by M. J. Scott
Whether Lucius’ attack on Simon was the beginnings of it or whether the Blood had formed a new plan after Lucius had died. Knowledge was power. And the humans would need power at the negotiations. I didn’t know if Simon was going to come forward with his research, but I wanted to help arm those who would support him if he did.
Which was why I was up here on another rooftop, soaking up the reek of Seven Harbors, at Father Cho’s direction.
Working for the Templars, Holly girl. Who would’ve thought it?
I smiled bitterly. I was working for the Templars, yes, but the only one of their order I wanted to see was forever out of my reach.
Something creaked above me and I glanced upward. A man’s silhouette loomed on the rooftop. I started and almost lost my footing. But I’d learned my lesson and I was firmly tied in place. Of course, that meant I couldn’t get away quickly if I needed to. You’re invisible, I reminded myself, staring up at the figure. He can’t see you.
Then something arced through the air toward me. I put out a hand and caught it by reflex. Felt the buzz of the charm. Felt my own charm stutter and die. Saw my hand blink into solidity in front of my face.
Lords of hell. He’d killed my charm. I tugged at the knot at my waist as my pulse sped.
“Good catch, darlin’.”
I froze. I knew that voice. Though a roof in Seven Harbors was about the last place I’d ever expected to hear it.
I pitched my voice low. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Looking for you,” Guy said. “Come on up.”
I felt my jaw drop, closed it with a snap, reached for the razor in my boot, and sliced the fool rope. Knots be damned. I felt my way up the roof to the ridge where Guy perched.
“Are you trying to get us both killed?” I demanded in a whisper. “Anyone could see us.” I tried not to stare at his face, not to drink him in. “How did you know where to find me anyway?”
Guy pushed back the hood covering his pale hair. Making us even more visible. I fought the urge to slap him. Or kiss him. Or both.
“There’s a window open on an empty room on the other side,” I said. “Follow me. And be careful. There’s no one to catch you.”
His soft laugh made my heart clutch. I told myself not to be foolish. Father Cho had probably sent him to give me another mission.
Still, my hands shook a little as I swung down to the railing outside the window and slid myself through to safety. I stood in the dark room, heart pounding, waiting for Guy to follow.
It didn’t take him long. Apparently it wasn’t his first time climbing on a roof judging by the ease with which he came through the window.
He moved easily, more confidently than I had. He must be fully healed. My heart clutched again.
“Are there lights in this place?” Guy asked.
I nodded, stupid when he probably couldn’t see me. I had a lantern stashed by the door. I lit it with unsteady fingers and carried it to the middle of the room, hanging it from the rope I’d used to ensure that the window stayed open.
Only then did I let myself turn and look at Guy.
Whole.
Here.
“I asked how you knew I was here.” There. That sounded suitably detached. My voice hadn’t wobbled.
Guy smiled. “Father Cho told me who your targets were. Fen helped me with the rest.”
“Fen?” That explained the charm killer at least. But as to what in hell Fen thought he was doing sending Guy my way, I had no idea. But we would be discussing it later.
“So you’re here. What do you want?” I hoped my voice wouldn’t betray how much I wanted to know the answer to that question. Wanted him to tell me so I could get over this foolish flare of hope already, and leave him again.
“I came to ask you a question,” he said.
“It couldn’t wait until daylight?”
“It took me a while to wear Fen down,” Guy said. “And I was in a hurry once I did.”
“Well, then, ask away.”
He held out a hand. “I came to ask you about this.” He twisted his wrist, so I saw the tattooed cross. Clean and whole.
“She did it,” I breathed. Thank the Lady.
“Yes, she did,” Guy agreed. “The question is why you asked her to.”
I looked away. I wasn’t going to answer that. Because the answer didn’t make any sense. Why did I still love a man who didn’t love me? How had I fallen in love with him so quickly anyway? People didn’t fall in love in days. Did they? “You were almost killed because of me. The least I could do was give you your life back. You are back in the order, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he said.
“And things are all right?”
He looked down for a moment. Then shrugged. “It’s not perfect. But it’s a lot better than it would have been if I’d shown up with those beasts on my hands.”
“That’s what I thought,” I said. There. I’d answered his question. He could go again.
“But,” Guy said, “there is another problem.”
My heart sank. “There is?”
He nodded. “Yes. You see, I’m back in the order. A Templar. The famous Guy DuCaine.”
“Yes?” I wished he’d get to the point. Then he might leave.
“Knights are meant to protect those they care about.”
My stomach rolled, dipped. “Did something happen to Lily or Simon?”
He laughed. “No. Nothing like that. But there’s someone else. Someone who put herself in danger because of me. Someone who could have had the Veiled Queen’s protection but turned it down.”
Me? He was talking about me? But hadn’t he said someone he cared about. “I—”
“You turned it down, darlin’,” Guy said. “And that means someone else has to protect you.”
“I’m fine,” I said automatically, my brain still not making sense of the words I was hearing.
“But I’m not,” he said. “You gave me my old life back, Holly Evendale.” His eyes seemed very blue in the lamplight as he smiled at me again.
“Isn’t that what you wanted? You can go around saving people like you always wanted.”
“But who’s going to save me?” he said softly. “That’s what was missing in my old life.” His hand reached for mine. “Save me, Holly. Give me another chance.”
“But I betrayed you—”
“Shut up,” Guy said. “And make sure you don’t let anyone put a geas on you ever again.” His hand fingers tightened on mine, drawing me toward him.
“Guy, you don’t want me. I’m not right for you. I’m—”
“You’re you. I’m not exactly perfect myself. And I get to choose who’s right for me,” he said.
A smile crept across my face, happiness bubbling through me. “What about what I choose?”
“Well, darlin’,” he drawled, “I figure we have plenty of time to discuss that. But right now can we talk about something else?” His free hand crept around my waist, pulling me closer still.
“Like what?” I asked
“I thought we’d start with this,” he said, and his mouth came down on mine and I tasted home.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M. J. Scott is an unrepentant bookworm. Luckily she grew up in a family that fed her a properly varied diet of books and these days is surrounded by people who are understanding of her story addiction. When not wrestling one of her own stories to the ground, she can generally be found reading someone else’s. Her other distractions include yarn, cat butlering, dark chocolate, and fabric. She lives in Melbourne, Australia.
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