“Miss Hart—no—Del.” He held up a hand. “I know you’ve seen the letters. I know you’ve been ignoring our calls. I understand you’ve been grieving, and we’ve been patient.” He took a breath and gave her that look. The one people had been doing since the funeral. “But as I’ve been trying to explain, I spoke with your grandfather. He agreed that this tree farm… it’s not going to bounce back. And if the situation is the same as before he passed, you only have a few months left at best.”
His voice had gone soft. Coaxing.
Delaney had grown up with Russell. She knew him. He’d always had everything handed to him, and him speaking about Grandpa agreeing to sell this place?
She saw red.
“Listen, why don’t we go inside and discuss the de—”
“Get off my land.”
Russell flinched but didn’t budge. He let out a long sigh.
“Delaney! I’ve been trying to tell you that there were things Mason and I discussed about the futu—”
“ENOUGH!” She bellowed. “Get the fuck off my land. Now.”
A growl rumbled from somewhere in the trees.
Delaney took a shuddering breath. It wouldn’t do if her alien tried to maim her uninvited guest. Or worse.
She gave a small shake of her head toward the forest. The menacing sounds dissipated.
Russell’s eyes flicked to the tree line.
“Oh man, do you think that’s a mountain lion?” He’d gone a little pale.
She did roll her eyes then.
“Maybe. I’ve seen tracks today. Why don’t we call it here.” She was too tired for this. “Let’s just… talk about this after Christmas, okay?”
Russell gave her a long look. His overly pretty face cracked with pity, and it made her want to smack the shit out of him.
“Fine. Okay.” He shook his head and climbed onto the snowmobile. “But seriously. You need to read what I’ve been sending you, Del. I’m not lying to you. You’re going to run out of time and have nothing left.”
Delaney waved her hand as he started up the machine.
“Be careful, seriously. Mountain lions are no joke and you are out here all alone.” He paused, shaking his head. “Anyway, why don’t you just come stay with us at the lodge for the holidays?”
“I am good out here.”
The blonde man sighed and shook his head, his face pinched. Well, as much as it could with all the plastic surgery he had done over the last few years.
“Alright, Del. If you insist… Try to have a Merry Christmas anyways.”
“Yeah, well. Merry fucking Christmas to you too, Rus.”
Chapter Seven
Maelic
Maelicwasfurious.Theway that human male had looked at Delaney set his teeth on edge. He shifted his wings as she approached, jaw tight.
He didn’t know what they’d spoken about, but her expression was stormy now. The happy light in her eyes had dimmed.
No one should make her feel like that.
“Are you well?” The words blurted out before he could stop them. The need to comfort her was a physical ache.
