by Ryvr Jones
“Do you promise you’ll come back?” Her voice was small, fear clear in her eyes.
“I swear.” He nodded, giving her shoulders what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze. “Promise me you won’t go outside.”
“I promise.” She put her hands over his and squeezed back.
He lingered for a moment, enjoying the feel of her fingers over his, then strode to the door. Stopping at the threshold, he looked at her over his shoulder. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Be careful.” She gave him a worried smile.
His chest tightened. He nodded sharply and stepped out before he did something stupid. Like going back and kissing her senseless.
Outside, the early morning sun was shining through the few remaining clouds. The thin fog left by the rain gave the grounds the appearance of a dream. The tombstones were almost beautiful between the green grass, light filtering over them through the trees. Rhys strode to the central tree, retracing the steps he’d taken the night before.
He could almost feel Tarani’s limbs encircling him again. Her naked legs, her pale skin, her beautiful breasts pressed against his back…He groaned and tried to focus, but his thoughts kept going to her. To how she’d stayed with him, tried to comfort him. How he’d wanted to kiss her when she asked him to be careful. He hadn’t wanted to kiss a woman since…Fuck me sideways. Fuck me to hell and beyond.
“Good morning,” Seersha greeted, startling him. He’d covered the short distance from the cabin to tree without realizing it, or sensing her. He hated when she concealed her presence. She stepped closer to him. “I thought you’d want to chat about the package you received last night.”
His aversion to her was a living thing coiled in his belly, but he stood his ground and bared his teeth.
“Ah-ah-ah,” she singsonged. “No biting the boss. Unless she requests it. Which I would, but sadly, we have business to take care of.”
“You have no idea how much I’d like to strangle you,” he muttered. He knew she wasn’t interested in him, but she loved to mock and taunt him with innuendo.
“Hmm, kinky!” She wiggled her brows, and Rhys wished lightening would struck him and end his misery. “Alas, there’s also no strangling the boss unless she requests it. Which I’d also do, but as I’ve said, business first. Have you thought about the job I offered?”
“You didn’t offer me shit.” Rhys gritted his teeth. “You’re blackmailing me. You know it and I know it, so let’s cut the crap.”
“Fine.” She shrugged. “You’re going to take the job, whether you want it or not. The only question is, are you going to do it willingly?”
“Yes.” He crossed his arms and squared his shoulders. “If you tell me what the fuck happened here last night.”
She snorted. “You know I cannot give undue information to the living. As much as I’d like to wreak havoc and all that, I can’t interfere with you lot.”
“Except I’m not exactly alive.”
“You’re alive enough. The Rules apply to you, too.” She waved a hand, dismissing his argument, then her eyes gleamed. “I can tell you this: you won’t be pleased when you find out who she is, how and why she came here. But not for the reasons you think.”
Suppressing a shudder, Rhys let his voice go low, full of hatred. “Don’t fuck with me, Seersha.”
“There was a time I’d have, but you were too busy feeling sorry for yourself. I got tired of waiting for you to end your pity party and get your shit together.” She gave him an once-over. “What a waste. We could’ve had so much fun.”
“I’m serious. Sooner or later, I’ll get to you. That’s a promise.” His tone was deadly. “And I’m warning you: if you so much as look funny at her…” His face contorted in a menacing smile. “Maybe I can’t get to you directly, but I can do enough shit to make the walls of hell crumble. I don’t have anything to lose, boss. Don’t gamble with a man who doesn’t have anything to lose.”
“Protective much?” she mocked, then gave him a piercing stare. “Very well. You’ll do the job willingly, and I won’t upset your…package.” She stuck her hand out. “Do we have a deal?”
Rhys hesitated, everything inside him screaming he should run. The memory of their previous deal churned in his mind. He knew he couldn’t trust her. Nevertheless, if there was even a sliver of chance that the deal would protect Tarani, he’d take it. Fucking hell, I already care for her. Way more than I can afford. Fuck.
