“Okay, I’m going.”
I met Rys on my way to the bathroom. Instead of walking past me like I expected, he crowded me against the wall, kissing me like we had all the time in the world and no audience. His wicked tongue teased a moan out of me, and I wrapped my arms around his back, tugging him close, Max all but forgotten.
Until we heard his, “Seriously, guys?”
Rys laughed against my lips, kissing me once more before stepping back, his smile so glorious I wanted to bask in it for as long as he’d let me. But I had work to do today, and I suspected Rys had pack business to attend to.
Reluctantly I let him go and headed to the bathroom to take the quickest shower I could manage, the thought of Rys and Max alone together in my living room spurring me on.
* * *
They were talkingabout hunter groups.
I paused in the hallway, really not wanting to be involved in that conversation, but I couldn’t loiter there like a creeper. They both knew I was there. Steeling myself, I walked into the living room and sat down next to Max.
Rys had taken one of the armchairs and sat forward with his elbows resting on his knees.
They both stopped talking and looked at me.
“What?”
I had the awkward feeling they’d been talking about me. But they were cousins; I shouldn’t be surprised.
“Rys was asking about the hunter groups who were tasked with bringing each fug—” He stopped at Rys’s glare and corrected himself. “Victim in.”
“They’ve all been different,” I offered. It was one of the first things we’d looked into. “And none of them have been Tombs’ group,” I added, figuring it was only a matter of time before Rys asked.
“How does that work, then?” Rys looked from me to Max, then back again. “Surely for those victims in the same area, the same hunter group would’ve been used?”
“Not necessarily.” Max shrugged. “The police put out a call for hunter assistance, and it depends who answers first.”
“So you don’t think whoever’s supplying the Blue Alhuirn is connected to any of the hunters?”
I sat forward when Max nodded at me. “We looked at each hunter group, but unlike Tombs’ crew, some of them do have a problem with non-humans. I wouldn’t put it past them to bait some into losing control, but I doubt they’d be willing to work with one. And as we’ve already established, the only way to get hold of it is through a fae.”
“Could the groups be working together?” Rys asked. “You said some were against non-humans, but not all?”
“It’s possible.” Max shrugged, clearly not willing to discuss it further with Rys. He glanced at me. “You ready?”
“Yeah.” I rubbed my hands on my knees, wondering if I should ask Rys to leave now or let him stay in my house since I’d not even offered him so much as a cup of tea or coffee, let alone breakfast. “Um…”
Max laughed and stood. “As much as I’d like to sit here and watch Mase squirm, we do need to go.” He nodded at Rys. “If I can let you and Falon know anything about what we find out, I will.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Another beat of awkward silence and then Max took pity on me. “I’ll be in the car.”
The moment we heard the front door shut behind him, we both stood. Rys had about three inches on me and I looked up, meeting his eyes. “So…” That’s all I had. Last night had been one of the most intense experiences I’d ever had, and yet I had no clue where we stood this morning.
Was it a one-time thing?
Were we on the road to forever?
Did I want either of those things?
Rys cupped my jaw, hands big and rough, and I closed my eyes, remembering how they’d felt on other parts of my body. “I don’t know what this is either,” he said, thumbs stroking my cheeks.
His touch felt so good, calming when I felt uncertainty threatening to take hold. I sighed, not wanting to break this moment but knowing that Max was waiting for me. I opened my eyes, losing myself in the depth of his gaze. “I’ve not even offered you a drink. What a terrible host.”
