“Wings. Did you really just say wings?”
He handed the bottle back to her, one side of his mouth kicking up in a lopsided grin. “Yeah, I did. But it’s harder for the salbinelli to hide their hooves.”
She blinked. “Huh?”
“Think satyrs.”
She took another swallow of Jack Daniel’s, wondering if this day could possibly get any stranger.
Then someone knocked on the door.
Chapter Seven
“Are you expecting anyone?”
Cam asked the question though he knew what her answer was going to be.
Eyes wide, Stella shook her head, confirming his suspicion.
Damn, what the hell else was he supposed to deal with today?
Placing a finger over her lips, he slid her onto the seat as he stood then leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I’m going to literally disappear in a second. Don’t move or make a sound. I’ll be right here, you just won’t be able to see me. Okay?”
She blinked once before nodding then he turned and dissolved his body into shadow. He thought he heard a small squeak from her but it wasn’t loud enough for any human outside to hear it. Except… He knew there were a lot more than humans beyond the cabin. They were close to Hawk Mountain and the Fata enclave hidden there. But this close to the Appalachian Mountains, there were other beings as well…
When he reached the door, he wasn’t surprised by what he saw. Par for the course today.
Still, he had to wonder what the hell a North Atlantic mountain troll was doing standing on Stella’s doorstep, knocking on the door as if he were an invited guest.
A cousin to the Fata orcuili, the mountain troll was short, squat and butt-ugly. Small beady eyes peered out from beneath long scraggly hair. He had a crooked hooked nose, an elongated chin and sharp pointed teeth, the better to rip apart the small animals they liked to eat.
He lifted one three-fingered hand—the better to dig with—and pounded on the door again.
Sighing, Cam rematerialized. Trolls didn’t come out of the mountains for no reason and they certainly didn’t knock on the doors of random cabins. The indigenous creatures weren’t social. They lived in the mountains, they dug metals and jewels from the earth and they stayed the hell away from humans.
This one had a definite purpose for being here.
Cam opened the door. “Can I help you?”
The troll looked up, a frown on his face. “Who the hell are you?”
“Someone you don’t want to fuck with, troll. What’s your name and what do you want?”
Beady eyes narrowed even further. “My name’s none of your business, Fata,” he said in a voice filled with gravel. “What the hell are you doing here? This ain’t your house.”
Cam stepped onto the porch, pulling the door closed behind him. “So whose house is it?”
“Where’s the girl?” the troll snarled. “Is she here? Did you hurt her? You’ll be bear meat if you did.”
Cam couldn’t hide his surprise. The troll was talking about Stella. He had no doubt about that. But how he knew Stella and why the hell he sounded so protective of her was confounding.
“I don’t know what girl you’re talking about. And I wouldn’t give you information if I did, because you still haven’t told me who you are.”
The troll grunted. “Name’s Edgart. And you?”
“Camillus de Feo. Do you know who owns this cabin?”
“’Course I do. And I know you don’t, so what the hell are you doing here?”
Since trolls weren’t known to be liars, unlike the orcuili, and they were carefully neutral when it came to fights between the other nonhuman creatures of the world, Cam figured Edgart wasn’t here to harm Stella. The real question was why he was here at all. “I’m helping a friend.”
The troll cocked his head to the side. “And who would that be?”
“Stella Palmer.”
An odd look of concern crossed the little man’s ugly face. “Is the girl okay?”
“She’s fine.”
“I want to see her. None of your business why.”
“And why would she want to see you?”
“I’m just doing a favor for a friend.”
“And what friend would that be?”
The troll drew himself up as tall as he could and looked Cam straight in the eye. “Her father, that’s who, boy. Now let me see for myself that the girl is okay and I’ll leave.”
Cam crossed his arms over his chest. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
“Son, you really don’t want to fuck with me.” A nasty smile transformed the troll’s face from merely ugly to hideous. “Let me see the girl and we won’t have a problem.”
“Does she know you?”
“She’s never seen me before. Even if she did, she doesn’t remember it.”
“And you don’t think she’s going to start screaming when she does?”
“The Fata aren’t the only ones who know how to work a little mojo, son.”
In the blink of an eye, the troll transformed himself into a raccoon. Kind of a big beast but a raccoon nonetheless.
Damn. Cam shook his head. You learned something new every day.
The troll changed back to his original form, a smug grin on his face.
“Why do you want to see her?” Cam went back to his original question.
The troll sighed and shook his head. “Because I promised her parents before they died that I would check in on her when she came to the cabin. Make sure she was okay. It was the least I could do after what happened.”
“What do you mean, after what happened?”
“Why, after I couldn’t save them from that bastard who killed them.”
* * * * *
Stella stood on the other side of the door, holding a hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t make any inadvertent sounds.
She’d kept herself from looking out the window in the door on the off-chance whoever was out there would see her. The voice was definitely male, guttural and rough, and it held a trace of the South.
She could hear every word he and Cam were saying, even if some of it didn’t make any sense. Cam had called the man a troll. At least she thought he had.
