Page 43 of Legacy of Roses

Rosalie blinked in response to his words as if she didn’t understand the question, although it had been straightforward enough. She licked her lips, and his stomach tightened.

He stepped hurriedly back, hitting the other side of the recess and putting as much room as possible between them in the cramped space. It wasn’t an ideal setting, but it had been the only option that presented itself. His one thought had been to find somewhere out of sight from Blythe and the other girls.

When Rosalie remained silent, he repeated the question.

“Something is clearly bothering you. It was obvious as soon as you walked into the inn. Won’t you please tell me what it is?”

The new knowledge about her history was burning inside him. He wanted to let it all spill out—especially the connection with his mother’s story. Most of all, he wanted to tell her that he would find a way to protect and shield her.

But he didn’t say any of it. He was too afraid of scaring her off. As it was, she looked as if was teetering on the edge of flight.

“Why don’t you explain first?” she flung at him, some of her usual fire returning. “What did serving cake and flirting have to do with protecting me?”

“You noticed the flirting?” he asked, pleased.

He was used to turning his charms on the mostly older inhabitants of the mountain community, so he hadn’t been sure he was doing it right with Blythe and her friends. Especially given his attempts to spread his attention between so many ladies.

Rosalie’s mouth gaped open. “Of course I noticed! It would have been difficult not to.”

Dimitri lowered his voice, although it was hardly necessary given their secluded location. “Do you think he had any spies in there?”

He waited expectantly, but Rosalie merely stared at him as if he’d lost his mind entirely. Hadn’t she understood his plan?

She spoke carefully, as if afraid a louder tone might startle him. “Do I think there are any spies in Otis’s dining room? I can’t imagine it’s likely.”

Disappointment filled Dimitri. Perhaps he had overestimated Jace.

“Do you think the Legacy noticed, at least?” he asked.

“The Legacy?” Her brows rose. “Since it doesn’t have eyes or a conscious mind, it wasn’t watching you as such. But if you’re asking whether you attracted its power by having tea and cakes, I can’t imagine—” She stopped herself abruptly, frowning. “Our server did go invisible. And Otis as well, apparently. Was just your presence enough to do that?” She tipped her head to the side slightly, regarding him quizzically.

He barely held back a smile in response. It was a relief to see her no longer looking as if she was either going to collapse or run, but he didn’t think she would appreciate any levity. She already thought he wasn’t taking the situation seriously enough.

“What exactly were you trying to do in there?” she asked. “Did you want to attract the notice of the Legacy?”

“I was flirting with girls who aren’t you,” he said. “You keep saying that my being here puts you in danger. And now that I know you’re the youngest daughter of a merchant with two sisters and three brothers, I can understand why you’re anxious.”

“Well, obviously,” she said impatiently.

“It wasn’t obvious to me,” he said indignantly. “I didn’t know anything about your family! You just kept insisting that I was pulling you into disaster.”

Rosalie opened her mouth to argue only to slowly close it again, a guilty expression on her face.

“Did you really not know?” she murmured in a small voice. “I’m so used to everyone knowing about my family and what happened to us.”

“Well, I know now,” he said, voice as gentle as he could make it. He hesitated, his eyes focused on her face. “And I know a few other things besides. I’m still not willing to leave, but I’m doing my best to distract both Jace and the Legacy away from you.”

Rosalie’s mouth dropped open. “That’s what you were doing?”

Dimitri sighed. “I guess I wasn’t doing a good job if even you didn’t pick up on it.”

Rosalie closed her eyes briefly before opening them and spearing him with a look he couldn’t interpret.

“I don’t think you understand how big a threat Jace is. He’s already making moves against us, so I don’t think he cares who you’re flirting with. I can’t predict how the Legacy will react, but Jace, at least, won’t be so easily distracted.” Her eyes lost their focus for a moment, and she shivered.

“What does that mean?” Dimitri asked, concern filling him. She still hadn’t told him what had been bothering her all afternoon.

He gripped both her arms, allowing some of his worry to fill his voice. “What is it, Rosalie? What has he done? Have you seen him again?”

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