good idea," said a hard voice from behind them. "Why don't we?"
Remington's voice acted like a bucket of ice water thrown over Mr. Gray. He froze. Not in the way of a startled creature, but a certain stillness crept over his body in a way that made Sebastian want to tuck Cleo protectively against his side. There was a flash of surprise on Gray's face, followed swiftly by something else, something unidentifiable, before he settled that eerie gaze upon Remington as he gently pushed Sebastian and Bishop out of the way.
"Remy." The word was a soft-edged taunt. "You finally took up my invitation to visit."
"I'm not here to enjoy your pleasure gardens."
"No?" There was an edge in Gray's voice now, and all of them might as well be forgotten, for the two men locked stares in a way that indicated a past history Remington hadn't bloody well divulged when they were planning this visit.
"No." Remington shoved his hands in his pockets. "But we shall accept your offer to retire. There are things you and I need to discuss. In private. Take your hands off the girl. She's innocent, and if she's anyone's pawn, then she's mine."
"I'm fully aware she's innocent," Gray said, innuendo dripping off the words. His eyes locked on Sebastian's. "A dangerous thing, to let a young woman like this out in the world."
He stared back flatly. "A dangerous thing, to touch a man's wife."
"You look familiar," Gray said.
"I should."
But he didn't explain, and Gray's eyes slowly narrowed, curiously overcoming him.
"Very well. Come into my parlor." Said the spider to the fly. "Let us talk and become reacquainted."
And then he vanished into the crowd.
Chapter 7
"WHAT THE HELL was that all about?" Sebastian whispered in Cleo's ear as he escorted her toward the manor house Malachi Gray had indicated.
"All what?" Cleo retorted under her breath.
"You know what I'm speaking about."
Cleo glanced up from beneath her lashes. Her body hadn't quite forgotten the sensual touch of Malachi, or the feelings his magic evoked in her. "No, I don't believe I do. Am I not to dance with other men? You could ask me yourself, you know. Am I not to talk to other men? It seems as though I—"
"Did you not hear what Remington said?" Sebastian's jaw clenched and he finally looked down at her, his silver eyes glittering. "The man is dangerous."
"He seemed quite charming to me. Playing word games, of course, but a great many of my father's allies did that."
"He was practically salivating over you," Sebastian snarled.
