Page 9 of Dark of Winter (Wild Haven 1)

“I’m guessing he’s surprised to see me here.” Rhys, Lena, and Archer snap their heads around to look at Miri, obviously not expecting her to say that.

“You guys know each other?” Archer smiles at Miri and I seriously consider grabbing the back of his head and smashing it into the bar. He wouldn’t look so pretty with a bloody, broken nose.

“Ah yeah. Sort of. I mean, not really. We met briefly years ago. I had no idea you lived here, though.” Miri frowns at me, her face scrunched up in annoyance as if that fact irritates her.

Really? I stand a little taller, as if I can present a better front than the shocked asshole I walked in as. Why? I have no damn idea. Am I flexing my muscles? Shit.

Rhys snorts behind the bar, and I narrow my eyes. The bastard can totally see into my head. His gentle heckling isn’t off base though. What the hell has gotten into me? I’ve never been interested in anyone’s opinion, and that includes the woman sitting in front of me.

I sneer and turn back to look at her, my eyes scanning from the top of her head to the toes of her boots, schooling my face into a mask of disinterest. Almost in eerie unison, Rhys, Lena, and Archer slowly turn their heads to stare at me, various looks of surprise, confusion and glee sparkling in their eyes. I ignore them and glower at Miri, taking a seat at the bar and questioning again why I bothered coming down here.

Rhys is cutting orange slices across from me and the tang of citrus flavors the air. Somehow, I can still smell Miri. I scowl into my water. I don’t drink, I never touch the stuff. My father is a drunk piece of shit, and I would never do anything that remotely made me like him.

“Are you trying to start your drink on fire?”

I flick my eyes up to Rhys, who’s smirking at me. “What?”

“You’re staring at it so hard that either the water is going to burst into flames or your head. How do you know her?” He nods down the bar toward Miri, his curiosity apparent as well as a spark of interest that’s a little too warm as he looks at her.

“I don’t,” I grumble, my eyes drawn to her again. She’s laughing at something Lena’s said and they look like old friends. I crack my knuckles when what I really want is to slam my fist into something, to have pain break over the irritation and focus my mind.

Rhys says something else, but I’m not paying attention. At some point Archer comes over and tries to dig into what’s going on in my head, but I brush him off. I should just go, but I’m tethered to the spot, like I can’t leave until Miri does.

When Miri moves back toward the bathrooms, I push away from the bar, my movements not owned by me.

“—said she’s looking for a shop, too. Where are you going?”

I walk away from Archer mid-sentence and leave him and Rhys with stunned looks on their faces.

“Do you think that’s a good idea, Davis?” Rhys calls out after me, but I ignore him, too.

The bathrooms are down a hallway towards the back of the bar that also leads to the stockroom. Boxes full of empty bottles are stacked back here, but otherwise, the hall is empty. Not surprising since we’re the only ones in the entire bar. I’m leaning against the wall, just down from the bathrooms, when Miri comes out.

Her eyes widen and her full mouth puckers into a questioning pout. Her gaze travels down my body and then snaps back up to mine, as if she didn’t mean to let it wander. It sends a bolt of heat straight to my dick, and I almost groan out loud. This woman is fucking trouble.

“What are you doing here?” The question comes out in a bark that even surprises me. Miri’s face morphs into a frown as she angles her head and studies me. She’s noting every scar, every flaw that’s exposed, but also the ones underneath my skin as well. I’ve never had someone lay me open with a single look. Maybe I’m imagining it, but Miri has the ability to see the truth of me.

“Well, Davis, thanks for asking so politely. I’m here to open a business and fix up an old house. Not that it’s really any of your concern.” She leans her shoulder against the wall across from me, looking like she’s got all the time in the world to hash this out. I’m suddenly feeling like it would be best to get away from her as quickly as possible. Instead, I take a step toward her, pulled by an invisible string that tugs me closer.

“Why would you come here?” I’m right in her face now. She shifts, pressing her back against the wall, and I cage her in with my hands on either side of her head. Dark brown eyes gaze up at me, the bite of fire and intrigue clear in their depths. She’s not scared of me, even though she should be. She should run far away from me.

“How is that any of your business?” Miri inhales, causing her chest to brush against mine, making my pulse leap in response. My hands curl into fists by her head as I fight the pressing need to touch her. Our noses nearly brush, and her scent has overtaken all my senses, making me high on her.

“It’s my business because I made sure you were safe. I took you somewhere no one could find you, and you decide to show up here?” What started as a growl grows far too loud for how close we are.

Miri’s hands come up to grip my shirt, her breathing short and ragged. My head dips and my lips hover so close to hers that her little pants paint over my mouth, and the hard-on I’ve had since I walked into the bar gets even more uncomfortable. I swear I can taste her on my tongue, and she’s a lot sweeter than she looks.

“Miri?” Lena calls down the hall, her words a hammer to ice, breaking our bubble into a thousand fractured pieces. I step back, pulling my stocking cap off and running a hand through my hair. Glancing down, I find Miri’s hands still tangled in my shirt. She drops them, looking a little dazed herself.

“Yeah, here,” Miri calls back, sliding past me and grazing her body against mine in the process.

“See you around, Davis. You and I have some things to discuss,” she crows, low and sultry, as she walks away from me.

I groan as I tip my head back, waiting for all the sensations thrumming through my body to calm the fuck down. Miri coming here can’t be a coincidence. I knew we were linked from the moment I set eyes on her, but now I’m starting to think it’s bigger than that. Does Miri know about the Axis? That damn magical coven from all those years ago? Does her being here mean our magic is pulling us together?

It takes some time before I collect myself and make my way back into the bar.

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