Devony could hardly hide her curiosity, either. There was so much she wanted to ask these two women, so much she wanted to know about their lives. But she hadn’t come there on a social call. She wasn’t even sure she and Rafe would be allowed to stay.
“I’d like that, Carys.”
“Good. You’ll even have a chance to meet my brother, Aric. He and his mate, Kaya, are here now from Montreal,” she said, her blue eyes sparkling. “They’ve come with a few other daywalkers who’ve joined the Order as part of a special unit with him. You’ll have to meet them all while you’re here.”
Tavia gently cleared her throat, more than likely to curtail her daughter from divulging Order business to a stranger. She rose, indicating for Carys to join her. “Please, make yourself at home, Devony. As I said, we’re going to let you relax now. If you need anything at all, consider it yours.”
She followed the pair to the door. Carys stepped out with a bright smile and a friendly wave, but Tavia paused there. She pulled Devony into a brief hug.
“I know these are terrible circumstances for our first meeting, but I’m very glad you’re here.” Her fingers were cool and soothing as she smoothed some of Devony’s hair off her face. “I’m only sorry I didn’t get the chance to meet your mother . . . my sister. I’m sure she was a very special woman.”
“She was,” Devony said. “She was the bravest woman I knew.”
Tavia nodded. “I have a feeling she would say the same thing about you, if she were here to see you now.”
Devony swallowed, emotion jamming in her throat at the sentiment, however unwarranted. She wasn’t brave. She was angry. She was hurting. She wanted to deliver pain—not only as retribution for her family now, but for how close she’d come to losing Rafe.
And if Opus thought they could scare her away by torching her home tonight, all they had done was galvanize her need for vengeance into something stronger, steelier.
And now, she had a partner in that battle.
If it had to be the two of them against the rest of the world—even against the Order, if it should come down to that—she was ready for that fight. She was ready for anything, so long as Rafe was at her side.
Breaking into her grim thoughts, Tavia leaned in and kissed her cheek. “We’ll have time to talk some more after you’ve had a chance to settle in.”
Devony managed a smile. “I hope so.”
She closed the door behind the women, realizing just now how exhausted she truly was. And she smelled awful, too. All the death and violence she and Rafe had left behind in the city still clung to her jacket, turtleneck, and jeans. A bath and a fresh change of clothes were more than a temptation; they were a necessity.
She turned on the water to the large soaking tub and traded her clothing for the white silk robe Carys had given her. The cool, glossy fabric was pure decadence against her bare skin. With the warm water slowly gathering in the tub, she checked out the tall bottles of bath oil, settling on a rose-infused vanilla fragrance that smelled almost good enough to eat.
A quiet rap sounded on the door in the other room.
She hurried out, expecting to find Carys or Tavia waiting on the other side.
“Rafe.”
She flew to him. She couldn’t have stayed out of his arms if her life depended on it. He stepped inside with her wrapped in his arms, and shut the door behind them, turning the lock with his mind.
They had only been apart less than an hour since arriving at the Order’s mansion, but to her it felt like an eternity. After the night they had endured, she never wanted to be separated from him again.
“I’ve been worried,” she whispered against his lips. “How did it go?”
“I’m handling it.” He shrugged, dismissive of her concern as he continued to kiss her. “You look gorgeous in this. Smell like vanilla.”
“Carys lent me a few things. I was just about to take a bath.” Her words were all but lost amid the fevered brush of his lips over hers.
“I feel like I’ve been away from you for days.” He tipped her face up to his, a look of torment and wonder in his glittering aquamarine eyes. “Do you have any idea how much I need to feel you in my arms right now?”
Breathless with desire, she shook her head. “Show me.”
He frowned. “I’m covered in grit and grime. Christ, I smell like death.”
“Do I look like I care?”
She pulled him down for her kiss. Her fingers tangled in his hair as her tongue sought his, their hot breaths mingling, bodies crushed together, held there by his strong arms.
Devony whimpered, overcome by the flood of emotions that rushed up on her as Rafe kissed her senseless. She couldn’t explain her desperation for him. Somehow, the moment she saw him in the open doorway just now had felt so fragile—an illusion that could shatter with a single breath.
