Page 58 of Legacy of Roses

She wrinkled her nose. “Spoilsport!”

“If you want to exchange insults, you’ll need to call the parrot back.” He held up his arms invitingly.

He had meant it half in jest, but to his surprise, she didn’t hesitate. Sliding straight out of the tree, she dropped confidently into his waiting arms. He caught her around the thighs with ease, supporting her weight as he gazed up at her.

She quirked an eyebrow at him, and he quickly relaxed his hold, letting her slide down to land gently on the ground. For a second they stayed there, their bodies face-to-face and his arms wrapped around her.

He could feel the warmth of her like a burning furnace, and he wanted to tighten his hold and press her firmly against him. But the strange, uncomfortable feel of the hair that covered him made him let go and step back instead. No girl would want to be held close by someone the Legacy had turned into a Beast. And Rosalie in particular had an aversion to the Legacy. She hadn’t been fond of him before, but she had to be even less so now that he was a constant reminder of it.

If he wasn’t careful, he was going to forget that Rosalie was only playacting falling in love with him. She was there to save her family, and he couldn’t cross the line.

He cleared his throat. “Shall we have a look at the orange orchard?”

Rosalie didn’t respond immediately. She was regarding him strangely, as if surprised by her own thoughts—whatever they might be. He wished—intensely—that he could read them, just for a moment. But it was probably for the best that he didn’t know her reaction to his nearness.

He gestured in the direction of the orchard, and she started, nodding and averting her face. He walked beside her in silence,heading for the trees that stretched along the northern side of the manor. He wished they hadn’t started on such poor terms—wished the Legacy hadn’t gotten between them from the moment they met. If she could have met him as just Dimitri, not the man connected with the abandoned manor, would she have seen him differently?

His face was directed ahead, but all his focus was on the small frame of the woman beside him. Thanks to his concentration, he nearly missed the sound of hushed voices from the orchard ahead.

Whisking his arm around Rosalie’s waist, he spun behind the last of the tall hedges in one smooth movement, pulling her with him. She looked up at him wide-eyed, but she didn’t make a sound. Had she heard the intruders as well?

For a moment her nearness made his thoughts stutter and disappear, his whole focus on the soft feel of her waist and her eyes looking up at him. Then his ears caught another sound, snapping his attention back to the lurking danger.

He raised a finger to his lips, inclining his head in the direction of the orchard, but she was already nodding. They both went still, straining to hear more.

“This one is locked too,” a man said with a quiet grunt. “That’s the sixth locked window. How serious do you think Jace was about not leaving any sign we were here?”

“Given the potential payday?” a second man replied. “I’d say very serious.”

The first man grunted again.

Dimitri met Rosalie’s eyes and mouthedscouts. She nodded agreement. He tried to remember if he’d locked the door behind them. He was fairly sure he’d been distracted by Rosalie’s presence and had forgotten.

“Maybe we should have come at night after all,” the second man said.

“You think they wouldn’t be locked then?” the first man asked sarcastically. “Now was our most likely chance of finding something open. Besides, the whole point is to get a glimpse of her so we can confirm to Jace that she’s here.”

The second man chuckled. “Getting a sight of the gold and jewels would do just as well, I’d say.”

“I don’t know,” the first man said doubtfully. “If it was anyone else…but the boss is funny about that girl. I’ve heard they have a history, and you saw him with her.”

Dimitri’s arm tightened around Rosalie’s waist, a reminder that he was still holding her. He wanted to grasp her tighter—to never let her go—but he forced himself to drop his arm.

His other hand had strayed to his sword hilt, but when he looked down at it, all he could see was the hair pouring out of his shirt cuff. There were only two men out there, and Dimitri was confident in his ability to deal with them in any ordinary situation. But if he confronted them, they would know in a glance that he had turned into a Beast. Jace would have all the information he needed.

Jace’s men couldn’t be allowed to see Rosalie either, since that was their purpose in lurking around the manor in the first place. But how could he scare the men off if neither of them could be seen?

A rustle of leaves beside them made him jump. A flash of color followed as a parrot fluttered its wings. It cocked its head and regarded them through one bright, beady eye.

Rosalie’s eyes narrowed, and she glanced between the arguing intruders and the bird. When she looked at Dimitri, she raised her eyebrows in a silent question, a mischievous smile on her lips.

Unfortunately he had no idea what wild scheme she had in mind, so he could only stare back blankly. She moved away from him, tiptoeing toward the bird with a finger pressed to her lips.

It continued to regard her quietly, making Dimitri wonder if it really did understand. When she reached it, Rosalie pointed in the direction of the arguing men and then at her own throat.

“Will you help us, Sir Parrot?” she whispered. “Help us defend the castle from marauders! I’ll lead them to the willow. Then it will be your turn.”

The bird fluffed up its feathers and launched into the air. Dimitri sighed. He wasn’t sure what use the parrot could have been anyway.

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