Page 90 of The Spark that Ignites
Emmery spun the ring on her finger, debating if she should she ask him to translate it too. Somehow the ring from Fionn was even more intimate.
His eyes narrowed on her cloak breast pocket. Emmery’s brows drew together as she followed his gaze and he snatched the bag the pig-faced woman had given her, examining it with a frown. He practically growled, “Where did you get this?”
Emmery stretched, but he effortlessly held it out of reach. “That’s mine! Give it back!”
“This is dangerous stuff.” He shoved it in his trouser pocket. “Trust me, you’ll thank me later.”
His sheer audacity had her cheeks flaming. “I highly doubt that.” She crossed her arms. “And if it’s so dangerous, then what areyougoing to do with it?”
“I tend to like dangerous things.” His eyes twinkled with the promise that hewasone of those things.
“So, you have no self-preservation, is what you’re saying?”
“Something like that.” He glanced down at her hand. “Did you want me to read the text on your ring too?”
Her eyes widened. “How did you—”
“You’ve been fidgeting with it for the last few minutes.” He now definitely battled a smile. “You may be beautiful, but you’re obvious. Every thought is written on your face in a bold font.” Emmery pursed her lips at his rudeness and backhanded compliment.
She opened her mouth to hurl a smart remark when he offered his hand. She studied it like a diseased rodent, but his thick leather gloves caught her eye, particularly the sheen, softness, and stitching. They must have cost a fortune. Actually, his clothes too. Both his heavy wool cloak and dark garments beneath were perfectly tailored to his frame.
Peering up at him, her eyes rounding in that innocent way that often produced answers from men, she asked, “Who are you?”
He blinked leisurely, his gaze softening almost imperceptibly as he swiped away some blood trailing his cheekbone, likely from the women his wolf eviscerated. But she swore it wasn’t there moments ago. “Would you like me to tell you what your ring says? Last chance.”
Emmery sucked in a breath before tentatively placing her hand in his. Gods, she really was an imbecile. His warmth seeped through the leather as he turned her hand over to find the text printed on the bottom of the band, and she didn’t miss how gently his fingers traced hers like he was memorizing them,his touch featherlight unlike the sharp jerk that had snapped Guthrie’s neck.
His gaze held hers as he said, “Until my last breath, I will wait.”
Emmery nearly choked. Of course, she recognized that phrase.
But the way he looked at her had her skin tightening, cheeks and neck flushing too as the air between them shifted. She was so unaccustomed to being touched, the feeling of his fingers on hers sent heat through her body. “Thank you for—”
“Your vestige,” he interrupted. “It’s—” He swallowed thickly, his gaze devouring her. “Quite a striking gold. Unique,some might say.”
That comment had her stomach twisting. Did he know who she was? It was impossible to hide her vestige, and it was unique. In fact, she hadn’t seen a single person with anything close to her golden hue. She didn’t know how to reply as his eyes unfocused, distracted by something behind them.
He sighed softly. “Until next time, angel.”
He brushed his lips over the back of her hand before dropping it and taking off down the alley. Grimacing, she wiped her hand on her trousers.
Emmery stood there like an imbecile, unsure how to process what happened but she didn’t dare chase after him. He didn’t seem to be the kind of man who would look kindly on such things. After waiting a few moments, she rounded the corner, nearly colliding with Vesper.
“Bloody Hollow, Emmery.” He clutched his chest. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” His hair was dishevelled, his lips swollen, and cheeks pink. And this time instead of lipstick, several love bites marked his neck. “You’re all flushed, are you alright?”
She rolled her eyes. “I could say the same to you.” Emmery eyed the pack slung over his shoulder. “Did you get what we need?”
Vesper patted his bag in affirmation and glanced up at the sun’s position. “We should head back. Don’t want to get caught in the dark if those hounds decide to show up again.”
The ride back was long, and her mind raced, untangling the text on her watch and ring. She knew where the ring was from, but not the watch. Could it be connected? It left her with too many questions. But most of all, she tried to ignore the way her hand tingled the entire ride back.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The first time haunted Emmery’s dreams the most. Her vilest memory. The deepest scar in her soul. The one that left her gasping for breath and clutching sweaty sheets at night. It was the only time she fought back. Pointlessly. Futilely.
And after that, she found escape to a faraway place in her mind, wrapped in gentle sounds and silken darkness. Where he couldn’t hurt her. Her mind was safe.
She didn’t need to see the blood trickling down her thighs. The fresh ache between her legs was indication enough. She could still feel his bruising hands, the melding sharp and dull pain, her helpless frozen limbs as he pinned her down—