“Yes.” He shook her hand and released it as fast as he could. “But I swear to the Gods, if you screw me over, you will regret it.”
Her eyes widened with pretended innocence, and she put a hand over her chest, as if she were hurt. “Your lack of trust in me is upsetting.”
“Yeah, right.” He rolled his eyes. “Tell me about this fucking job so I can go. I’ve already had more of your presence than I can stand for a century.”
“It’s an easy job.” She flicked her black hair over her shoulder. “There’s something hidden in the ruins near Tarmanagh. You just need to find it.”
He arched a brow. “And what would this something be?”
“I can’t tell you.” She shrugged. “But you’ll know what it is when you find it.”
“You’ve gotta be shitting me.” He closed his eyes for a second. “You expect me to go find something without knowing what the fuck it is?” She always, always managed to make things worse than he was capable of imagining they’d be. “Why the hell can’t you tell me?”
“Nuh-uh.” She wiggled a finger at him. “Questions weren’t included in our deal. That’s the job, end of story. I want you on the road today, gravedigger.”
Rhys grumbled. There was no way to bargain with Seersha when she wasn’t willing, which didn’t happen often. He was smart enough to know when it was time to retreat. “Is there anything you can tell me, to help me find it?”
“Funny you should ask.” She smiled brightly, and Rhys’s oh-shit meter went through the roof. “I did give you something that’ll help.” Her face was pure mischief. “However, I won’t tell you what it is. It’ll be more fun if you have to figure it out, don’t you think?”
For the love of everything unholy. He scrubbed his face and took a deep breath, all the while thinking about strangling her. If only I could. Since he couldn’t, he’d better go and get this shit over as soon as possible. “Anything else?”
“Oh, yes.” Her smile seemed almost genuine. Almost. “I left a gift for you on your doorstep. You can thank me later.”
Fuck. Tarani. He snarled. “If you touched her before we made our deal—”
“Shut up, dickhead.” She glared, pointing a finger at him. “I don’t need to stoop that low to get what I want from you.”
“Could have fooled me.” He glared back. “There’s no line you won’t cross if it serves your interests. You don’t have a sliver of anything good in you, so excuse me if I have a hard time believing you’d start being honorable now.”
Something akin to hurt flashed in her eyes, but it was gone in a second. He frowned. She had taken advantage of his desperation, tricked him into becoming a dullahan, didn’t fulfill her part on their bargain, and never seemed to regret it. What he said was harsh, but it was the truth. Why would it bother her?
She shrugged. “Honor is overrated. As you know too well, it’ll only give you pain and misery.” She waved her hand. “Now, stop stalling and go.”
The dismissal rankled, but there wasn’t anything else to be said. He turned and started back to the cabin, itching to get away from her.
He’d only taken a couple of steps when she tossed to his back, “Just so you know, I don’t give a shit about what you can do, hell’s walls crumbling or not. But I like your courage. There aren’t many beings who’d have the balls to threaten me.” She chuckled. “Or stupid enough to think they’d keep said balls attached after doing it.”
Rhys swallowed a growl. Go. Tarani is waiting for you. He could sense her presence, a bright point of li
ght in the darkness that was his home. His silver light.
What the fuck? The unexpected endearment made him stumble, but he managed to stay upright and keep walking. She isn’t yours, dumbass. She doesn’t belong to you.
No one belonged to him. He’d forgot that fundamental truth once, and had paid dearly for his mistake. Was still paying for it, in fact. Yet, here he was, thinking and acting as if this stranger mattered to him. For all he knew, she could’ve been sent by Seersha, could be part of another of her deceptions.
No. Tarani hasn’t lied to me. I saw her soul, for fuck’s sake. Denial bubbled up in his gut, burning like acid, but he forced himself to acknowledge the facts. It was entirely possible that—at the moment—she wasn’t aware she had anything to do with Seersha. Fuck.
Tarani was the only one, in a very long time, who made him feel something beyond hate and despair. He was starting to care about her. To believe she was telling the truth. That she cared about him.
