“Calm down. I’m getting to that.”
Their voices sounded mildly familiar, tugging on foggy memories.
“Well, be quick about it!” She shuddered as she looked at Whisper. “There are far too many lunatics these days and they’re incredibly rude for spying over our wall with that flying contraption. Did you see what they did to the cherry blossom that Meilin planted? I have a good mind to kick them off the cliff.”
“I’m with you on that.” The old man nodded sagely. “We don’t tolerate any outsiders up here. Especially after what happened.”
“Tell Steward Lin to trigger the security system.” The woman tugged on the man’s arm. “Bet they won’t lurk about when bullets start firing.”
“We can’t justkillthem, wife.”
“Why not? You said it yourself that they’re outsiders and outsiders killed the entire Yunhui Dynasty. Including poor little Luxin.”
I staggered a little as their conversation became personal, revealing who they were.
Fuck, I never expected to see them again. Never even dreamed they were still alive.
Rook shifted even closer as if she sensed my rapidly fraying mental health.
I couldfeelher even without touching her—cool and sharp, soothing the edges of my burning like snow falling over a forest fire.
It irritated me.
Grounded me.
Proved that no matter what I became or how dangerous I was...she’d collared, shackled, and ruined me.
Grabbing her wrist, I placed her behind me as the couple finally drew to a stop before us and I hoped to God I wouldn’t hurt them.
Chapter Thirty-Two
LUCIEN STOPPED BREATHING AS THE elderly couple came to a stop a short distance away, their eyes locked on the panther.
Whisper stalked forward and snarled.
“Come here, you stupid beast,” Lucien commanded, his voice gravelly and tense.
Whisper immediately went to his side, glancing worriedly at his master.
It didn’t escape my notice that Lucien placed his free hand on Whisper’s scruff—not to hold the cat at bay, but to hold himself. His other hand stayed locked around my wrist, his fingers digging into Whisper and me as if begging both of us to stop him if he lost control.
The longer we stood in a stand-off with the weathered couple, the more rigid he became.
I couldfeelhim.
Feel him becoming dangerously hot as his heat pulsed in slow, scorching waves. His flames slipped into my bones, setting up a second fireplace inside me—searing me alive, causing frost to bloom over my heart. An icy breeze gathered, percolating inmy belly as if summoned by Lucien’s pyre—delivering not just pain but hazy auras, tinnitus, and vertigo.
The woman broke first, unable to withstand the silence any longer. “Whoareyou?” She narrowed her black eyes, speaking English instead of Chinese. I hadn’t understood what she’d whispered to her husband while coming toward us, but it couldn’t have been anything good.
Whisper growled, sending the pair skittering backward. The old man almost fell over, his cane swinging wildly.
Lucien flinched as if he was going to offer help but then resumed his impersonation of a statue. “The cat won’t hurt you.”
“You expect us to believe that?” the woman snapped. “He’s a menace.You’rea menace. You and that damn helicopter tore up our gardens and terrorised our carp.” Crossing her arms, her scrappy temper matched her short height. She looked as if she’d been a headmistress in another life—the kind who used a ruler on misbehaving children.
“You’re lost,” she snipped, brushing back silvering black hair. “There aren’t any tourist attractions here. No reason for you to visit.” Pointing toward the road that snaked through the forest in the distance, she added, “The closest village is that way. I suggest you start walking.” She grinned like a little savage. “It gets dark out here. No lights you see. Only the stars and they don’t shine on outsiders.”
“Wife...” the old man muttered. “Easy.”
