Page 114 of Song of the Dark Wood

His own grief meant he’d become much too attached. He’d forgotten himself, and if he didn’t remember now, she’d be the one to suffer for it.

He was unaccustomed to such intense emotions. Centuries of life had dulled everything, the monotony turning down the volume on joy, sadness, and lust evenly. But they all tore through him like a tempest now, and it was hard to sort hers from his. His emotions seemed to shift and make room for hers, reacting and responding to each one. When she was sad, he felt guilt. When she was angry, his temper stoked to match hers. On and on it went until he felt like he was ready to crawl out of his immortal skin.

He shifted in his chair, staring into the roaring fire in the ornate fireplace in his sitting room.

“Doing all right, lad?” Charlie asked.

“Some mistakes were made,” Conor gritted out. He was so lost in thought he’d forgotten Charlie was sitting next to him.Where Rowan belongs. He shoved the rogue thought to the back of his mind.

“Curious mistakes, I’d say.” Charlie gave him no grace at all. He was relentless in his encouragement to lure Rowan back and apologize. “For what it’s worth, I know you’ve lived a life that’s made you accustomed to misery, but the only one who will change that is you.”

Conor finally looked at the reaper. “What kind of future could we possibly have?”

“We could speculate, but there’s only one real way to find out,” Charlie said. “I’ve always been a fan of playing it safe myself. I’d certainly prefer to keep things as they are, and the easiest way to do that is for you to destroy her instead of pining for her. But I think that you deserve more happiness than you’ll let yourself have. I think that girl is tougher than she looks, and I think she probably deserves the truth, as hard as that might be.”

“You’ve certainly come full circle,” Conor laughed darkly.

“Well, a week of watching you brood around the mansion is about all I can take,” Charlie teased. “Think it over. She’ll be here tomorrow for the weekly delivery. You’ve got time to decide how to handle it.”

Conor heldhis breath as Rowan walked to the gates and knelt. Her red cloak stood out against the freshly fallen snow. He felt her fury radiating off her like heat off a summer meadow.

The souls came in a flurry of activity, but mercifully they all seemed at peace, and made a swift transition. When he was finished and the portal was sealed, he came to stand in front of Rowan. She kept her eyes averted.

“Rowan,” he murmured.

She met his gaze and stole the breath from his lungs. If looks could kill, Conor would have been immediately eviscerated. She looked affronted that he dared to speak her name.

“Come in for some cider,” Conor said.

Rowan laughed bitterly. “I’d rather run naked off the trail into the Dark Wood.”

Conor bit back a surprised chuckle. “That’s a sight I’d like to behold.”

Her eyes narrowed as she climbed to her feet, ignoring his outstretched hand.

“Come inside, Rowan,” he said more gently.

“Is that a command, O great Wolf?” she asked with faux reverence.

He knew that Rowan was attempting to scold him, but her viciousness only succeeded in turning him on.

“Does it need to be?” Conor asked. He felt pathetic pleading, but he’d been desperate for the sight of her. Now that she was in front of him, he didn’t want her to run off so soon.

“If you want me to come in, it does,” she ground out.

He considered the options. If he let her run back to Ballybrine, he wouldn’t see her again for a week. The thought made him feel sick. Conor didn’t think he could take another week of knowing how upset she was when he could do nothing to comfort her. He couldn’t take another week of knowing he was the cause. Maybe Charlie was right, and he should just tell her everything from the beginning. Maybe he simply found her anger incredibly compelling, and he enjoyed playing with fire.

“Fine, consider it a command, little Red,” he taunted. “It’s only fair after I’ve been forced to endure your heartache all week.”

Rowan blushed. “How lovely to have all of my worst hurts on display for your amusement,” she rasped as she walked into the keep.

Her scent was an assault on his senses as she brushed by him. Desire pounded through him relentlessly as he followed her inside. He clenched his fists to try to tamp down what he felt.

Rowan furiously unbuttoned her cloak and tossed it on a chair, standing before him in a red wool dress. She hadn’t even bothered to make herself up, though that did nothing to reduce his desire for her. Her open rebellion against her role only made her more unexpected and fascinating.

In the firelight, he could see the toll his carelessness had taken on her. Her eyes were puffy and rimmed in dark circles. Her hair was unusually messy, fastened in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. He wanted to pull it out and scatter the hairpins around the room. He wanted to messy it with his fingers while he kissed her.

Her eyes narrowed as his gaze dropped to her lips.

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