And he hoped to fuck he was right. If she was lying to him, intentionally or not, he didn’t know what he would do.
He didn’t know if he’d survive another betrayal.
Chapter Five
Something was wrong. Tamerah rubbed her chest, trying to ease the ache in her heart. Please be okay.
Footsteps sounded outside, and relief washed over her. A moment later, Rhys opened the door and stopped in the threshold, still as a statue, his dark silhouette surrounded by warm light.
“What’s wrong?” She couldn’t see his face, only a dangerous glint in his eyes.
He stepped inside and closed the door, his expression hard. “What makes you think there’s something wrong?” His tone was deceptively soft, something ugly underlining it.
“I think I can feel what you feel. Here.” She touched the spot where the ache was centered. “It hurts with the same pain I felt when you were lost in the darkness.”
“Is that so?” His face turned into a stone mask.
His indifference made her want to scream, but she knew it was fake. Don’t antagonize him, Tamerah. He’s like an injured animal. If you piss him off he will lash out.
She took a breath. “It’s muted now. But it’s the same kind of hurt. What happened?”
“I can’t answer that.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “We still don’t know anything about you except for your name. I can’t trust you, not yet.”
Tamerah knew, all the way to her soul, that she’d never do anything to hurt him, but he was right. How could she ask for his trust, when she was an enigma even to herself? Her story was weird and full of holes. It was a miracle he hadn’t kicked her out yet. Or worse. She hugged her waist. “Fair enough. I won’t ask any more questions.”
Rhys swore. “This is hard for me, Tarani. I’m trying to stop being an asshole, but I don’t know anymore how to be nice.” There was a hint of vulnerability in his eyes, and it tugged at her heart. “Ask all the questions you want. I won’t promise to answer all of them, but I’ll tell you what I can.” He closed his eyes and bowed his head. “I’m a right bastard. Here I am, telling you I can’t trust you, and yet…” He opened his eyes and pinned her into place with his dark gaze, without lifting his head. “I want you to trust me. I need you to trust me.”
A shiver ran up her spine. “Why?” she whispered, her eyes captive to his.
He was silent for a heartbeat, then he turned his back to her. “I don’t know.” He fisted his hands. “Damn myself to hell and beyond, I don’t know why. Maybe because…Fuck.” He paused. “There’s light in you. I’ve been in the darkness for so long, maybe I want to steal some of your light for myself. I don’t fucking know.” He shook his head slowly. “Forget it. I don’t even have a right to ask for your trust.”
Tamerah padded to him and splayed a palm on his shoulder. “You don’t have to.” She rested her forehead on his back. “I trust you.”
A slight tremble wracked his frame and he stiffened. “Why?” The word was barely more than a croak.
“I don’t know much about you, but there’s something in me that knows you.” She tightened her grip, willing him to believe her. “I wish I could explain it better, to prove it to you. But I can’t.” Her voice broke, and she swallowed a lump in her throat. “I understand why you can’t trust me, but I trust you.”
She snaked her arms around his torso, under his arms, and plastered herself to him. Entwining her hands over his heart, she allowed herself to absorb some of his warmth, resting her cheek against his muscular back. After a moment, he exhaled a heavy sigh and put his hands over hers, the rigidness leaving his body.
Her chest stopped aching. Oh, thank the Goddess, he feels better. She tightened the hug. Rhys didn’t say anything, but squeezed her hands gently in response. As if he understood.
After a moment, he broke the silence. “We need to go on a trip. There’s something I have to do, and I don’t want to leave you here.” He disentangled himself from her arms and turned to her, something savage in his face. Gripping her arms, he said quietly, “I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. And I can’t protect you if you’re not by my side.”
“See?” She grinned. “And you wonder why I trust you.”
He stared at her, then took a black paper bag from the floor near the door and gave it to her. “These are clothes for you. Get dressed. We need to leave soon.”
“Okay.” She eyed the contents. “You went out to bring me clothes?”
