Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 140780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Silence fell.
Dillon never looked away from me. It took an age before he nodded. “Fine.” Finishing the wine, he placed the empty jar on the coffee table and shifted to the edge of the chair. “I’ll be straight with you. I’ll tell you everything because...I agree. It’s about damn time we had this conversation.”
I swallowed hard.
“Before your parents died, I did have different reasons for guarding you.” He frowned, dropping his stare to the floor. “No matter where you went or what you did, I was tasked in reporting everything back. They wanted to know who you saw, what mood you were in, if anything unusual happened.” The sentence lingered in the air, heavy and loud.
He caught my eyes again. “However, when your parents passed away, no one came for the reports I’d grown used to compiling. No one paid any attention to me. Frank Lampton gave me carte blanche to do whatever was necessary to protect you and I think the rest of them forgot I was even on the payroll.” His voice softened. “So if you’re asking me if I’ve reported where you’ve been, who you’ve met, and the differences in you, my answer is no. I haven’t. And I wouldn’t. Not now.”
Sinking back against the tan leather seat, he added, “I’ve grown incredibly fond of you, Rook. You’re a pain in my ass and I miss sleeping in my own bed but...I would never betray you.”
“Why?” Lucien growled. “If you’re so used to spying on her, why would you turn a blind eye when things are obviously not quite right with her.” He smiled thinly. “And don’t think I didn’t notice your interest when she helped calm me down. I know you saw her frosting. Are you honestly going to sit there and tell me you wouldn’t sell her out?”
The question was eerily close to the one he’d asked me the first time he’d slept in my bed—after he’d stumbled into my pavilion in Cinderkeep and used me to take away his pain.
Exhaling heavily, Dillon shook his head. “No, I wouldn’t. Not just because Rook has always been special, but because...she seems to have found someone who’s similar to herself.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Lucien snapped.
“Money doesn’t matter that much to me,” Dillon replied with a weary shrug. “So there isn’t a figure that would make me blab. Besides, I’m not the nosy type, especially about things I don’t understand. I’m...superstitious in that way. There will always be things in this world that don’t make sense and...the huldufólk have proven that there are unexplainable forces that you just don’t mess with.”
“Hulldoo folk?” Lucien asked.
“Huldufólk. Back home in Iceland, you don’t build on certain sites. Don’t dig where the ground feels wrong—”
Lucien scoffed lightly.
Dillon didn’t find it funny. “Laugh all you want, but when machinery keeps failing in the same spot and livestock refuse to go near a certain hillside...you learn to leave certain things alone and respect what you can’t explain.” Arching his chin at me, he added softly, “I’ve learned to respect Rook in the same way.”
His eyes narrowed on me. “If you’re doubting my loyalty then let me assure you, I’m not trying to keep you safe for any other reason than I like you. Alive. Besides.” He stretched out his legs, his black boots crossing at the ankles. “If you died, I’d be unemployed. And after you? I’d be bored to fucking tears guarding anyone else.”
I laughed a little.
Lucien’s jaw flexed.
Whisper never took his eyes off Dillon.
“I have a question.” Dillon pointed at the panther. “Is that thing going to eat me the moment I turn my back?”
“That thing is the least of your problems.” Lucien’s fire kindled again.
“Easy,” I whispered, resting my hand on his arm that was slung arrogantly over my legs.
He glowered at me before visibly restraining himself.
“Now that I’ve answered your questions...is there somewhere I can crash?” Dillon yawned. “I’m exhausted.”
“Eh...about that.” I shot a wary look at Lucien before saying, “Perhaps it would be best if you headed home? You could take some time off and—”
“No way.” Dillon snapped upright. “If you’re planning on hanging around here for a bit then I’ll stay.”
“But—”
“Give me a chance to actually do my job and protect you, Rook. I’m staying.”
“Before you invite yourself into my home,” Lucien said softly, leaning forward to cage me in his arms. “It’s my turn to ask a question.”
“Fine.” Dillon sniffed. “What is it?”
Lucien smiled like a man about to unleash hell. “Are you in love with her?”
“Excuse me?” Dillon’s eyebrows flew up.
“Are you in love with her?” Lucien went fatally still.
My heart pounded. I already knew the answer. There was nothing—
“I love her,” Dillon said plainly.
What?!
The room turned blisteringly hot as Lucien turned into a human incense burner.
“I love her,” Dillon repeated like an idiot. “But...not in the way you’re implying.” His blue gaze fell on mine, softening with affection. “I love her like a pesky sister. I love her because she’s become my only family. And—”