Page 120 of Anywhere

“Yer afraid of me?”

“Naw, jus nervous dat me brain no remember why I came ta find ya once I be touchin’ ya,” I said.

He laughed, and the sound was warm and rich as it flowed over my body. It was the kind of sound you wanted to wrap yourself in and hold all night long.

“Well den, ya best be tellin’ me what ya came ‘ere for before I be touchin’ ya.” He stepped in close enough that I could feel the heat of his body and could smell the fresh soap on his skin. “Cause I’ma likin’ da idea of distractin’ ya.”

Clearing my throat, I lifted my gaze to his. “I was talkin’ wit Mari…” I said.

His smile slipped to become an emotionless mask. “Aye?”

“I be tellin’ her dat I will only stay if me sista, Keeva, and da rest of da coven can be comin’ ‘ere. She said dat ya would be good wit it, but I need ta hear da words comin’ from yer mouth.”

His body language changed, and he relaxed. The tension fled like the room had taken a deep breath. “Aye, she be right. Dat is fine wit me. How many be in yer coven?”

“Twenty-tree, includin’ me and Keeva,” I said as a wave of relief washed over me.

Rhys held out his hand again, and I slipped mine into his. The contact made me sigh, and I had the strongest urge to rub against him like a cat. It was just as strange of a reaction to him as Rook.

“Da castle has more den enough room for dat many. More, if need be.”

I pointed out the door. “Ya sure? Dere be a lot of people in da room wit da fire.”

Rhys grumbled something under his breath that I didn’t catch. “Dat be me Uncle Rayland. He be more into entertainin’ than runnin’ da Faction. Never be mindin’ him an’ if the likes of any be mean ta ya, let me know. Yer da lady of da house, and dey should be showin’ ya respect.” His jaw tensed like he was grinding his teeth. “My cousins ‘ave a knack for not bein’ so friendly.”

I wasn’t sure what that meant, but it sounded like I was important to him, and that made me smile. Rhys ran his thumb over the back of my hand, and it tickled with magic.

“Ever play chess?” he asked.

I shook my head. He tugged me over to a small table by the window with two large chairs and an unusual board with squares and miniature statues lined up along the top.

“Dis was me father’s office before he was killed. I like ta come sit in ‘ere ta work, ‘cause it makes it feel like he still be close and helpin’ me when I be lost.”

“Yer lost? But ya be at yer home.”

Rhys laughed again, and it lit up his whole face. It made me blush with images I blamed Rook for putting in my head.

“I’ma only feelin’ lost, not dat I cannie find me way around. Here, I’ma goin’ show ya how ta play,” he said and went to sit down, but I gripped his hand to stop him.

“I need ta be askin’ ya somethin’ else.” Lifting my chin, I stared him in those slivery depths that could carry you away as surely as the turbulent, rolling clouds outside. Before I lost my nerve, I blurted out the question. “Ya still be lovin’ Mari?”

His face blanched, and his eyes went wide. With a flick of his hand, the door to the office closed with a bang, making me jump.

“I dinnie tink dis be a conversation we should be havin’,” he said, but didn’t pull away. “Movin’ here be our new start.” He pointed back and forth between us.

Pulling my hand away from his, I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a hard stare. “I dinnie know if dis is gonna work,” I said, surprised with my own anger.

His mouth fell open, and he looked outside. “I’ma no’ sure what ta say. I’m wantin’ us ta work, Elewyen, and me be puttin’ da past in da past.”

I held up my hand. “Ya do still be in love wit her? Aye or no?”

He licked his lips and looked like he’d rather jump out the window than be in the same room with me. “Um…I’ma workin’ toward da future wit ya and Rook.” He crossed his arms over his big chest and looked down at the ground. I didn’t like how he was dancing around the answer.

I shook my head as the anger bubbled higher. How could I be with someone and trust them when they could throw away the person they loved? What did that say about how he would treat me?

“I be tinkin’ it be best if me go.” Rhys stepped in my way.

“I be sowry, Elewyen. I cannie help it.”