Page 29 of A Castle of Broken Memories

She flushed. “Nothing. Tenebris exaggerates. Noah was just being friendly.”

“Friendly.” Gods, I wanted to hit something right now. Murder was too good enough for that sleazeball—torture. That’s what he deserved. A long, slow removal of each and every fingernail to start. Then I’d move on to the appendages themselves…

“Jack?”

A gentle hand on my arm snapped me from my bloody daydream, and I blinked in surprise to find Mariana had moved to sit beside me. Her lips curved into a soft smile. “Nothing has ever happened between me and Noah. I promise.”

The fury that’d been overwhelming my senses dwindled to a dull roar, and I set my unfinished bowl to the side. “We should probably get moving soon. You ready?” If I wanted to make it through the morning without hurting someone, I needed to not think about Noah and whatever traitorous reasons he may or may not have had.

Mariana finished her last mouthful and nodded. “Right behind you.”

I led the way to the free-standing door, and paused, gripping the handle. “Be prepared to move fast. As soon as Gregar realizes we’re out there, he’ll come swinging. The ballroom is four flights up. Don’t stop until you’re inside.”

Mariana bounced on the balls of her feet, an eager grin twitching at the corners of her mouth. “Run fast—got it.”

Delighted warmth swept the residual anger from my chest, the sight of her poised and ready for action so like the Mariana of my childhood. I grinned while I opened the door and she shot out into the hall like a bolt of lightning—always the first to jump, my Mariana. I swallowed the urge to whoop as I followed, reaching the first step a beat behind her. A low grumbling echoed through the room, the first sign that Gregar was stirring, and I pushed harder, reaching the first door a fraction behind Mariana. My lungs screamed at me to slow down, the pace too taxing for my current capabilities, but then Mariana looked over her shoulder and grinned.

I soared up the next flight of stairs on winged feet.

Gregar’s ink-black head swiveled our way, green eyes flashing when they latched onto our racing forms. The floor shook with his indignant roar.

My foot tripped mid-step, and I pitched forward, knees striking the sharp marble edge of the stair above me. I swore as I scrambled to right myself, pain radiating through my legs. A hand gripped mine out of nowhere, pulling me up, and I briefly met Mariana’s concerned gaze before we were back at it, charging up the steps to the third landing.

Gregar’s fist smashed the banister a breath away from where we’d just been, and shards of splintered marble bounced off the back of my leather vest. I barely noticed over the threat of rising bile—there was a reason I didn’t make the trip to see Harp every day. Yesterday had depleted my energy to an embarrassing degree.

Mariana skidded to a stop in front of the ballroom door, swinging it open and holding it while she waited for me to catch up. Concern etched her face as I stumbled through the doorway, and I barked out a laugh while the door slammed shut behind us in an attempt to defuse it.

“Damn, woman. Still the fastest werewolf in the forest, I see.”

“The fastest period.” Her head tilted as she watched me struggle to catch my breath. She, of course, was completely unfazed by our little run. “And don’t call me woman.”

“If you’d rather I called you sweetheart, all you have to do is ask.” I flashed her a wide grin.

The retort I was expecting came a beat late, her eye roll and muttered “get bent” accompanied by the faintest tinge of pink highlighting those oh-so-perfect cheekbones. The urge to pull her into my arms and kiss every inch of that almost-blush hit hard. Slow and steady, Jack. You’ve waited ten years, you can wait a little longer.

I’d wait as long as it took.

“So they really do have actual rooms in this place, huh?” Mariana spun in a slow circle, her voice echoing through the empty space. She gestured toward the stage where Harp rested in front of a backsplash of heavy, red curtains. “I take it that’s your friend?”

I let my gaze wander to the yellow-haired, young woman, her shoulders slumped forward as she slept upright, the elaborate gold harp that sprouted like a single, giant wing from her back holding her in place. If I thought I’d had it bad being stuck in this curse-infested castle for the past ten years, Harp’s fate was far worse. Reliant on others to move about (and far too heavy for me to carry while dodging an angry shadow giant), she’d been stuck in this room since the curse took effect.

Sixty long, lonely years.

“Yeah.” I smiled softly. “That’s her.”

“She’s beautiful.”

I glanced down at Mariana’s profile, surprised by the vulnerable edge to her voice. “She is,” I agreed, watching as her freckled nose scrunched and those ruby lips pursed ever so slightly. Gods, she was adorable.

As if sensing my attention, her expression smoothed. “And human-sized. For some reason I thought she’d be more in proportion to the giants.” She gave me a teasing look that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Did the two of you ever make sweet music together? Pluck each others’ chords?”

I frowned. “What? No, of course not. We’re just friends.” And I was in love with you.

She shrugged. “It’d be no big deal if you had. I mean, you were stuck up here for a fucking decade. If it’d been me, I would have totally hit that. Assuming she was willing.” The casually spoken words sent slivers of pain through my heart. She’s not serious… is she? My shock must have been obvious, as she crossed her arms with a look of defiance. “What? You have a problem with women taking female lovers?”

“No, of course not.” I raked a hand through my hair, pain and embarrassment warring for dominance in my aching chest.

“Good, because I have.” She swallowed, her gaze falling to the lacquered floor. “Several, in fact. Men too. Not just Tenebris. I’ve had dozens of lovers since you left, sometimes more than one at a time.”