“No. I had to talk to my boss.” His face scrunched as if he tasted something foul. He opened the wardrobe and rummaged inside.
Don’t ask about his boss. Don’t ask. “Shut up, Tamerah,” she murmured.
“What?” He turned to her, clutching a duffel bag.
“Nothing.” He arched a dark brow, and she scrambled to cover her lie. “Where did you get these clothes, then? You weren’t out for long.”
He scratched his neck. “This is one of those questions I won’t answer. Get dressed, please.” She nodded, and he turned back to the wardrobe, starting to stuff things in the duffel.
Tamerah emptied the bag over the bed. There was a shirt, a pair of jeans, a leather coat, wool socks and a pair of boots. A pair of leather gloves stuck out from one of the coat’s pockets. Everything was black. The fabrics were soft and the boots seemed sturdy. They had thick soles and numerous buckles, like Rhys’s boots. She loved the similarity, and a huge grin split her face.
She unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing and let it fall to floor, sad because she wouldn’t be using Rhys’s shirt anymore. Technically these are all his clothes, Tamerah. But it wasn’t the same. His shirt had covered his body, had touched his skin. It was a piece of him, in a way, and she felt close to him wearing it. Protected.
Bending to put the pants on, she asked, “Can I keep your shirt?”
He was bent in front of the wardrobe. He looked sideways to her, jerked upright and banged his head inside the top of it. “Jesus Christ, woman!” he barked, turning away from her.
Tamerah stilled, trying to figure out what she’d done wrong now. Oh. “You can take the shirt back if you want. I didn’t mean to upset you.” She tried to hide her disappointment.
Rhys turned his face to the ceiling, as if praying for patience. “I don’t care about the fucking shirt,” he rasped, his tone harsh and low. “Keep it, burn it, I don’t care. Please, get dressed.”
Realization slammed into her. The night before he hadn’t been comfortable with her nakedness, either. He doesn’t like seeing me naked. But why? She hurried to obey him, donning the pants and the new shirt. “I’m covered.”
“Give me a minute,” he growled.
She sat on the bed to put the socks on, and that was all the time she managed to keep her mouth shut. “Why do you hate seeing me naked?”
“I don’t hate seeing you naked, Tarani.” He turned to her slowly, giving her a sideways glance before facing her fully. “That’s not the problem at all.”
“What’s the problem, then
?” She wrinkled her nose and ducked her head.
He muttered something—fuck, maybe.
She put the socks on and wiggled her toes. The wool was soft and warm, and she moaned with pleasure. “Oh, this is nice.”
Rhys made a strangled sound and turned back to the wardrobe.
Well, hell. She put the boots on. “If you don’t tell me what’s the problem, I can’t avoid upsetting you again.”
“The problem,” he said, his voice full of rust, “is that I like seeing you naked. I like it too much.”
“Oh.” Her hands stilled over the boot’s buckles. But why would that be—a furious heat crept over neck and covered her face. “Oh!”
“Yeah,” he croaked from his hiding spot.
“Well…” Well what, Tamerah? Why can’t you keep your mouth shut, for crying out loud? She closed the last buckle and stood. “You can come out. I’m dressed.” He didn’t move. She grabbed his shirt and put it back on, over the new one. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that. It won’t happen again.” She would never be careless when shedding her clothes again. Ever.
When he finally stepped away from the wardrobe, a faint, endearing blush colored his cheeks. His lips curled in a lopsided smile. “Don’t be. I should—” His smile died a sudden death, and she’d have given anything to have it back. “I should be able to control myself. I’m not an animal, you know.” He raked his fingers though his hair. “I’m not usually like this.”
“Then we’re even, because I’m not usually so clueless.” She crossed her arms and tilted her head, frowning. “At least, I don’t think I am.”
He barked his half-laugh. “I knew you were going to say that.”
“See? You are beginning to know me.” Tamerah grinned and gestured to her attire. “Thank you for the clothes. They are nice, and fit perfectly.”
