Page 211 of Eight of Swords, Part One

‘What’s Sable Key?’

‘An island.’

Kade watches him. ‘Why do you dance around it like that?’

‘Dance around what?’

‘I see the way you look at me.’ Lachlan visibly shuts down. ‘It’s not just bodyguard and charge. You said I had a crush, but what about you?’

‘That’s not relevant.’

‘Because you say so.’

‘Yeah, because I say so.’

‘What changed the night before you left for… wherever? And don’t be a fucking smartass and say, everything.’

The older man sighs roughly. ‘Look, if you want me to tell you the whole story it’s gonna take days.’

‘I thought that’s what you wanted, Bodyguard. To tell me who I am.’

‘You’ve had people doing that your whole life.’

‘Then why are you here? What do you want?’

‘All I want is to kick down the fucking doors and set you free. My boy’s in there,’ Lachlan adds, reluctantly possessive. ‘He’s just… hiding.’

Kade orders another shot, waits until it’s halfway down his gullet before he says, ‘Yeah, well. Memory’s a tricky thing. It might not ever come back.’ He then scowls and adds, ‘I’m not a Brightling.’

He heads for the restroom, which is a delightfully filthy experience, and sternly avoids looking in the mirror after he washes his hands.

When Kade returns to the bar, Lachlan is drinking a beer.

‘I thought you didn’t drink.’

‘Yeah.’

‘So.’ Kade sits on the stool. ‘Tell me about this curse then. Riley’s curse.’

‘Maybe you’re right and this is all too much, too fast.’

‘I can handle it.’ When Lachlan says nothing, Kade nudges him, drops his voice soft and pretty. ‘Please?’

Seemingly unable to resist, which was very much Kade’s plan, Lachlan swivels to face him. ‘Harker told me that you two are bound. That for the last seven years you’ve both been…’ He gestures vaguely, frowning. ‘Well, my understanding is that you and he are connected. Tied together.’

We’re not joined at the hip.

‘Tied together how?’

‘That’s all he told me.’

Kade narrows his eyes. ‘But that’s not all you know.’

‘It’s what I know with any certainty. What was he like when you first came to know him seven years ago?’

‘Riley?’

‘Yeah.’