She had not fled one cage merely to be thrust into another. Stars, no. She had come here to vanish, to live her small dream of freedom, not to be ensnared afresh. Given no choice in the matter.
You’re already ensnared, Calliope . . .
No, she refused to believe that.
They entered the shop in silence. Delay was not an option. Without a word, she led him up the stairs. Her living quarters were dark except for the natural light of the moon spilling through the windows. Prince trotted over to greet her excitedly when they entered, and she patted his head to appease him, her gaze shifting to her bedroom.
Thank stars she had slipped her pistol beneath her pillow.
She headed directly for the bed.
“Like my brother said,” he called after her, footsteps soon following to the doorway of her chamber, “gather your belongings quicklyso we can return.”
Prince trotted over curiously as she gripped the pistol in both hands. What did she do now? Ah, this was so much harder than how she imagined in her mind! Drawing in a deep breath, she remained with her back to him and nodded at the chair by the window. “There.”
He didn’t question her, merely strode over. “What’s here?”
Calliope turned and leveled the pistol straight at his chest.
He glanced over his shoulder and froze, turning slowly back to face her, and for the first time since they’d met, he looked utterly, dangerously solemn. All the good nature left his gaze, leaving only ice-cold instinct.Therewas the beast. The change confirmed she’d made the right decision.
“I’m afraid I have other plans tonight.”
*
The moment thedoor shut behind Reaper, Maxen had set after them, only to be stopped by Dagger’s low drawl.
“I wouldn’t.”
He froze mid-stride and turned to glare at his brother. “Why the devil not?”
Dagger lounged back, idly swirling his glass. “Just give the woman some space. Nothing will happen to her with Reaper there.”
Space? What did damn space have to do with anything? “She won’t even know I’m following.”
“Buthewill.”
Damn it.
Maxen clenched his fists, directing his glare at his coat she’d left behind. Dagger was right. If he followed now, Reaper would never let him hear the end of his mockery, which meant she would hear of his lapse, too—and accuse him of all manner of things far from the truth. And that was how far he’d fallen into this wretched unsettlement.
“You should’ve just answered her,” Knight said.
“And saidwhat, exactly?” Maxen growled. “What the devil is there to say?”
“Anything butnothing,” Saint said quietly. “Even I know that.”
His jaw locked so tight his teeth ached. He needed to move. Needed to do something. Anything. Waiting never suited him. Not in situations where his whole body commanded him to act. Especially now that Saint’s words wrapped around him like damn stinging nettles.
Anything but nothing.
He simply hadn’t known how to speak the answer to that question.
Who was she to him?
She was his tenant. His responsibility. His puzzle. His—confound it. There was the knot. Right bloody there. The reason she’d chosen his brother over him to go with her. And now she was out there, dressed in those intoxicating trousers, defenseless,mostly, and clever enough to run circles around Reaper if she wanted to. And she might want to.
Unease burrowed in his gut.