What she did know for sure was that this man had known her parents—and he claimed someone had killed them.
But he couldn’t be right, because her mother had killed her father and then killed herself. Out by the small stream that ran through the property.
Her mother had always been unstable but her father had loved her to distraction. And they’d both adored their only child.
But this man claimed someone had killed them.
Stella opened the door and found herself staring at Cam’s chest.
“Stella, go back in.”
“I’m sick of waiting.” She heard Cam’s resigned sigh as she stepped around him. “And I want to meet— Oh. Oh my.” She took a deep breath, knowing if she didn’t, she might stand there and stare with her mouth hanging open.
Cam had been right. The guy was a troll. The same one she’d seen earlier knocking on her door. She was pretty certain he wasn’t just called that because of his looks, though those were…unfortunate, to say the least.
Pasting on a smile, Stella stuck out her hand then tried not to cringe when she caught sight of his… Good God, the man only had three fingers. And that nose. And face. And he barely came up to her chest.
The little man shook her hand with a firm grip and released it fast, as if he’d seen her reaction.
She forced herself to look him straight in his beady little eyes, which resembled coffee beans. “I’m Stella Palmer.”
“Now then you’ve grown up to be a beauty.” His smile eased the sheer ugliness of his features. “I’m Edgart. Nice to see you again.”
She blinked. “Again? Please forgive me, but I don’t believe we’ve met before. I believe I would have remembered.”
“You were just a wee thing the last time I saw y
ou. Couldn’t say more than a few words. But I did see your parents a few times after that. Your father was a good man. And your mother, a beautiful woman.”
She wasn’t as shocked as she probably should have been. After everything she’d learned today, the fact that her parents had been friends with a troll didn’t throw her off balance as much as she’d expected. “You knew them well?”
“Ayuh. Your parents were frequent visitors to this cabin for many years before and after your birth. Your mom had the blood, like your friend here.” He sniffed the air and her eyes widened before she could catch herself. “Like you do.”
“You said something about my parents being murdered. What did you mean by that?”
“Just what I said. I wasn’t fast enough to save them but I made your dad a promise as he lay there. Told him I’d look out for you whenever you came up to the cabin but I’ve been in the mountains for a few years and haven’t seen you since your parents were alive.”
“I was told my mother shot my father then killed herself.”
Edgart shook his head. “Never woulda happened. Your mom had issues but she would’ve never hurt your dad, Starbright.”
Oh God. That had been her parents’ pet name for her. This…this man had known her parents. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes.
“Besides, I saw the man who shot them.”
Cam’s arms came around her shoulders and pulled her back against his chest.
“Do you remember what he looked like?” Cam said and Stella held her breath.
“I’ll do you one better. I’ll give you his name. Daniel Bonnini.”
Cam felt Stella sway on her feet and tightened his arms around her shoulders. He’d known how she would take this. He’d suspected Bonnini had been involved in her parents’ deaths but hadn’t had any actual proof.
“No. I’m sorry. You must be mistaken,” Stella insisted.
Edgart shook his head, his expression hardening until he looked even fiercer. “No I’m not. That bastard killed them then pinned it on his own flesh and blood. He couldn’t control her. He’d always wanted her to help him but she never would.”
“Help him with what?” Cam asked, pulling Stella even closer to his body until they touched from shoulders to thighs. She shook, a fine tremor that raised goose bumps on her skin.
“Whatever dirty work he had going at the time.” Edgart turned his beady gaze to Cam. “You know he’s dark, right?”
Cam nodded. “Yes, we do.”
“Well, I knew I couldn’t exactly take Starbright from him. I wouldn’t have a clue what to do with a child so I had to hope the dark bastard wouldn’t break her.” He turned back to Stella. “Looks like you turned out okay, sweetheart.”
“I…I don’t… Cam, I think I need to sit down.”
Cam turned, scooped an arm behind her legs and around her back and lifted her against his chest. She was so small, her arms so thin as they curved around his neck that his stomach clenched. He wanted to stand in front of her and take everything that was thrown at her—but he couldn’t. She’d be stronger for it when it was all over, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to protect her from it. Or from wanting to kick his own ass for starting this whole process.
Inside the cabin, he grabbed a couple of glasses then sat at the table with Stella on his lap. He poured her a couple of fingers then poured a shot for Edgart, who had followed them in.
With trolls, tradition demanded he offer him thanks for information with alcohol. Or gems. And since he didn’t have any jewels on him…
The troll took the glass and sniffed. “Ah, Jack. Developed a hankering for this from your father. He always kept a bottle around for me.”
Stella took her glass and tossed back the entire amount then inhaled deeply and straightened, wriggling a little on Cam’s lap. He fought back the lust he felt building, knowing this wasn’t the time.
“I’d always wondered about that,” Stella said with a shaky voice. “Daddy never really drank but that bottle was always there. I can remember wondering why he needed to replace a bottle he never drank.”
