That had been another of Lucas’s threats. If he couldn’t mate Rowan, he’d challenge Arawn for the right to rule over the Underworld. That fight would take place in a separate realm. The loser would stay there for an eternity. Alone.
“An idle threat. Lucas wants out of Hell which is why he wants me. The mortal world is a lot closer to Heaven than where he is now. Why would—”
A flash of gold caught her eye. She leaned closer to the windowpane. Allie walked across the yard. Metallic ribbons—gold, silver, and red—were woven into the thick braid hanging down her back. Another sundress, white with pink flowers, hung loosely on her thin frame, but she’d added a teal shawl to the outfit, no doubt because of the cooler temperature. She moved purposefully toward the far end of the open ground, near the path leading to the greenhouse.
Allie’s destination became clear a moment later. Trevor leaned against a tree just inside the woods. He turned at Allie’s approach and smiled. No sexual interest showed in his expression. His gaze remained firmly on her face, and his shoulders slumped with her approach as if he didn’t want to talk to her.
“It looks as if Trevor couldn’t sleep either. I wonder why?” Rhys asked.
Actually, she wondered the same. Had the encounter they’d shared the night before kept him awake? She hoped so. She didn’t want to be the only one affected by it. Not only had the sex been amazing, the reason behind Trevor’s loving mattered more. He’d wanted her to know he cared. About her. That she wasn’t dead. That she had something to look forward to.
He’d succeeded in proving his points. That was why she’d retreated to the library to pace and to think about Alana’s words. The only male who’d ever cared enough to make her feel worthy as a person—as a woman—had been Kai.
“I wonder why Allie isn’t sleeping. Maybe she’s having more issues than we thought?” Rowan asked to redirect Rhys’s interest away from her and Trevor.
“She doesn’t sleep during the day.”
“Is that why you don’t? So you can keep an eye on her?”
One brow raised, Rhys looked at her. “I don’t have time to sleep. We have a world to save. That has nothing to do with Allie. She’s merely an unfortunate human who’s gotten wrapped up in our battle.”
“But you can find time to stand here and talk to me?”
“That’s part of my—”
“Part of your role as second in the Hunt. You have to know the strengths and weaknesses of the Teulu.” She focused on Trevor. Allie had moved closer to him. What did the female want from him? Just because Trevor wasn’t interested in her didn’t mean Allie didn’t want him. Trevor was good-looking. Hot. Deliciously sexy. He had an aura that drew females to him. He’d certainly caught Rowan’s interest, but Allie would be hurt when Trevor turned her down. Then Trevor would feel bad. Rowan curled her fists. “And you think I’m the next to face my challenge.”
“Have you inspected your mark today?”
“No.” Her mind had been too occupied with thoughts of soul mates and reincarnation.
“Take your glove off.”
She might have argued, but the sight of Allie’s hand on Trevor’s bicep forced Rowan’s compliance. She wanted to find out what Allie and Trevor were talking about.
Rowan yanked the glove off and turned her palm over. “There. See? It’s not…”
The denial got stuck in her throat. The jagged black line extended about a half inch more than it had the previous day.
Rhys wrapped his fingers around the back of her hand and inspected the mark. “I was right. You’re next.” He raised his gaze to hers. “Stay out of Hell, sister. That’s an order.”
She yanked her hand back and scrubbed her palm against her skirt as if she could wipe away the cursed mark. “You just said you think my challenge will involve Lucas. I can’t face my fate if I avoid him.”
“Until you accept your connection to Trevor, you won’t be ready to conquer the temptation Lucas poses. Trevor is either the reincarnation of your mate or your second chance at love. Figure it out and embrace it before you even think about going to the Underworld.”
In a perfect world, she’d agree. Unfortunately, life wasn’t that simple. The only way to overcome weakness was to face it. She’d learned that during the time she’d been imprisoned. She hadn’t been able to hide from her pain then. And she wasn’t about to do so now. If Trevor was her future, she wanted to figure out how to secure it so she could experience life again, exactly as she had the night before while in Trevor’s arms.
