The memory of it coats my tongue, and I grimace, too. “Yeah, she’s not really one for wasting time making her potions palatable.”
It’s never been in her nature to soften sharp edges. For better or worse, my sister is practical and straight to the point, no fluff or sugar.
“I’m glad I could get you to her in time.”
Callum’s voice is softer now, tinged with worry and regret and a dozen other things that make me want to squirm uncomfortably in my chair.
I sip my tea and fight back the urge to shrug it off with some disparaging comment.
He did save my life, after all. It would be a real asshole move to minimize it.
“You made sure I could stay in the hunt another day, at least.” I try for a joke and earn myself another one of those not-quite-smiles.
What would it be like to see him smile for real?
Canhe even smile for real? This grumpy, surly, obstinate demon?
“I suppose I did,” Callum allows. “And speaking of the hunt, I still think we should work together.”
“Really? After what you saw yesterday? I’d think you’d rather pass on partnering up with such a disaster.”
“You’ll have to let me be the judge of that.”
Goddess, it’s attractive. The way his eyes turn all warm and liquid when he says something nice to me. Like molten rubies, brilliant and rare.
“And what would I get out of this partnership?”
I shouldn’t be entertaining this.
Partnering up with Callum is only going to complicate things. It’s only going to give him the impression I’m open to him being my… mate. That I want more. That we’re on the same page.
But when I close my eyes, I can still hear the thwack of the arrow as it embedded itself in the tree just a few inches from my skull. I can still smell the putrid stink of those spores and feel my lungs closing.
And that was just the first day of me really trying to find the heart.
Doesn’t exactly bode well for the rest of the hunt.
But half a fae queen’s bounty is still a damn good prize, and my odds of winning it are guaranteed to be better if I’m not in this alone.
Callum settles back into his seat and crosses his arms over his chest. “I have a few skills that may come in handy.”
The way the motion puts his thick biceps on full display is obscene, truly. And the words don’t help either.
Mind out of the gutter, Seren.
“Oh really? Such as?”
“I’ve worked for fortune seekers and bounty hunters for the better part of my adult life.”
“And you’re not? A fortune seeker or a bounty hunter?”
A cloud passes over his expression, something I can’t read before he hides it with a shrug.
“Easier to let others deal with the hassle. I’m just the hired muscle.”
I’ve got a feeling he’s a hell of a lot more than that, and that there’s plenty he’s not telling me. After last night and everything I told him, I almost want to press the issue, but let it be for now.
Asking for his secrets is another sure-fire way to imply there’s more going on here than there is.
