Rayven's Keep. Kylie Wolft

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ prickled along her hairline and dotted her upper lip. Tru fumbled with the tabs on her heavy jacket and wished she dared stop long enough to remove it. Its weight suffocated her in the heat, but the impatience stamped on Nick’s face convinced her otherwise. Instead, she contented herself with letting it flap open and catch any stray breeze coming her way. She refused to ask him to slow down, even though she trotted to keep up with his long strides. She had her pride, battered though it was.

      They rounded a corner and before her, shimmering in the sunlight, was his home. She stopped dead in her tracks, trying to take it all in. He took a couple of steps and stopped. He half turned, an eyebrow raised in question. She shut her gaping mouth with a snap, ignoring the flare of satisfaction on his face. “Oh my.”

      The house spread before her wasn’t large, at least not by her family’s standards. And yet, it appeared nothing less than magnificent, designed to blend with its surroundings rather than draw attention. It was multileveled and built of a mellowed buff-colored stone with darker streaks running through it. Windows sparkled in the sunlight and flanked wide, deep stairs leading to the heavily carved front doors. Tall trees shaded the house and water splashed in a fountain encircled by flowers. A thick wall surrounded the house, looking impressive, rather than threatening, but she didn’t doubt for a minute uninvited guests wouldn’t make it very far.

      Considered a masterpiece on her world, her family home seemed ostentatious and overblown compared to Nick’s.

      “Your home is stunning,” Tru said. “It is not at all what I expected.” She couldn’t easily read his expression, but suspected her comment had annoyed him somehow.

      He gave her a mocking bow and swept his arm out. “After you.”

      Unsure how to respond, she nodded and preceded him up the path.

      The great hallway was cool and a welcome relief from the humidity outside. She blinked while her eyes adjusted from the exterior brightness to the relative dimness inside the house. Approaching footsteps echoed off the marble floor and a man made his appearance. A broad smile full of humor and mischief lit his handsome face, but interest flashed in his shrewd gaze before he turned to Nick.

      She was caught off guard when the man stopped in front of Nick and saluted before punching him lightly on the shoulder. Nick grinned and punched him back. They launched into conversation in a language she’d never heard before. Smooth, musical words mesmerized as she listened to the ebb and flow of their deep voices. The language sounded complex, beautiful and utterly alien. Unable to follow the conversation, Tru settled for watching the men.

      Nick might command a room with the sheer force of his presence, but certainly the other man would never go unnoticed either. Although he focused on the conversation, she sensed his awareness of her. The angle of his head and set of his shoulders made him seem watchful.

      Another resident joined them, but didn’t participate in the conversation. He listened intently, not paying much attention to her beyond the initial curious glance. Tru began to feel overwhelmed by so much testosterone in the room and it didn’t help when the men darted speculative glances her way throughout their conversation with Nick.

      He spoke a single, sharp word and all conversation ceased. The men turned their attention to her with military precision. She edged closer and stood slightly behind Nick.

      He caught her arm and drew her beside him. “Tru, this is Seth Mandekor and Callen Bluestone, my partners.” He’d indicated each of the men in front of her with a brisk nod. “And this is Tru Creighton.” The subtle emphasis on her name confirmed she’d been the topic of conversation. Not a new circumstance, but one she’d never found comfortable.

      Seth turned warm hazel eyes her way and winked. “Welcome, Tru Creighton.”

      His mischievous smile invited a response, and Tru relaxed enough to smile back. Seth Mandekor was as handsome as sin and she suspected not averse to using his looks to his advantage. Like Nick, he stood tall and broad-shouldered, with his sun-streaked brown hair, cut shorter than the current fashion. He exuded geniality, and the lines bracketing his mouth attested he smiled easily. He appeared a complete opposite to Nick’s darker personality but the same shadows lurked in his eyes as in Nick’s. She had no idea what had left such a mark on either man, and wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

      Callen nodded, but didn’t say anything. He offered a brief smile, which for all its brevity still held enough charm to give her pause. His watchful winter gray eyes seemed reserved, too old for such a young face. He drifted away silent as a wraith, carrying himself like the others, shoulders square and movements bearing a lethal hunter’s grace. He hadn’t made her uncomfortable exactly, just very conscious of his presence.

      “The boss man here says you’re in a bit of trouble.” Seth took her arm and led her deeper into the house. “I can’t help but notice those nasty bruises you’re sporting, darlin’. Just point me in the right direction and I will be happy to take care of the bast–ah, bully who did that to you.”

      Self-conscious, Tru lifted a hand to the bruising along her temple and brushed her hair forward, trying to hide the discoloration marring her skin.

      “Ah. Thank you, but it won’t be necessary,” Tru assured him. She glanced over her shoulder at Nick frowning and pacing behind them.

      “Now, you don’t want to deprive me of a little fun do you? It wouldn’t be right to let whoever did this get away with hurting a little thing like you, now would it?”

      Tru ventured a quick peek at the handsome man holding onto her arm, unsure if he joked. His tone might have been light and teasing, but the tightness around his mouth told a different story.

      “Let it be, Seth. I put the bruises on Tru,” Nick growled from somewhere behind her.

      Seth stopped and turned, drawing Tru along with him. “You?”

      Nick nodded, holding his gaze. “Yes. Me.”

      The hand holding Tru’s arm tightened as Seth’s face darkened with confusion and something akin to anger. Responding instinctively to the rising tension between the two men, she jerked her arm out of Seth’s grasp, a little surprised he released her so easily, and moved to stand in front of Nick.

      “He didn’t know I was a girl when he hit me. I shouldn’t have been following him.”

      Seth took his eyes off Nick long enough to look at her. The tightness around his eyes lessened, replaced by a glint of amusement. She must look ridiculous, hovering between the two men. Her head barely reached Nick’s shoulder, but there she stood, ready to defend him if necessary. Seth raised his hands in surrender and took a half step backward.

      Some of the tension drained from Seth’s shoulders and her own relaxed in response.

      She glanced up at Nick. He seemed thrown by the turn of events and following impulse she moved closer to him. She felt the controlled strength in his hands as they cupped her shoulders. He rubbed them up and down her arms in a gesture of comfort. It was a side of him rarely seen, if the astonished look on Seth’s face was anything to go by. She wondered if Nick was even aware of what he was doing.

      “Sorry. I guess I overreacted a little.”

      “Easy to do, given the evidence,” Nick replied.

      Just like that it was over, and everything was back to normal.

      Tru blinked a couple of times, wondering what СКАЧАТЬ