Page 17 of The Warlock's Kiss

Adalynn clenched her jaw, and her brows fell even lower. Her nostrils flared with a heavy inhalation. “Do you even know how to offer someone help without being a condescending prick about it?”

Merrick felt an echo of the headache that had developed after he’d fought back her sickness—a dull, distant pulsing between his temples and behind his eyes. He squeezed his eyes shut and caught his lower lip between his teeth to prevent himself from snarling.

“I am not what you would consider a…people person,” he said in as measured a voice as he could manage.

“Obviously,” Danny said.

“Danny!” Adalynn growled.

Danny threw his hands up. “Okay, okay!I’mnot the bad guy here, remember?”

Keeping her eyes locked with Merrick’s, Adalynn crossed her arms over her chest. “Do you want us to stay or not?”

More than I would’ve thought possible mere minutes ago. More than I even realize.

“It would be my pleasure to have you,” he grated through his teeth.

The corners of her mouth twitched, and her lush lips slowly stretched into a grin. Mirth sparkled in her eyes. “You need to practice sounding sincere, but was that so hard? It would be anhonorto accept your invitation.”

Part of him wanted to be annoyed at her, annoyed that she could so quickly shift her mood, annoyed because he should’ve viewed her change in attitude as smugness, as arrogance, as her exerting power over him she did not possess. But hewasn’tannoyed.

Maybe shedidhave some inexplicable power over him.

Seeing her grin like that was nothing short of arousing. That hint of mischief, of wickedness, on her otherwise innocent face urged his imagination toward something much more titillating; he knew he could not allow himself to dwell on such lustful thoughts.

He raised a hand and waved toward the hallway. “After you, then. I trust you remember the way.”

Adalynn and Danny preceded Merrick into the hallway, and he followed them toward the kitchen on the other side of the manor. Danny, who remained in the lead, turned and walked backward, his gaze flicking between Adalynn and Merrick. His attention finally settled on Merrick.

“So, uh…what’s your name?” Danny asked.

“Merrick.”

“Cool. Mine’s Daniel, but most people call me Danny.”

“I didn’t ask.”

Adalynn released a dismissive huff.

Merrick sighed and shook his head as they crossed the foyer and entered the north hallway. “Your whispers carried well down the hallway while you weresneakingaround my home. I overheard your names several times.”

Danny grinned, but his expression swiftly turned into startlement when he tripped, stumbling back a few steps with his arms wheeling.

“Danny, watch where you’re going,” Adalynn said.

“It was the rug,” Danny said. “Jumped up out of nowhere.”

“If you think I’m unpleasant already, wait until you break something else,” Merrick grumbled.

“We haven’t broken anything!” Danny said.

“So the window broke itself mere moments before you came inside?”

“Ididn’t break that. Your window’s on her.”

“Wow, thanks, Danny,” Adalynn said.

Merrick couldn’t stop the corner of his mouth from tilting up. “Quite the dashing young gentleman you are.”

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