Page 23 of Savage Hunter

Cross nods. “It pays to have people walking in the trenches feeding me intel.”

He’s not wrong. “It’s how you stay at the top of the food chain, but I’m not here for you or me. I’m here for her.”

Cross lifts a heavy shoulder. I like how he hasn’t once looked at his gun since I took a seat. It says a lot about a man who trusts his abilities but remains prepared all the same.

“You seem like a hunter with purpose and we have a mutual target. Help us and you will have the backing of the Lords.”

Five

Avery, thirteen months after the betrayal

“My beautiful Harmonia.”

The whispered male voice is low and rough. Sensual.

My eyes drift open slowly to find Wolfe leaning over me, his body hard and waiting for my touch. Warmth fills me. Dark lashes fall over lust-filled eyes.

“You’ve come for me.”

“Harmonia.”

The brush of sea air against my skin and the sensations of his voice work in tandem to ease the agony living in my soul.

“Yes, Wolfe?”

“I feel you. Your tears. Your pain. You’re pulling me to you. But where are you?”

A slow grin moves over my lips. “I’m right here, Wolfe. Don’t you feel me?”

His fingers comb through my hair and the smile on his face is gentle as he brings his hand to cup the side of my face. My heart aches as much as my body does to feel his heat, his touch.

“Where are you, my beautiful Harmonia?”

I reach for him. “Here. I’m here. Touch me,” I hear myself say. My breath halts in my throat. I watch him lower his weight on the bed and moan when the pressure of his size engulfs me. He stretches alongside me, an arm going beneath my neck. The other comes around me. Hungry lips find the delicate skin of my neck. I arch into him, starving for the feel of his passion on my skin.

“Wolfe, I’ve missed you.” My arms move to his shoulders and then my hands glide over hard muscles.

Everything in the fringes of my vision shimmers in and out of focus. Muted browns become stark reds. The heat of his body, the pressure of his weight is suddenly gone and I’m standing in my mother’s courtyard. Rivers of red wash over the hard cobblestone to spread over my toes. I try to step out of the way but there’s nowhere to go; no escaping the blood. Dark shifting shadows surround me. And then he’s there. Wolfe reaches for me, but no matter how hard I try to clasp his hand, I can’t reach him.

“Wolfe!” I cry out.

His lips move, but I can’t hear the words coming from his mouth. The fear in his eyes sends my heart racing. I can’t breathe.

“Wolfe!”

The dream shatters. The pain is like nothing I have ever experienced before. To have him close and yet not have him at all is worse than losing him the first time.

I sit up, clutching the blankets to my chest and sucking in harsh breaths. My heart pounds wildly.

“Wolfe?” I frantically cast my eyes around the room, but only silence greets me. Renewed grief claws at my heart. Tears burn the rims of my eyes and I let them freely fall. I look for any clues that he was here, that my dream is finally a reality, but only find an empty room. Empty bed. And an empty heart.

How long I sit like this, I don’t know. I accepted a long time that the connection tying me to Wolfe died a long time ago. But my heart refuses to listen. I wish my head would take over and I could get on with my life.

I stab my finger into my hair and pull back a knotted mess. I must have tossed and turned like a madwoman.

My lashes fall closed.

Wolfe doesn’t want you, a cynical voice grates in the back of my head. Wolfe wouldn’t want to touch this. Not if he knew all the things I’ve done to survive.

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