Darling.
He’d only called her that a couple of times before, and it had always had the same effect then as it did now. Because it felt sincere in a way that his other pet names did not.
Had one of her parents called her that? She couldn’t remember. Maybe that was why she felt that faint spark of warmth whenever this older man called her some stupid endearment that likely meant nothing to him but mockery.
“How long have you been in here?”
“Long enough.”
“Did you stop by my room?”
“Mmm.” He flicked another appreciative glance at her shirtdress. “Should I?”
“Someone tried.” She spoke harshly, her voice raw with fear. “That’s why I came in here. I didn’t feel safe in my room. I thought—”
“Nobody would find you in the library?”
“I wasscared.”
“Well, don’t shout up the house. Someone might hear—and you wouldn’t want that.” He tipped his head back, baring the long, smooth column of his throat as he scrubbed his free hand over his unshaven face. “Close the door.”
Nadine closed it with a creak. They hadn’t done anything but none of this felt innocent, and after Nathaniel’s twisted words and implications, she suspected that the other Cullravens might have some unconventional ideas when it came to midnight liaisons in their library. With the dark hallway occluded, she felt a little safer.
“I’m leaving.”
“You’ve put yourself on the wrong side of the door then,” he pointed out.
“Not from this room. From the house. From Argentum. I think something bad is happening.”
“Fuck.” Cal laughed—a harsh, ugly sound that made him seem broken. “Don’t go making me feel sorry for you, Nadine. I’m not naturally disposed toward guilt.”
“Why are you in here?” she asked, hugging herself.
“It’s my house and I can’t sleep, and I suddenly find myself far less inclined to.” He got up sinuously and Nadine heard herself make a small noise when he closed the distance between them in two easy strides, taking the candle from her hand and blowing it out in a single puff. “Why areyouhere?”
“I had a nightmare. A bad one.”
“Oh?”
“There was a dead deer.” She choked a little. “Someone was touching me in the dark. There were people watching. And then—”
You fucked me and you didn’t have any eyes.
“And then?” he prompted intensely.
She could feel the heat of him through her nightshirt. He was standing far too close. If he took so much as a single step, their bodies would touch.
“I—I don’t remember,” she lied, looking anywhere but at his chest. “But it didn’t feel like a dream. Especially not when someone came to my room.” She swallowed hard. “I miss my sister. I tried sohardto find her, but I want to leave. I hate myself for it—but I want to leave. I just can’t do this anymore.”
“It’s too late to leave, I think.” He ran his hand up her hip and plucked at where her nipple was stiffening against the fabric. “And this isn’t because of your sister.”
She jumped back from him and hit the bookshelf, causing the scent of leather and rotting paper to engulf her in its floral-vanilla haze.It’s too late to leave?
“Tell me about your dreams,” he said, letting his hand fall back to his hip with an odd smile.
“No.” She folded her arms. “Dreams aren’t real. What do you mean, it’s too late to leave?”
“Dreams are real enough,” he said, ignoring her question. “Real enough to propel you from your bed at this early hour. I’m sure people in town have warned you enough about me and my brother. About all the things we do to women.” He tilted his head. “Myth makes might, darling. Even in dreams, apparently.”