“Your dad was a good man. Well, I do appreciate the drink. And now that I checked in, I gotta get back to my mountain.” The troll set the glass on the table and gave a little one-hand salute that looked vaguely obscene. “Since it looks like you’re in good hands, I’ll get back to my hole. Got a line on a good vein. Stay safe, Stella. I’m sure I’ll see you again.”
The little man turned on his heel and walked away, closing the door behind him.
Cam kept quiet, waiting for Stella to say something, anything. She didn’t move, just sat there staring straight ahead. Her silence was killing him. He wanted to know what she was thinking, wanted to say something to make it better, but he didn’t know what she needed to hear.
Finally she said, “Did you know?”
He didn’t need to ask what she meant. He knew she was talking about Edgart’s claim that Bonnini had killed her parents. He didn’t even consider lying. “I suspected.”
“But you don’t have proof?”
“There probably is none, except Edgart’s statement. I’m sure Bonnini covered his tracks. I know the police investigated the deaths but with Bonnini telling them how your mother had always been unstable and no one contradicting him, they had no reason to suspect anyone else.”
Stella still didn’t look at him and he wondered if she was going into shock. Her already-pale skin was at least one shade past gray and her eyes just stared across the room.
“Stella, let me take you back to my house. We’ll be safer there and—”
“Safe?” Stella snorted, shaking her head. Her temples throbbed, her stomach churned and every muscle in her body ached from being clenched so tightly.
According to Cam, she’d been a fool her entire life. The thought that she’d been living and working with the man who’d killed her parents made her ill. The fact that she’d been grateful to and even loved the man made her want to throw herself in a vat of bleach.
Even now one small part of her brain screamed in denial but she thought that was probably the child in her, the one who remembered the Christmas mornings she and her uncle had spent opening presents and the birthday dinners they always shared together. They all meant nothing. Because a troll claimed her parents had been killed by her monster uncle.
She laughed, a harsh bark, and Cam tightened his arms around her. She wished she could dissolve into a river of tears, just curl into a ball and cry until she passed out—but that wasn’t like her. Her parents may have coddled her but her uncle hadn’t raised her to be weak. At least she could thank him for that…or not. Because what she really wanted to do was kill him.
Stab him, choke him, shoot him, blow him up. Throw him off a cliff, hang him from a meat hook but most importantly, make it slow and painful. So painful his heart exploded from it.
Just like her heart threatened to do now. It pounded in her chest like a bird in a too-small box and her lungs contracted into tight little balls that ached with every breath.
Her eyes burned but she had no tears. She swore she could feel her blood running through her veins, furious and hot with each pump of her heart.
“Stella, sweetheart. Breathe. Come on, babe, you’re scaring me.”
She heard Cam but he sounded muffled, as if she was encased in ice. His lips brushed her ear but she felt nothing, only an all-consuming rage. Rage was good. It cleared her mind of everything else.
But Cam wasn’t letting her enjoy it.
“Stella.” This time he shook her, just once, and it rattled something loose inside her, something she quickly tucked away. “Look at me.”
She felt his hand on her chin and turned her head to meet his gaze. His expression was carefully blank, his eyes slightly narrowed as he stared at her.
In a flash, she realized that this was his fault. He’d brought all this on her. If she hadn’t met him, none of this would have happened. All her rage turned off as if she’d flipped a
switch.
“It’s going to be okay, babe. I swear.”
He was right. It would be fine—as soon as she got rid of him. “I want you to leave now.” Her voice dripped ice.
Cam continued staring into her eyes as he shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re in shock.”
If shock meant she was numb, she could deal with that. In fact, it was preferable to the rage. She tried to stand but Cam’s arms tightened around her. She wanted to disappear but couldn’t, because Cam was holding on to her too tightly. She couldn’t concentrate enough to send herself away. There was all this white noise in her head and it was deafening.
“I want you to leave, Cam. I don’t want you here. I don’t want you at all.”
She saw him visibly flinch at that last comment and something like grief moved through her body. But it couldn’t be grief, she told herself. Why would she be upset at getting rid of the source of all her problems?
“Stella, I understand you’re—”
“What is it exactly that you think you understand?” She barely recognized her own voice, it was so…dead. “I don’t think you understand at all. I want you to leave. I want you gone and I never want to see you again.”
His arms tightened again then relaxed but not enough for her to break free. “That doesn’t change the fact that you shouldn’t be alone.”
“I don’t want you here.” She spoke each word clearly so he wouldn’t mistake her. “You need to leave. I will be fine.”
He blinked, the only outward sign that he’d been affected by her words.
Bastard. He was a complete bastard.
Stella began to shake, a full-body rattle that started in her toes and extended to her hair. She tried to control it, tried to rip herself out of his arms, but the more she fought against him, the tighter he held on to her.
The rage roared back with a viciousness that felt like a knife in the gut. She screamed as she struggled, a primal sound that terrified her. But it released whatever internal cap had been restraining her emotions. A flood of feeling hit her with the force of a tsunami wave, taking her under.
Seduced and Ensnared Page 8
