Page 50 of White Raven
Wren’s eyes popped, and she turned her attention back to the art. “Of course I do, he was one of the first tattoo artists that was well-known. The dude tattooed literalkings,” Wren moaned, nearly drooling over the pieces. “This is unbelievable. How did you get these?”
“You wouldn’t believe that either,” Nell grinned, returning to the book. “Ask tall, dark and handsome over here.”
Both Sarah and Wren turned toward him in shock, and Athan shrugged. “You fucking don’t,” Wren croaked, immediately jumping to the same conclusion. Sarah stepped over to the piece that Wren had been staring after, and her eyes boggled. She’d seen this exact art a dozen times—on skin.Hisskin.
“Oh, my God…” Sarah whispered, slowly dragging her gaze towards him.
“You just became one of the most interesting people in the world to me, Kane. We’re gonna have a very long damn talk. I need you to tell me everything about this man.” Wrenwas just as starstruck as she was hypnotized by the fact that the impossibility of seeing this artwork was just as ludicrous as knowing that she personally knew someone wearing an exact replica of it—and not just any replica—anoriginal. Done by his very own hands. His very ownneedle.
“It’s a date,” Athan smirked, tossing his hair over his brow and moving towards them. “I caught up with him in London just before we crossed over in the ship. I kept the inspiration and sold it to Nell years ago.”
“It was a fair trade,” Nell added, carefully flipping a page. “That first edition I gave you was probably worth about that much.” She went still and peered up at him over the rim of her glasses, and the look on her face let Sarah know she’d figured out exactly what she was holding. “You’re trying to break my already barely-ticking heart, are you?”
“It’s worthless to me, Nell.” Athan stiffened and wound his arm around Sarah’s back. Clearly this woman knew exactly what he was, and it didn’t seem to bother her. Whatdidbother her, was the fact that his name was written in the god forsaken ledger. She must know a lot more than most. They were collectors of rare things, but Dahlia was a collector of something much more precious. And it suited no one. “There’s no reason for it to be of no value to you…no matter whose name you find in it.”
“You take whatever she wants, Athan,” Nell said, deepening her gaze as her eyes welled. Her voice sounded a bit raspier too. “Think of it as a wedding gift.” She pushed the ledger away, closing it and removing her glasses. “This shouldn’t see the light of day anymore, my boy. It needs to be destroyed. I don’t care how old or valuable it is.”
“Nell, I can’t—”
“You will.” She took a seat in the wooden chair behind her desk. “Don’t argue with me. Take your wife around.”
The respect Sarah felt for this woman immediately blew through the roof. The fact that this old lady lived and breathed fine antiques and wanted nothing more than to take her mate’s pain by destroying something she’d originally deem priceless, spoke volumes about the person she was, and how much she cared for Athan. Her heart felt like it would explode. Her eyes trailed up to where Athan’s gaze was centered on Nell, seemingly shocked.
What is it?
His throat bobbed, and he turned his head slowly, emotion spilling through the darker flecks of blue in his eyes.
She called you my wife…
She sure did. And until he sent that affirmation to the front of her brain, she didn’t realize that she’d hopped right over it like being called his wife was the most natural thing in the world. The smile that tore across her mouth was a force to be reckoned with. Athan pulled her closer and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Have a look around, love,” he whispered.
Wren had made her way to one of the display cases, completely entranced by all the valuables, and Sarah stepped away from Athan’s side to look at the large portfolio along the western wall. There were so many incredibly rare pieces in these glass panes. Guest lists from royal events dating back to the late 1700’s, recovered correspondence from various wars, a letter from Abraham Lincoln to someone she couldn’t quite make out.
“TheAbraham Lincoln?” Sarah squeaked in disbelief.
Nell’s voice boomed from across the room through a breathy chuckle. “Everything in this room is authentic. Getting some of it appraised was a risk. I’ve fought many a museum that made salivating damned offers.” Athan’s presence was strong behind her as she kept flipping through the portfolio towards the back of the collection.
“Hemingway…Austen…P—” Every hair on her body stood at attention as scribblings and typed up drafts that were marked through, and obviously, at one point, crumpled into balls, took every ounce of her focus. “Poe…” she exhaled. Sarah brought her fingertips to her mouth, the other hand trailing lightly down the glass that was housing his rejected pieces. At the lower right corner of one of those pieces was a torn off spot. Her heart raced and her throat hurt with unspent tears as she turned around to face the man who’d waited three centuries to be with her. “This is where you got it. This is the draft.”
“Correct,” he smiled softly.
“I can’t—I can’t take this from her.” Sarah glanced back over her shoulder to look at the rare piece of paper.
“Yes, you can,” Nell interrupted, raising herself out of her little chair. “Sometimes things in this world return to where they belong. Sometimes old women like to give gifts to people they love. And sometimes,” she smiled sweetly, “the worldly things we cherish simply weren’t ours to begin with.” Her floppy shoes scraped across the wooden floor, and it creaked underneath her as she tottled forward. “I knew you’d find your way to it. I know it calls tohimlike a siren. There’s some kind of magic about it that binds the two of you. I want you to take it. I’m not a believer of coincidence.”
“You’re amazing, Miss Nell.”
Nell snorted, waving a hand in front of her in dismissal. “Nobody calls me‘Miss’anything. I’ve found joy in knowing a spectacular individual that shares my taste in antiquities. I’ve been blessed to have seen and experienced so much in my life…one that to any other person, would appear way too long, but to you? Well…you must know by now how short our years can truly be. Oddly enough, I’m too old now to live forever.”
Wren giggled from where she was poking through labels on all Nell’s restoration supplies. “It’s weird to admit how much I understand that.”
“One day it’ll be even more strange to feel it.” Nell directed her attention back to where Athan had pulled Sarah back to his side. “It’s extraordinary to be part of your story. Thank you for it…truly. I wish you both so much happiness.”
To have gone such a long time since her mother’s death with no family to speak of…hearing Nell give her blessing, even being a practical stranger, was something Sarah didn’t realize she needed. It felt warm, and tremendously comforting. Just being around her after seeing her obvious affection for Athan was like coming home and curling up in your grandma’s favorite blanket with chicken soup and a worn-out armchair. This was hands down, the best date she’d ever been on. Even better, Wren was here. One of the only people in her life that she cherished as much as Athan. Even she seemed lighter…happy. Like being in this room had lifted her dampered spirit so much that she forgot all the rough shit she’d been through for a while.
“Thank you so much, Nell.” Athan moved forward, bringing his arms around her and rocking her back and forth in a gentle embrace. Seeing him fall apart for an old lady had Sarah’s eggs dropping. For fuck’s sake.
