Page 69 of Dark Night Golden Dawn
“Can you tell me what happened?” He sat next to her on the couch, a respectful distance away, clearly trying to give her space. She realized how afraid he was when he wouldn’t meet her eyes.
“Athan didn’t hurt me. But… I think he planned to.”
Finn nodded, and she saw he was shaking too. The tremors wracking his body weren’t shock or fear though, they were fury. His eyes glowed with that menace she’d seen in Alaric before, faint light emanating from his irises. It wasn’t like the golden light that shone from his skin when they were in bed together, or the bright pure light that had come from their union. This was something different, something deadly and cold.
“Would you hold me?” she pleaded.
In an instant, she was pulled into his lap, his arms curled around her back and hips, his legs cradling her body. He untied her shoes and slipped them off, covering her feet with the blanket that had fallen off her with the sudden movement. His hands slid into her hair, gently pulling through tangles and knots.
Harlow closed her eyes and let her head fall onto Finn’s shoulder, listening to his heartbeat as his fingers skimmed her hip, the outside of her thigh, and tucked themselves behind her knee. Slowly, the shaking subsided, replaced by the awareness of his body heat and the tremble in his fingers as he smoothed her hair.
She’d been so afraid, but she’d escaped on her own power, found this place, and now she was safe. Harlow lifted her face to Finn’s, noting the cloud of concern in his eyes, but also the flare of his nostrils—he scented something of her mounting arousal, before she’d even known she felt it. But as she calmed, she realized she wanted to feel something other than reliving the fear of being trapped in the cab with Athan Sanvier. Her lips parted slightly as she grazed a thumb over Finn’s bottom lip, the square line of his jaw.
He quivered slightly at her touch and as her thumb dragged down the center of his throat, she felt him swallow hard. The rate of his breath increased slightly to match her own and the heat building in her core turned molten as his hand slid from behind her knee to her inner thigh, his hands warm on her bare skin.
“Are we about to be interrupted?” she asked softly.
His stormy eyes, dark with lust, didn’t leave hers and his fingers continued their journey up her inner thigh as his other hand, invisible to her, fiddled with his phone.
“They’ll give us a bit… to talk…” his half-smile was faint, almost sad. “Are you really all right?”
Harlow shook her head. “No, will you help me? I have all this energy… the leftover fear and anxiety… I just need to feel safe.”
“And I make you feel safe?” he asked. There was incredulity in his voice. He didn’t know if she trusted him or not.
“You do,” she murmured. “I was mad at Thea for keeping secrets, and I planned to go to Enzo’s to talk, but I ran into Kate Spencer on my way. She took me to the Three Besoms for a drink and a talk—she asked me to come out with her, but I said no… and I forgot my phone, so she called me a cab…”
“Katecalled you a cab?” That cold quality to his voice was back.
Harlow shook her head. “No, the bartender did. I don’t think Kate was a part of this.”
Finn’s usually sensual mouth made a thin line. “I think you’re being very generous.”
Her head tilted slightly, remembering the presence she’d felt in the bar, and at the ball. “I don’t think I am. There was someone else there, watching me. They were at the ball too. Whoever it is, I think they’re following me.”
The journey his fingers were making on her inner thigh stalled. “How do you know?” His tone indicated curiosity, not disbelief.
“I feel it, a sinister kind of pressure. I don’t know how to describe it otherwise. I think my shadows make it easier for me to use my natural instinct, if that makes any sense.”
Finn nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Yes, from what Alaric has told me about his and Thea’s research into Striders, that does make sense. They were said to develop an almost supernatural instinct for their surroundings. Thea thinks it’s likely a result of so much close contact with the aether. The more you use it, the more honed your senses will become.”
Her head fell against his shoulder, suddenly heavy. “Today has felt years long.”
He laughed softly, hugging her tight. “It really has, hasn’t it? Did Athan say anything to you?”
“Not much. He seemed to be threatening to turn me into a succubus.”
Finn snorted; apparently the idea of it was as ridiculous to him as it had been to her. “He’s always been such an asshole. Did he say anything else?”
Harlow nodded. “He said something about Mark that made me think that he and Olivia planned this together.”
Finn sighed. “The two of them make a terrible pair. They’re beyond petty and Athan has always done whatever Olivia asked. I’m sorry… he got away.”
Harlow shrugged. “Maybe this was revenge for getting Axel back and embarrassing Mark. He’s always been so sensitive about that kind of thing... Oh gods, someone needs to call Larkin and check on her.”
Finn soothed her. “I already did. She and Axel are fine. I have my people watching your building.”
“Your people? You havepeoplewho do things like that? Lackeys?”
