“No,” she said. “That’s whatyoudo.” Fire glimmered in the depths of her eyes, making him ache to provoke her further, if only to admire the resultant conflagration.
“Hm. That’s true. But unlike our dear mayor, my family’s history can’t be packaged so prettily for the public.” He slid a thumb through his beltloops. “It’s not all silver and secrets.”
“Lots of scandals, then?” she asked disapprovingly.
“Oh tons.”And I’m willing to make at least one more.
“Is that why your family left England? Or were they kicked out? For the scandals.”
It seemed Dottie had been feeling particularly forthcoming on this fine morning. Usually the tour stopped with the mine’s EPA closure and Argentum’s brief flirtation with becoming yet another dead mining town. Had she delivered the usual spiel of thralls and seduction his family was known for? Maybe that was why she was looking at him like he was some kind of satyr.
“Well, you’ve certainly been busy. But digging through the history books isn’t going to help you find your sister, Nadine. No matter what you think you’ve found.”
The light in her face dimmed. “Screw you.”
Don’t threaten me with what I crave, Nadine.
She glared at him, scoffed, and nearly collided with Rael, who had a small cage under his arm that was exactly the right size for a large bird. Halting just short of impact, he stared at her a beat too long before his eyes shifted to Cal. “I’m here for the bird,” he said slowly.
“H-how did you get here so fast?” Cal didn’t miss the suspicious look she aimed at him.Add psychic powers to my list of offenses, he thought, keeping his own face expressionless.
“Cal texted me,” Rael said shortly. “My father’s office is only just down there. So where is it? The bird.”
“Nadine will show you. It’s her raven.”
There was an old family legend that when the ravens left, their collective fortunes would crumble into ruin. Cal had never been one for superstitions, but the sight of those circling birds hovering over the woods every morning had always been a comforting sight.
Seeing Nadine tending to that wounded raven felt like an omen, just like the pair of birds that had interrupted their dance at the wedding. His great-grandfather’s blood flowed in his veins, yes, but it was the chase he longed for—not the killing. Ravens, however fierce, mated for life. If he found a woman capable of taming his instincts, perhaps they could both be saved.
Cal tilted his head, his eyes returning to Rael and Nadine. She was supervising the bird’s capture, head cocked, hands planted on her hips. Her ponytail swung with agitation every time she moved her head. It really was quite attractive, her hair, even bound. Sparrow-brown with glittering red veins that flared like hot copper in the sun. He imagined it would look even better wrapped around his fist.
She didn’t speak to him again until Rael had left. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I’m well aware. Andyoushould be aware that if you wanted a tour, you should have asked me. As you see, I have my connections and there’s very little here that can be denied me. I know this town like the back of my hand, little sparrow.”
Her gaze flicked to his great-grandfather’s statue. “I’mnotyour sparrow.” She dumped her water out over the little yellowflowers peppering the green lawn before crumpling the empty bottle into her purse with a crepitant burst of noise.
“You could be,” Cal said. “Where are you going now?”
“Nowhere you’d be interested in.”
“I doubt that. I find you very interesting.”
“Why?” Her face turned up towards his like a flower. There was more than a hint of frustration in it. “You don’t know me.”
“But you’re such a sweet little prude, Nadine.”
Her thick brows slashed downward, even as color flooded her face. “Well—at least I don’t have sex orgies in the woods!”
An image popped into his head unbidden: Nadine pinned to the topsoil with her hands crossed over her head as if in supplication. He could imagine how the shadows of the trees would play over her bare skin, leaves and twigs tangled in her unruly locks of hair. How her screams would drive the sparrows from their trees as he surged between her thighs, again and again. How good it would feel, to see her flushed and satisfied and leaking his come.
Fuck.
“Is that where you’re headed?” he demanded harshly. “There’s nothing in there for you. As I said, if you wanted a tour so badly, you should have come to me. I’m parked across the street. Let me take you out to lunch and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
Sweat glistened above her lip and at her temples. He’d watched her pour out her water and the sun was hot and unforgiving. She had to be thirsty and probably hungry, as well. The mine had no ventilation and the terrain was rough and exacting.
Come with me, he thought at her.
