Page 63 of Heart of Iron
“I’ve business ’ere,” he replied, stepping out of the shadows.Heat swam behind his eyes and every muscle in his body tightened.This bastard had done something to Lena.He didn’t know what, but it was enough to terrify her.
Killing him would be only too sweet.And yet, with it would go any chance he had of freeing himself and his fellows from the cages and arenas.
Instinct demanded he kill the duke.But cold intellect argued against it.He could almost hear Blade and Lena’s voices in his ear, trying to explain to him that it would be wrong.Sweat rimed his forehead.This was a world he didn’t understand and never completely would.But he trusted them, knew that they would not be pleased if he did this thing.
Colchester would never know how close to death he came as he straightened.“Do you have any idea who I am?”
“Aye.I know exactly who you are.”
Colchester’s gaze sharpened with interest.Will could feel the heat of his anger burning through him.For once he let it surface just enough to show, the molten gold of it transforming his eyes in the mirror’s reflection.
Colchester sucked in a breath and slapped a hand to his belt, as if reaching for a blade.
“Wouldn’t if I were you.”Will sucked in a breath and looked away.Little gems fractured the sunlight back at him, a thousand different shades and colors.Rings, necklaces, bracelets.An entire corner filled with pearl chokers that were worth more than his life.He focused on them furiously, trying to ignore the duke’s perfume.
Colchester’s image wavered in the glass, his eyes narrowing at Will’s back.“You’re the one they call the Beast, aren’t you?The one with the price on your head if you step inside the city?”
Will glanced over his shoulder.“Didn’t they tell you?”
Colchester’s eyes became slits.“Tell me what?”
“Prince consort himself give me pardon.”
Colchester crossed toward the window, his hands clasped behind his back.His movements were neat and precise; he was on edge, prepared to fight at a second’s notice.Will prowled in the other direction, running his fingertips lightly along the glass counter.
A dangerous dance.The shopkeeper had retreated to the door of the storeroom, uncertain what was going on but aware of the undercurrents in the room.
“I see,” Colchester sneered.“This joke of an alliance they’re spouting.I wasn’t aware of how fully they’d involved you until last night.”
“Guess you ain’t as important as you think you are.”
If looks could kill.“I washed my hands of it weeks ago.It took years to put you savages in your proper places.Why invite you back into our lives with an expression of cordiality?”His gaze ran over Will.“The entire concept is an insult.”
The barb went wide of its mark.He didn’t give a damn what Colchester thought of him.
As if realizing it, Colchester stepped closer.“I must admit, I’m disappointed.After what Cavendish told me, I was expecting a raving lunatic.They’ve leashed you well, it seems.”
“There’s a time.And a place.”
“Mmm.”Colchester leaned over, examining a pretty butterfly brooch.When wound, the wings would flutter.“Tell me,” he said, drawing little circles on the glass with his finger, “has she told you about me yet?”
Silence.“She?”
“Helena,” Colchester said, placing intimate emphasis on the name.He looked up.The smile on his lips was as nothing to the one in his eyes when he realized his words had finally drawn blood.“My dear, sweet Helena Todd.”
Will held onto himself with the thinnest of leashes.“Why would she?”
“Because she’s going to be my next thrall—”
No.
Will had him by the throat before he realized it.His fingers dug into the pallid flesh as Colchester laughed.
“You leave her alone,” Will snarled, his voice cold and harsh.“You catch so much as a sniff of her and you turn and walk the other way.”
“A sniff?”Colchester managed to gurgle.“I’ve had more than that, you filth.”
“What’d you say?”
