Page 47 of Hounded
It was a warning. A threat.
I stumbled down the steps and into the square of the front yard, staying inside Sully’s ward barrier and hoping it would somehow shield me, too.
“Apologies, Miss,” I said. “I thought it was someone else.”
“AndIthought you were a gentleman, Lorenzo.” Moira clucked her tongue. “Don’t tell me I have to reschool you on combatandmanners.”
I thought of the kennels, and the arena, and the collar tight around my neck. My neck where Indy kissed me…
I touched my fingertips to the spot where his lips had been, then replied quietly, “No, Miss.”
“Good boy.”
Long ago, I had craved her praise, but my desire to please waned over the years. Now, I wished only to avoidher scorn, and it seemed I was failing even at that.
“You’re needed here,” Moira declared. “Urgently.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Is it your place to ask?”
The speed and spite of her retort jarred me, and I swallowed. “No, Miss.”
“Then don’t,” she snapped. I could almost hear the smile being reaffixed to her face before she concluded, “Get down here. Now.”
I held the phone several seconds after the line went dead, staring down the path that led between parked motorhomes toward the distant horizon. If I had known a century ago that signing my life into the service of a demon meant bending my knee in eternal submission, would I have agreed to Moira’s terms? It felt like less and less of a fair trade as time dragged on.
“Was that the missus?” Indy’s voice rang out, and I whirled around to find him sitting on the Airstream’s steps. Sunlight gilded the aluminum shell of the trailer and ringed a halo around the top of his head, nestling in his curls.
He looked heavenly. So perfect, and I wanted to run to him. We could go inside and cuddle on the couch, and he could kiss me until his lips went numb. I wouldn’t stop him.
But Moira was waiting, and this wasn’t really my home. My soul belonged in Hell, and the beautiful man staring at me now wasn’t really my Indy. My Indy, and all the Indys who had been mine before, were gone.
“I told you, I don’t have anyone,” I reminded him. “I did, but he died.”
“Oh, shit.” Indy dipped back, stricken. “I’m sorry.”
His apology failed to appease me because I wanted an explanation. We were in love. I was happy. I thought Indy was, too, and I didn’t understand why it all went wrong. But this new Indy didn’t have the answer to that question, so I never would, either.
I blew a breath to clear my hair from where it had fallen across my face. “I have to go.” I waggled my cellphone meaningfully. “Work.”
Indy rose and descended the steps to stand on level ground with me. He’d shed his boots at some point, lowering his height so the top of his head barely came to my chin.
“That was your boss?” He snorted. “They must have you on a short leash.”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Okay, well…” He looked toward the parking lot where my truck waited, then shrugged. “Thanks for coming.”
It felt so formal, so stilted that I regretted everything. I preferred his advances to this retreat. Maybe I shouldn’t have told him about the death. I’d done it to punish him, but the person I was angry at was gone.
“Thankyou,” I said as sincerely as I could. “For everything.”
He bounced his shoulders again. “Not sure what I did besides make things awkward, but you’re welcome.”
We stood longer than was wise with Moira doubtlessly counting the seconds until my arrival. Finally, I stepped backward.
“Call me?” I meant it as a statement, but it soundeduncertain, so I followed it with, “If you need anything.”