“Don’t worry, brother.” She faced Rhys. “I’ll win this round of the Triad’s game.”
All she had to do was secure Arawn’s agreement to make Trevor a Huntsman. No matter the pain Arawn was experiencing over Minerva’s infidelity, he would grant Rowan’s request. Arawn wanted his children happy. Once she convinced him Trevor would make her happy, her father would make Trevor a rider.
Oh yes. This would be the easiest game she ever played.
Chapter Eight
The smile Trevor plastered on his face hurt his jaw. He’d read somewhere that more muscles were needed to frown than smile, but he didn’t agree, especially when he was trying to make it genuine. Allie didn’t need to be exposed to his crappy mood. She was finally starting to get her life back in order. The excitement sparkling in her blue eyes proved it. Only, he couldn’t imagine why.
“I’m glad you feel like getting out of the house, but why would you want to go there?” The same restaurant and bar Trevor had been at the previous night with Rowan. “There’s nothing in that dump you’ll want to see.”
“Yes. There is.” Grinning, she rubbed her hands together. “And it’s a secret.”
He chuckled. Okay, maybe he didn’t need to fake his mood around Allie. “Yeah? What is it?”
She huffed. “Well, I’m not going to tell you. It won’t be a secret anymore.”
“That’s cruel. You know curiosity will get the better of me, and I’ll have to find out.”
“Which is why I’m not telling you. I need you to agree to sneak me out of the house.”
“You’re not a prisoner here. Ask one of the Hunters to go. As long as it’s not at night, they’ll be happy to take you. Even if it is, they’ll make it work. Send their hounds out hunting for them or whatever. You live here. They want you happy.”
After being pulled into the Huntsmen’s world, it was too dangerous for either him or Allie to leave. That was the official explanation he’d gotten. The Unseelie Court would hunt them down if only to hurt the Hunters. Here, on the estate, they were safe. Harley had erected a permanent magical cloak around their property that only allowed those living here to enter or leave. Her fairy skills had been growing every day.
Allie glanced at the house. “I don’t want them to know I’m meeting anyone.”
He frowned. “Who are you meeting? Last I heard, you didn’t have a boyfriend.”
Actually, she’d never had one. The moment any guy showed any interest in her became the trigger for her to avoid them. Her parents had thought she was gay because of that habit. Trevor didn’t believe it for a minute. He’d seen the way she looked at some men when they weren’t aware, as if she wanted to devour them.
“I don’t. I’m meeting with…” She pressed her lips together.
“If you don’t want the others to know, that’s your business, but I’m your friend.”
She laid her hand on his arm and stepped closer. “Which is why I came to you. Please. I don’t know who else to turn to.”
Yeah, he would help her, even if he didn’t want to go with her. How was he supposed to say no to her when she had the pleading look in her eyes? “You’re asking me to break Calan’s rule about leaving the house without protection. You know how much I’m trying to earn his respect. I want to ride, hunt.”
“I do, but…” She fisted the sleeve of his shirt. “I made a promise. I can’t break it. If you won’t help me, I’ll go alone.”
“No way.” For o
ne, she wasn’t strong enough to fight off an attacker, whether it was a human or one of the members of the Unseelie Court. “Forget it. You are not going alone. You threaten that again, and I’ll tell Rhys. He’ll never let you out of his sight.”
The conflicted expression she wore sparked his instincts. She wasn’t the type of person to disobey rules unless she had a good reason.
“What’s really going on? Does this have to do with Craig or one of the other redcaps? Have they been in touch? Threatened you?” Allie didn’t have any close relatives left—Raul had killed them—but she had friends. She also knew any one of them might be in danger. The only way to protect them had been to cut ties with them, at least on the surface. She still interacted with them on social media by means of a fake account, not ideal, but the best they’d been able to do.
“No.” She didn’t hesitate in answering. Her body language didn’t change either.
“Okay, then what?”
She glanced over her shoulder and groaned. He followed the direction of her gaze. Rowan and Rhys were heading their way. Trevor should’ve known he wouldn’t have been able to escape the notice of his living shadow. She must’ve woken and noticed he was gone.
