Page 39 of Changelings
She was growing upset, but before she could spiral into true tears, Balar caught her chin with his thumb and finger. “Open your mouth,” he murmured against her lips.
A rush of relief coursed through her, followed by a surge of warmth when his tongue touched hers. Imogen opened her mouth wider, gasping when he teased his tongue against hers, sliding it up and down before nipping her lower lip.
Fates, she didn’t know it could feel like this.
She didn’t know where the basket went, only that she was grasping his tunic with both hands. Imogen could feel the way his heart thudded in his chest beneath her fists, resonant but slower than hers, which beat so quickly, she feared it’d break free of her ribs.
With his tongue in her mouth and hands kneading at her back, there wasn’t time to think. It was all Imogen could do to get a breath, to move her own lips with his. She chased down the spark of pleasure, sinking into his warmth.
I didn’t know, I didn’t know—
“Shadow, look out! Ack—!”
Snick.
Imogen and Balar wrenched apart, looking in the direction of where Kiri had shouted from. The cool air almost stung her swollen lips, the chill exaggerated from Balar’s absence.
Her head swam with unfulfilled lust and burgeoning worry—she cast her eyes about, looking for Kiri and Shadow.
I know that sound.
Alarm rose in her chest, and Imogen quickly picked the basket up again to follow Balar.
They found Kiri and Shadow down a small berm. A trail of slick leaves had been disturbed, revealing the dull glint of iron hidden amongst the forest detritus.
Stepping down the slope, Balar reached for Kiri. “Are you all right?”
“Be careful!” Imogen called. She pointed at the trap Kiri had set off. “It might snap again.”
Taking the hand Balar offered, Imogen hustled down the berm. She picked up a stick to brush away the rest of the leaves, revealing the full apparatus of the trap. Balar and Kiri hissed to see the wicked iron teeth.
With her stick, Imogen prodded the spring and lever, ensuring it wouldn’t reset itself.
“This is Dermott’s doing,” she growled. “I’ve told him not to use these on my land.”
“Where does this Dermott live?”
Imogen looked up at the low, threatening cadence of Balar’s voice. A predator looked back at her, an alpha manticore who brooked no argument.
“That could’ve hurt you or Kiri badly,” he rumbled.
Imogen nodded. “Yes. But thankfully it didn’t.” Carefully using the stick and the toe of her boot, she dug the trap anchor out of the ground to hold it up by the chain. “Another for my collection. I’ll bankrupt him soon enough.”
That rumbling growl still vibrating in his chest, Balar took the trap from her. “I will carry it. And you will tell me where I can find Dermott.”
Hmm, not a request. “I’m not sure I should, with that look on your face.”
Balar arched a single brow, an imperious alpha manticore displeased with being defied. For some reason, the sight sent a thrill down Imogen’s middle to pool between her legs.
Kiri clapped Balar’s shoulder. “Ah, I’m all right,seska. No harm done.”
“This time.” He nodded at Kiri. “Let’s go back. It’s getting late.”
Understanding, Kiri nodded and patted his leg to call Shadow. “Let’s go home,rusa.”
The two of them scampered off, apparently unaffected by the close call.
It was a close call, to be sure, and Imogen’s belly burned with outrage over another trap on her land. She couldn’t say when this one had been placed—it wasn’t close to the cottage, so perhaps Dermott had been out here weeks ago. The thought troubled her; she didn’t like the idea of him anywhere on her land.
