Page 30

‘And you’re not that?’

‘Nope, I’m a half-breed, therefore, I am lesser,’ he said bitterly.

‘That’s so archaic!’

‘Why do you think I was in the human world?’he said.‘Which is exactly where we will be going just as soon as I can get you out of here.’

My lips curled into a smile.‘You came here to rescue me?’

He flashed me a look that said I was stupid.‘Obviously.Why else would I come back to this hellscape?’

I should have felt happy, and part of me was, but another part of me felt a strange pull towards Tarian that I couldn’t seem to shake.The thought of leaving, of never seeing him again felt...wrong somehow.Before I could say anything more, a familiar voice rang through the garden.

‘Imogen.Oh, Imogen.Come out, come out, wherever you are.’The words were faint with a musical lilt, and they were drawing nearer.

‘Who’s that?’Ethan asked, his body stiffening as he looked toward the sound.

‘I think it’s Tarian’s cousin, Ves.’Though why he was looking for me, I had no idea.

Ethan’s eyes widened.‘Vesryn Cahan?Bloody hell.You’re not making this easy, you know?’

‘Why?Is there something I should know about him?’

‘Imogen, where are you hiding?’Ves called as if we were merely playing a game.He was getting close.

‘Shit.Go before he sees you!’I said, suddenly terrified of what would happen if Ethan got caught there.

‘I’ll be close,’ Ethan said, and then he dropped out of sight.

I barely had a chance to feel relieved before Ves emerged around a leafy arbour.He leaned his elbow against it and shot me a smile that was all charm and trouble.‘There you are.Not trying to escape again, are you?’

‘Not yet,’ I said, doing my best to appear natural and not at all like I was hiding something.Or someone.

He looked me over with an assessing eye.‘Hmm...well, you’re certainly up to something.But never let it be said that I stood in the way of any mischief making.’He offered me an arm.A breeze ruffled his dark hair as I eyed him before I took his elbow.

‘Can I help you with something?’I asked as he led me through the gardens in a leisurely stroll.

‘Oh, I certainly hope so.I’ve heard rumours, but I decided to come right to the source for the information.’

‘What kind of information?’I asked cautiously.

‘I heard that my dear cousin went to the human world to retrieve you personally.Is that true?’

‘If by retrieve you mean he kidnapped me, then yes.Although he did send a goon first.’I couldn’t hide the resentment in my voice.I’d never thought I’d be the type of woman who’d see a man naked and suddenly lose my head, and I wasn’t sure who I was angrier with: Tarian or myself.

‘A goon who failed.Hit by your car, true or false?’

He was enjoying this far too much, but I couldn’t figure out why.‘True.’

‘My, my, you’re full of surprises.And what happened exactly when Tarian came for you?’

I stopped then, forcing him to stop with me.‘Why are you so interested?’

Ves let out a sigh.‘Tarian can be very secretive.And it’s a hobby of mine to exasperate him as often as possible.’

‘Why?’

‘Because it’s good for him and it amuses me,’ he said, shooting me a wink.