“We’ve been found.” And he still hadn’t decided how he was going to act toward Rowan.
Allie tugged at his shoulders. He bent his head closer to hers, and she lowered her voice. “My real mother works there. I found her contact info in my adopted mom’s phone. It was in the box of stuff Ian brought to me from the house. Please, Trevor. I need to talk to her. Warn her of the danger she might be in. I can’t do that over the phone. She’ll think I’m crazy.”
“You might bring more danger if you go to her.”
“I won’t. I’ll be careful. Trust me.” Her words rushed out in a breath of sound he barely heard.
He met her panicked gaze and considered his choices, but he could only come up with one. If he refused her, she’d go on her own. The determination was stamped on her face. He cut a quick look at Rowan and Rhys. They were almost upon them. Decision time. He squeezed Allie’s hand. “Okay. We’ll find a way.”
“Find a way to do what?” Rowan stepped next to them.
“To convince Rhys to smile,” Allie announced with a grin on her face.
Rowan snorted. “Good luck with that.”
Rhys glared at Allie. “I smile.”
“Yeah?” Allie cocked a brow. “When? Because I’ve never seen it.”
“You should pay better attention to me, then, because I do smile.”
“I watch you, Rhys. You don’t smile.”
Rhys crossed his arms. “You don’t watch me or listen to me. The only thing you’re concerned about is that phone of yours. Put it away, and—”
“Zip it, brother. Allie is trying to cover up something with a topic she knows will get you fired up. It’s called diversion.”
“Allie?” Rhys spoke her name as if shocked she’d do such a thing.
“What?” Allie shrugged. “It was working.”
Trevor looked from Rhys’s disbelieving face to Allie’s shit-eating grin and barely stifled a chuckle. Allie was sweet and caring. She wasn’t innocent. If anything, she was devious. She knew how to manipulate people. The agreement she’d coerced out of him proved it.
Rowan stepped closer, forcing Allie to either move or press their bodies together. Allie stepped back. “What were you really discussing?”
Trevor settled his hands on Rowan’s waist. Her breath hitched, and he inwardly berated himself for the automatic reaction. Memories of the previous night tugged at him. The moment she’d stepped into his personal space, he’d acted on his subconscious need for her. He craved her. Simple as that.
“Don’t worry about it.” He lifted Rowan and set her away from him. “It doesn’t concern you or the Huntsmen. It’s a private project for Allie.”
Rowan looked over her shoulder at Allie. The move caused Rowan’s top to gape, offering a teasing glimpse of her breast, the one marked by her Huntsman’s mark. The hound’s eye showed from behind the edge of her shirt. “Another environmental cause, huh?”
Allie gave a small half shrug in answer.
Rowan shook her head, her exasperation easy to see, then faced Trevor. “I need to talk to you.”
The serious expression she wore didn’t bode well for him. No doubt she wanted to talk about the previous night. He’d hoped to avoid the topic. Best they got it over with, though. The hours he’d spent contemplating his words hadn’t helped. He was going to end up hurting her. That was a given. His goal of becoming a Hunter had to come before anything he might want with Rowan.
Only one question remained—how was he going to salvage things after he became a rider? Being with her last night had convinced him of the truth. He wanted her in his life, in his bed.
He motioned toward the path leading into the woods. “Sure. Let’s walk. I want to show you something anyway. I think you’ll like it.”
“What is it?”
He skimmed his gaze over her. A mistake. He should’ve waited until they were alone to drink in the sight of her. The loose top barely reached the waistband of the short skirt. Her hair hung freely over her shoulders, and a pair of heeled sandals added inches to her already tall frame, bringing her eye level but also drawing attention to her leanly muscled legs.
The sight of her sculpted thighs stirred more memories of the previous night. They’d felt good wrapped around his waist. He bet they’d feel equally as good draped over his shoulders.
