Page 64 of Tales of a Deadly Devotion
‘Emrys—’ I began, only to stop when I reached his shoulder. To find it had got worse.
Alma stood there too, come to get me ready for the day. One dark eyebrow raised.
Bollocks.
‘I’d … we—’ Useless sounds tumbled from my lips.
‘This isn’t the worst thing I’ve caught you doing,’ was all the mercy she offered in her dry, slightly exasperated tone as she helped a flustered William back to his feet.
‘Alma,’ I hissed, cheeks burning but her irritated eyes slid to Emrys.
‘If there aren’t ghouls under the bed, there are usually cursed papers beneath her pillow,’ she warned, taking hold of William’s arm to steer him away from the door. The boy looking at the ceiling as if praying for the house to somehow take away his memories.
‘Good luck, my lord.’ She smiled wickedly.
‘That wasone time,’ I leant around Emrys to call after her.
‘Gideon is looking for you two,’ she threw back in warning as she shepherded a still-spluttering William down the corridor.
I suppose it was a mercy to be found by William and Alma. I didn’t think my ears could take the exclamations from Gideon.
‘I hope you’re feeling better,’ I called back, still worried after last night – but her devious smile as she turned the corner put me a little at ease. At least she seemed more herself.
The hinges of the door squeaked like a demented mouse’s laugh next to us.
Emrys shut it with more force than necessary. A curse slipping through his lips, frustrated annoyance on his face as he pinched the bridge of his nose and pulled in a deep breath.
I couldn’t stop the laugh that escaped my lips at the ridiculousness of it. Emrys pulled his hand away from his face, those eyes pitch-black as they looked down at me.
‘You should probably put a shirt on.’ I smiled, pressing my palm against the hard muscle of his chest. Especially if we needed to hunt Gideon down before he came to find us.
His hands were suddenly on my hips, as he headed me back against the closed door.
‘Emrys.’ Anticipation swooped through me as he ducked his head.
‘In a moment, Croinn,’ he answered, lips brushing the curve of my cheekbone before they found my own.
Moments later – once the house had allowed Emrys to find his shirt – we found ourselves downstairs, Emrys taking my hand to pull me into a room I’d never seen before. Large bay windows let the morning light stream in, the space dominated by a grand mahogany table with high-backed chairs. Walls decorated in navy and gold wallpaper of ancient flowers and patterns. The chandelier had small crystal birds perched next to the candles.
Gideon slapped the pages ofThe Crow’s Footshut before letting it fall to the table where he sat at the head. A pot of tea steamed next to him with a selection of breakfast scones.
‘Here I was fearing you’d slept in,’ he greeted, voice far too cheery considering his greeting glare as his gaze ran over his brother’s dishevelled appearance. ‘I hope William didn’tinterruptanything.’
‘William is scandalised.’ Emrys’s words were cold with anger.
Gideon let out a small amused huff, his eyes falling back onto the pages ofThe Crow’s Footwith boredom as he brought his teacup to his lips. ‘Good. It’s payback for what I caught him doing with the messenger boy.’
Surprise jolted through me as Emrys looked to the ceiling with a wince. Clearly this wasn’t the first time the little deviant had been caught.
‘There isn’t anything wrong with that,’ I objected. William could do as he pleased with who he pleased. My protective words were met with a further glare from Gideon as I took a seat at the table.
‘I’m not opposed to the act. I’m actually quite fond of it. However … I’d rather not witness it in the stables before I’ve had my coffee,’ Gideon added.
I found myself shocked there were stables.
‘What were you doing by the stables?’ Emrys frowned, seeming genuinely confused by the prospect of his brother doing anything so mundane.
‘I tried going for awalk.’ Gideon grimaced at the word as if it were something foul. ‘Since you’ve forbade me from indulging in my usualthrillingactivities, I don’t have a choice.’
