“Another of the things we will discuss later.”
“Will we?”
“Yes,” he confirmed gruffly.“And when we do, I will tell you everything you want to know.”
She raised her brows.“Does that ‘everything’ include the strange references Wallis made to beasts and monsters awakening and what youare, with emphasis on the you?”
“If you wish me to, yes.”Ranulf nodded.“But all you really need to know for now is that your parents are safe.That they are free, and Belle and Zoey have taken them to the warmth and hospitality of Drake House.”
He lightly placed a hand against her cheek so that he could carefully remove the tape from over her mouth.His touch was very gentle against her bruised cheek and swollen lip.
Sephie was sure she could see those silver flames dancing in his eyes again as the intensity of his gaze deepened the moment those injuries were revealed in full.
She just as quickly realized it was probably caused by the candlelight.
Although, if that were the case, wouldn’t those reflective flames in Ranulf’s eyes give off a golden glow rather than a silver one?
She—
Ranulf’s growl distracted her.“Wallis will pay for daring to touch you,” he assured grimly as he moved to stand behind her.He unfastened the rope tying her wrists together at the base of her spine.
Sephie’s cheek and lip hurt, and her wrists were sore from being tied, but… “I’m only interested in my parents’ safety.”
“Wallis and the dynamite have both been neutralized.Even as we speak, he is being contained within our home.”
She eyed Ranulf warily.“What does that mean?”
He tilted his head.“What does a castle usually have beneath its foundations?”
Sephie thought for a moment before her brow cleared.“Dungeons?”
“Exactly.”
Her eyes widened.“Your brothers have locked Wallis in the castle dungeons?”
“Yes.”
“Is it cold down there?”
“Very.”
“Good,” she said with relish.
Ranulf smiled at her vehemence.“The only reason I wasted any time conversing with Wallis earlier was to keep him occupied until my brothers had successfully disarmed the dynamite and released your parents.I was then free to disarm and secure him.”
“But how did you know when— He really can’t hurt any of us again?”She decided this was more important than knowing the details of how that had come about.
For now…
She wanted many more answers later, but right now, she just needed her parents to be safe.
“He will never hurt anyone again,” Ranulf bit out.His gaze lowered to her bruised cheek and what she could feel was a swollen lip.“He hit you?”
She grimaced.“Punched me, actually.”
Ranulf’s jaw tightened.“Then I will ensure he receives that exact same treatment from me.”
“What will happen to him then— You know what?”She gave a dismissive grimace.“I really don’t care what happens to him.I’m just grateful to you and your family for saving all of us.”Sephie launched herself across the space separating them to entwine her arms securely about his neck.“Thank you!Thank you!”she gushed in gratitude before pressing her lips against his.