His cock twitched. He bit his cheek hard to stop the lust from consuming him. That reaction wasn’t appropriate to have in front of Allie or Rhys. It was bad enough Zeph had caught them together. The only saving grace in that situation had been the fact that they’d been clothed.
He hadn’t even yanked his jeans down. His cock had been free to sink into Rowan’s warmth. That had been good enough. Better than good. Probably the best sex he’d ever experienced, and he hadn’t even undressed her. Worshiped her. Memorized every inch of her.
Gotten to see her lips stretched wide around his cock.
“Well?” Rowan moved closer, dangerously close.
Her scent wrapped around him. Aroused him. He inhaled deeply, drugging himself on her personal fragrance while berating himself. There were more important things to deal with than what Rowan did to his peace of mind and his body. Too bad he couldn’t focus on them.
“It’s a surprise.” More like a present.
“Really?” A mischievous glint sparked in her eyes, brightening the green color. “Is it for me?”
“Yeah.” He shoved his hands in his pockets to avoid reaching for her hand. “It’s for you.”
She waved him forward. “Then lead the way.”
Chapter Nine
Guilt churned Rowan’s gut. Trevor’s hands on her hips had caused the roiling in her stomach. He’d triggered a memory with the simple gesture. Kai had often greeted her the same way, especially around her brothers. Kissing her or engaging in other public displays of affection wasn’t respectful. Her siblings didn’t have anyone to love them. That had been Kai’s rationale for the simple sign of his love. She’d treasured it as much as she had cherished the passionate nights they’d shared.
With Trevor’s gaze on her and his palms resting on her hips, she’d been transported back in time, not to when Kai had lived but to the previous night in Trevor’s arms. Need had spiraled through her. Rowan had wanted to press her body against his and feel him. All of him—his body, his heart, his soul. She wanted to wrap him around her and never let Trevor go.
In that moment, Kai’s memory held no power over her, and that had felt like a betrayal to their love. But was it wrong to have enjoyed the moment with Trevor? Perhaps it was just another step in healing her cracked soul and overcoming the Triad’s challenge.
“My goddess cried for you.” Alana’s words repeated in Rowan’s head.
Minerva’s sacrifice in the name of love ensured soul mat
es found each other again. If Trevor was hers, then wanting him wasn’t wrong, not emotionally or physically. Neither was letting Trevor rewrite those memories she’d cherished for over a millennium. Why mourn the events of one lifetime when she had the chance to pick up where they had left off—happy and in love.
She cut a quick glance at Trevor. Hands shoved deep in his pockets as if he were trying not to hold her, he walked beside her. He hadn’t spoken since they’d left Rhys and Allie behind. She didn’t mind the silence. It had given her time to get her emotions in order.
“Where is this present for me stashed?”
Gaze straight ahead, he said, “I never said it was a present.”
“No. You said it was a surprise. For me.” She waited a moment, but he didn’t speak or look at her. “That’s what presents are. Personal surprises.”
“It’s not like it has your name on it or anything. Anybody can use it.”
She was dying to know what “it” was, but securing his admission that he’d gotten her something special was more important.
A scan of the area didn’t offer any clues. She’d familiarized herself with the estate’s property and knew they were headed toward the greenhouse, but the building was in disrepair. Had he cleaned it for her? If so, he was in for a shock. Her gardening skills were pathetic.
“But you bought it with me in mind, right?”
“I didn’t buy you anything.”
She stepped into his path, colliding with him. He steadied her with his hands on her waist. A moment passed, then another. He didn’t pull her closer, but his gaze did shift from her eyes to her mouth. Finally, he exhaled slowly and slid his palms to her hips. His touch branded her and sent butterflies to flight in her belly. The sensation of excitement was better than the guilt that had left her uneasy. She embraced it eagerly.
“You’re lucky I was paying attention, or we both would’ve landed on our asses.”
“As long as you cushioned my fall, I wouldn’t have complained.”
Hunger flared in his eyes. As quickly as it came, it disappeared. An indifferent mask slipped over his features. He dropped his hands and moved around her. “Come on. I want to show you what I built.”
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