Page 38 of The Searching Songbird

“Excellent. Shall we start at the top and work our way down, or did you want to start with someone in particular?”

She studied the list of names. There was one that stood out, drawing her eyes to its neatly printed lettering again and again. Miles Tennyson, the Baron Dunlop.

“The baron.” She looked up at Draven. “Baron Dunlop. The upstairs maid, Millie, mentioned him. Said he was handsome.”

That elicited a scowl as Draven crossed his arms over his chest. “Eager to get a look for yourself?”

“No. Well, yes, but not for the reasons you seem to be implying.” His scowl only deepened, and she let out a sigh. “The man I saw through Fia's eyes...” She shivered, recalling the twisted, sadistic face that had reveled in the woman's pain. “If you looked past the evil that warped him at that moment, I could see where people might find him handsome.” She wrapped her arms around herself in a futile attempt to combat the chill that had crept over her body at the memory.

With a loud scraping sound, Draven moved his chair closer, until it was flush with her own. His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his chest. His hands rubbed up and down her upper arms, sending tendrils of warmth flowing up and into her chest.

“We'll find him, Lily. Whether it's this baron or someone else, we'll find him. And we'll make sure he never hurts anyone ever again. I promise.”

A sob caught in her throat as she buried her face in his shirt, and his arms tightened around her. Lifting her head, she looked up at the man who made her feel so safe. How had she ever thought she could do this alone? She needed him.

More than that, she wanted him.

Disregarding the fact that they were seated in a public tavern where anyone could see them, she threw propriety to the wind and pushed herself up until her lips were pressed against his own, in a brief, whisper soft kiss that was over before it had barely begun as she pulled back, biting her bottom lip as she waited nervously for his reaction.

Shock melted into warmth; warmth hardened into a predatory gleam as he caught her chin in his hand and stroked the pad of his thumb over that worrisome bottom lip. For a long, heated moment, it looked as if he might pick up where she had left off, but then he closed his eyes with a groan and sat back in his chair. Picking up his drink, he downed the rest of the ale in one go before slamming it down and meeting her eyes once more.

“Well, alright, then. Let's go find us a handsome baron.”

Chapter Nineteen

The Grand Flores Music Hall. Located at the center of the city, the magnificent example of stone work was said to be the very heart and soul of Flores. Its impressive stage had been host to some of the most talented and sought after musicians in all of Lehi, and, yet, it retained its humble roots as it provided a platform for aspiring performers to exhibit their skills. Standing before it now, Draven knew he couldn't have chosen a more appropriate place to take Lily if he'd tried.

Too bad the visit had been tainted by the possibility of coming face-to-face with the very villain they sought.

“Baron Dunlop? Why, I imagine he's most likely at the music hall this afternoon, auditioning people for next week's Show Night.” Mrs. Calloway had been quick to provide them with the information they needed. She hadn't even seemed surprised when they approached her about it earlier. Apparently, everyone wished to meet the acclaimed baron upon arriving in Flores.

And now, here they were, preparing to do just that. He turned to Lily, who stood at the bottom of the stone steps, gaping up at the impressive structure. He held out his arm. “Shall we?”

She nodded mutely, sliding her hand into the crook of his arm without ever taking her eyes off of the building before them. He waited for her to start up the steps, but she simply stood there, frozen in place. He drew his brows together in concern.

“Is something wrong?”

“It's the same,” she whispered, then gave her head a little shake. “I mean, I knew it must be the same, it's the very reason I chose Flores to begin with, but... seeing it with my own eyes...” Her voice trailed off as she continued to stare.

“Um, okay... Lily?”

She finally wrenched her gaze away from the building as she turned to look up at him. “Draven?”

“You do know that made absolutely no sense at all, right?”

“Oh.” She blushed. “It didn't?”

“Not even a little.” He grinned, enjoying her adorably flustered state. She waved a hand at the music hall.

“I dreamed of this building, that first night. I chose to come to Flores after coming across a drawing of it in one of the books on Roshka. I was fairly certain it was the same place, but it was a drawing, after all. It is hard to be one-hundred percent certain of something like this until you see it in person. Now...” The unfinished thought hung there, unspoken but as clear as if she'd shouted it throughout the city.

It was real. The shipyards and the music hall all stood just as she'd seen them. He fixed his gaze on the wide, double-doors that stood open at the top of the steps, inviting any and all to come and share their music with the world.

Would she find her demon lurking within these famed walls?

By the strained lines that formed around her eyes and the tightness that constricted her jaw, there was no doubt Lily believed she would. And yet, there was also a steely determination glinting in those blue eyes, and he watched with awe as she stepped forward, propelling him up the stairs as she marched into battle.

Gods, he loved this woman.