“Well, yes, but I wanted to ask you about the collection. Do you know anything about it? There are not many records in the banquet hall about it. A few packing slips and a couple of older ledgers—that’s all I’ve been able to find. And I have emails out to some of the bigger houses, asking if they have records I could use.”
“I’m afraid not. We buy what we like.”
“‘We.’ So Evander and you too.”
“Yes...” I’m not supposed to tell her anything until after the ceremony, but what’s going on at home is taking too damn long. “Yes, Kieren, Evander, and I are what’s called a thunder.”
“A group of dragons.”
“Yes, a group. A very specific group in many ways.”
“The three of you?”
“Yes.” I nod, the end of my marking visible amongst the rest of my tattoos on my left arm. I’m the designated muscleof the thunder. Kieren’s marking goes down his back. Evander’s marking is on his right arm. He’s the charm—the so-called wisdom of the thunder. But fate has no rules: some thunders are two, others five. It’s generally thought that the males of a thunder will find each other within a year of the first two meeting. “Kieren, Evander, and I met at the academy. They were two years behind me.”
“The upperclassman with all the knowledge and power.”
“Power maybe. Knowledge? I’m not sure about that. But I can give a pretty good tour of the surrounding area.” Percy has us down the driveway and into the local village. “Did you see the town on the way in?”
“A little bit when I got off the train. But I was too worried about how the driver was acting when he saw the address on the rideshare app. He was already at the train station curb when he accepted the trip. I don’t think he really looked at the address until I was sitting in his car with my two giant bags.”
“You shouldn’t get into a stranger’s car.” I don’t mean to growl when I say it, but it still comes out that way. A thin tendril of smoke twirls out of my nose as well.
25
RAINE
The inside of the massive town car felt tiny before, but with Roark’s smoke swirling above his head, I’m feeling lightheaded. I glance over at him and then at the binders in the wheel well. With Roark here I won’t do any work. On the positive side, my motion sickness won’t kick in, or at least not as bad as if I was trying to read.
“The village has grown a lot since we started living here. All the restaurants and stores on your right are new.” The growl in his voice is gone.
I lean toward the window. “They all look like they’ve been there a hundred years or so.”
“No, they’re new.”
“What’s your definition of new?”
He laughs but doesn’t answer. I watch the village disappear. Somewhere in there is the little hotel that I’ve booked my sister for Friday night.
We’re long past the town and heading through the valley, past small cottages and the occasional modern house.It’s so green here, and the sky is the bluest of blues I’ve ever experienced.
He names the other small towns we drive through before we get on the highway. Even without him here, I doubt I would have pulled out my work. It’s too beautiful, too different from home. The Allegheny mountains are beautiful, but they’re not the Alps. Most of these are topped with snow, though it’s eighty degrees here in the valley.
Somehow, Roark has slipped across the seat and his leg is pressed against mine. I haven’t said anything. Because I don’t want him to move away. And that’s crazy. I kissed his friend, his... business partner? I’m still not sure what they are to each other.
He leans forward, his shoulders turning to look out my window. “There—there is the old watch tower. It’s the tallest building in this district.” His finger lands on my window, and my pulse pounds a fast rhythm through my body. His cheek is an inch away from mine. I close my eyes. He smells so good, like sage and mahogany.
“It’s majestic.” I slowly turn my head away from the view as it vanishes at highway speeds. “You must really like it to be that enthusiastic about it.”
There’s a warm chuckle form him. “No, I just want to get closer to you.” His other hand lands on my cheek, cupping it. My lips part, and his land on mine.
His kiss is different than Evander’s that night. It was frantic. Relief. This is control and dominance. I’m not a duchess in his arms but a little kitten waiting for him to tell me what to do.
His tongue passes between my lips, prodding into my mouth, and I’m liquid in his arms. My hand grasps his forearm. Rock solid. My other hand lands on his chest. I’m aswirl of emotion. My skin’s on fire. I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted a man more.
His other hand is at the back of my neck. He holds me to him. I want him to take control.
But then my damn brain starts. He’s my boss, a boss who has more secrets than I know facts about him. I pull back. My lips are swollen from his kiss. “I...”
