Page 98 of Tales of a Monstrous Heart
‘Tell me you’re all right.’ The command was so gentle. Spoken like a confession.
‘I’m all right,’ I whispered in the small space between us, unsteady. I was overcome with the foolish urge to kiss him, and the equally foolish thought that he might kiss me back. To taste him like I’d never wanted to taste anything before.
Deep relief in those strange eyes as they shifted to a stormy grey.
He’d come looking for me. In a way nobody had before. This impossible man who still held too many secrets. Yet I found myself unable to care about any of them as my fingers curled around the collar of his ruined shirt and I pressed my lips gently against the scarred side of his cheek, feeling the rough texture of his stubble beneath the chaste kiss along with the slight tension in his jaw.
His hand came to settle at the curve of my waist, head turning the barest inch, so our noses touched. His breath was unsteady and his eyes pitch black as his full bottom lip barely brushed my own.
The strong hand at my waist curled around me to follow the line of my spine. His other hand gently cupping my jaw as my palms came to rest against the broad expanse of his chest. Feeling his warmth through the thin cotton. My breath stuttered through my lips with anticipation, as my fingers curled into his shirt.
His thumb glided across my flush-stained cheekbone with reverence before he found the curve and soft point of my ear. Following the shape as if it was something beautifully delicate.
‘Kat.’ My name sounded like a prayer from his lips, settling in some forbidden place inside of me. Warm and tempting.
Then a horrid crashing commotion echoed through the study, making him go rigid in my hold.
‘Blackthorn !’ an unfamiliar voice shouted down the hallway. Another crash drew us apart, as a cry of alarm and a beastly roar rang out. Emrys turned with a curse and strode for the study doorway with murderous intent.
I slid off the desk, lightly limping after him. The sting in my leg was nothing but a dull ache by now but still, it wasn’t happy bearing too much weight.
I rounded the door, holding onto it, and there, sprawled on the floor of the entryway, was Thean Page. Pinning them to the tiles with bared teeth stood a great beast, a manticore. The stinger of its tail hovered over its shoulder, threatening to bury itself into what appeared to be a genuinely distressed voyav.
The eyes of the beast were a familiar bright green.
‘Alma,’ I breathed, somehow both fearful and overwhelmed by the sight of her.
Her enormous head turned to consider me with irritation, as if I’d personally let the intruder in. She growled low in her throat, carefully moving off Thean, paws making the floor creak with the sheer size of her.
Thean scrambled to their feet, annoyed breaths escaping their lips. Alma turned with another growl, shifting into her tiny tabby cat form in the blink of an eye as she trotted down the hall and darted into one of the rooms. An extra little bounce in her step.
‘You better have a damn good reason for being here, Thean.’ Emrys’s tone was clipped and practically murderous, as he crossed his arms and leant back against the doorframe next to me.
‘Interrupt something, did I?’ The voyav grinned, smoothing their dark auburn hair, looking between myself and Emrys with a knowing glint in their eye.
Thankfully, there was a sharp slam before a barefoot Alma came padding back down the hall, finishing tying the belt of a threadbare and bobbled housecoat that was far too big for her, dust clinging to its shoulders. A deathly scowl on her face.
‘Maids used to be more agreeable.’ Thean grinned as they fixed their elaborate maroon jacket, with gaudy red and silver beads stitched at the shoulders. The silk frill of their shirt billowing over the collar.
‘You shouldn’t enter people’s houses unannounced !’ Alma snapped, bracing her clawed hands on her hips in warning.
‘I couldn’t agree more, Miss Darcy,’ Emrys added darkly.
‘What a fine collection of oddities you’ve acquired, Emrys,’ Thean mocked, watching Alma stiffen in response.
‘Charming,’ she sneered. ‘Why don’t I make you squeal again?’
‘I’ll squeal for you anytime, sweetheart, just as long as you have two legs next time.’ The voyav winked, leering.
Alma curled her lip with disgust, turning her attention sharply to me, finally taking both myself and Emrys in. What a sorry sight we must have been. ‘What on earth happened to you both?’
‘It’s a long story,’ Emrys replied through clenched teeth, still glaring at Thean.
‘If it doesn’t involve debauchery, save us the boredom.’ Thean sighed, folding their arms with impatience.
It had almost involved debauchery and, at that thought, the voyav’s eyes came to my flushed face, their smile devious.
‘Who is this vulgar guest and why am I burdened with his presence?’ Alma pressed, looking at Emrys expectantly, who was still too busy glaring.
