Page 44 of Never the Roses

“Perhaps you could come see them,” she offered impulsively, regretting it when his stern visage cracked into that wolfish grin.

“Thank you,” he replied gravely. “But I won’t impose. Not until you’ve decided what to do about me.”

The man seemed to be able to read her thoughts, aggravating and infuriating. “Maybe I’ve already decided.” Though she hadn’t, had she?

“When you’re certain instead of a maybe, you can inform me of your decision. Madame.” He bowed, crisp and military, nothing like Tristan’s elaborate ones. “I await your visit.” Again with the wolfish smile. “We can take turns, exchanging visits.”

“Is this another of your traps?” she asked with renewed suspicion. “The sort you dress up as invitations.”

A light of surprise gleamed in his sere face. “You do know something about me. No trap, Dreamthief. I would never deprive you of your hard-won freedom, even if I could.”

“You couldn’t,” she retorted.

“I know,” he returned, sounding more pleased than rueful. “You’re like your animals. Powerful, magical, you stay only where you choose. I’m asking you to choose me.”

“If I do visit, I’ll likely just return the book while you’re sleeping,” she cautioned him, ignoring the flutter of pleasure at those words.

“Your prerogative, obviously,” he allowed, “as I have yet to discover a way to counter your enchantment, but I reserve the right to keep chipping at the problem of warding your magic—and to name you a coward if you do elect to avoid me.”

Ugh.She hated that he knew how to get to her, but he did.Giving him a narrow glare as she pocketed the novel again, she said, “I am not afraid of you, Stormbreaker.”

He eased closer, overwhelming her with his powerful presence, tempting her to touch and take. “Aren’t you?” he taunted. “I think you are afraid of me, a little bit, though not in the way you meant just now. Neither of us is practiced at being vulnerable.”

Her throat tight, heart feeling overlarge in her chest, she denied it with a crisp shake of her head, not trusting her voice or words. With a sigh of regret, he stepped back. “Of the two of us, you are the one who boldly takes what she wants—your freedom from debt, my books, the roses. I didn’t thinkyouwould be the one to be too afraid to take anything else you want.”

“You are assuming that I wantyou,” she retorted, stung.

“I don’t have to assume. I know. That kiss went two ways, sorceress, and you cannot pretend to me that you didn’t feel what I did. The question is whether you’re willing to come to me and ask for it, thief. No more stealing from me.”

“Or else?” she challenged recklessly.

His gaze glittered with answering challenge. “You forget you asked me to remake your wards. They’re mine to manipulate now.”

“I can replace them with my own,” she fired back, regretting that lapse.

He shrugged. “Any ward you can make, I can break. In that arena, I have the advantage. I won’t exploit it lightly, but I will use it if I have to. Treat me like your enemy and I will be one.”

Her breath caught. “You wouldn’tdare.”

“Wouldn’t I?” he asked almost idly. “You know my reputation, Oneira. You decide how far you want to push me.”

“You know my reputation, too. In a duel between us, I would win,” she spat.

“Are you sure?” He leaned in, lips grazing the shell of her earas he whispered in it. “I don’t think you are—which makes me an irresistible challenge.”

“It doesn’t,” she snapped, jerking her head away, willing her traitorously aroused body to simmer down. She’d been far too long without sex. That was her problem. “Besides, I won’t steal from you again, so this exchange of threats is moot.”

He shrugged, unperturbed. “Then I look forward to your visit.” He turned to face the sea, then looked back at her, smiling warmly as if they hadn’t just had an extraordinary exchange. “This has been fun. A pleasant afternoon of intimate conversation with my alluring enemy.”

She groaned, and cast her eyes to the sky. “Leave already, Your Eminence. However it is that you plan to go. Not via the Dream, I assume.”

“No.” He shuddered, and she didn’t think that was all a pretense. “I’ll leave that to you.” He waved a hand and a small ship appeared, rocking on the waves just offshore. Squinting against the light on the water, Oneira cursed herself under her breath for not having known it was there, an aggravation exacerbated by Stearanos’s knowing smile.

“Not as fast as traveling by Dream, but quicker than an ordinary ship with a bit of judicious tinkering with distance, and not nearly as treacherous.” He had the audacity to wink at her. “Stealthy, too. No one in all the world can detect my travels in this ship, so your secret is safe with me. Call me and I will come to you. Otherwise, I’ll await your visit.”

“You will wait a long time,” she informed him with all the dignity she could muster.

“Yes, Dreamthief,” he replied with the solemnity of a vow. “I will. I’ll wait forever for you, if need be. I am a patient man, something about me you’ll find most rewarding.”

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