leave word you’re to be let in. Then we can talk about where to start, all right?” Lily said.
Again, Tasmin inclined his head. His expression clouded as she smiled and turned away. It was, Bay thought, like watching the sun go behind a cloud. There was something so ancient in him, she thought. So very cold.
She shivered at the odd thought and then pushed it from her mind. Her life was weird enough without inventing extra things to be freaked out by.
“I will find a way to repay this kindness.”
There was something strange in his voice then, some odd undercurrent that had gooseflesh rising on Bay’s arms. She was sure he’d meant the words as nothing more than a courtesy. And yet somehow, the words had sounded like a threat.
Lily paused and turned back to look at Tasmin, a faint, puzzled smile on her lips. Bay wondered if her friend had heard that odd note in his voice too.
“I’m sure you will,” Lily said. “And you’re welcome. I’m not big on the whole ‘blood is destiny’ thing, to be honest. I don’t care what you are. Just be willing to pitch in if it’s needed, keep the bloodshed to a minimum, and we’ll be fine.” Then she grinned and the smile lit her up in a way that could put the most ferocious creature on earth at ease, Bay thought. Despite everything that had happened, it was a very open, very human smile.
“After you,” Lily said, indicating the doorway. “I know Bay. She’s already thinking about a cup of tea and her pajamas.”
Bay smirked, amused even though she knew what was really going on. Lily had no intention of leaving her here alone with Tasmin again. Maybe that was best, even though she’d have preferred to make that decision for herself.
“Go ahead,” Tasmin said. “I would like to speak to Bailey privately before I leave.”
Bay wasn’t sure what she was more shocked by—the fact that Tasmin was openly defying Lily, or that he had something to say to her that merited being alone. Her cheeks flushed with pleasure despite the fact that the emotion went against every ounce of common sense she had. She watched Lily slide an uneasy look at Ty.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that,” Lily finally said, and Bay heard the steel in her friend’s tone. “Bay is under my protection.”
Tasmin looked unimpressed, arching one raven brow. “If I had wanted to hurt her, it would already have been done.”
“Still, you’re an unknown quantity right now. I’m not leaving you here.”
“I don’t think that’s your choice.” Tasmin’s voice was deceptively soft, his eyes beginning to glow. Bay looked between him and Lily, whose own eyes had narrowed, and knew she was going to have to step in. When she did, her words surprised her… though not as much as they appeared to surprise everyone else.
“He’s a guest in my home, Lily,” Bay said. “If he wants a minute, he can have it.”
Lily blinked, and she and Ty spoke in unison to protest. “Bay—”
“It’s fine,” Bay interrupted, cutting them off neatly. “I’m not worried about it.” Which wasn’t exactly true, but close enough. Besides, it was past time she took a stand on this sort of thing. Lily had formed plenty of boundaries in her new life. Bay was entitled to have a few as well. She wouldn’t be ordered around in her own home.
Lily drew herself up and looked like she wanted to argue further, while Ty simply glared at Tasmin. Bay ended the standoff neatly, and with the only words that needed to be said… no matter how they hurt her to say them.
“Lily,” Bay said quietly. “I’m not one of your subjects. I’m your friend. This is my house, my choice. Respect that.”
Lily’s blue eyes reflected so much hurt back at Bay that for a moment she nearly took it back, tried to smooth it over. But she didn’t. Couldn’t. And slowly, Lily nodded.
“Okay,” was all she said. Then she looked at Ty, and Bay saw some silent communication pass between them. It was hard to miss the
Again, Tasmin inclined his head. His expression clouded as she smiled and turned away. It was, Bay thought, like watching the sun go behind a cloud. There was something so ancient in him, she thought. So very cold.
She shivered at the odd thought and then pushed it from her mind. Her life was weird enough without inventing extra things to be freaked out by.
“I will find a way to repay this kindness.”
There was something strange in his voice then, some odd undercurrent that had gooseflesh rising on Bay’s arms. She was sure he’d meant the words as nothing more than a courtesy. And yet somehow, the words had sounded like a threat.
Lily paused and turned back to look at Tasmin, a faint, puzzled smile on her lips. Bay wondered if her friend had heard that odd note in his voice too.
“I’m sure you will,” Lily said. “And you’re welcome. I’m not big on the whole ‘blood is destiny’ thing, to be honest. I don’t care what you are. Just be willing to pitch in if it’s needed, keep the bloodshed to a minimum, and we’ll be fine.” Then she grinned and the smile lit her up in a way that could put the most ferocious creature on earth at ease, Bay thought. Despite everything that had happened, it was a very open, very human smile.
“After you,” Lily said, indicating the doorway. “I know Bay. She’s already thinking about a cup of tea and her pajamas.”
Bay smirked, amused even though she knew what was really going on. Lily had no intention of leaving her here alone with Tasmin again. Maybe that was best, even though she’d have preferred to make that decision for herself.
“Go ahead,” Tasmin said. “I would like to speak to Bailey privately before I leave.”
Bay wasn’t sure what she was more shocked by—the fact that Tasmin was openly defying Lily, or that he had something to say to her that merited being alone. Her cheeks flushed with pleasure despite the fact that the emotion went against every ounce of common sense she had. She watched Lily slide an uneasy look at Ty.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that,” Lily finally said, and Bay heard the steel in her friend’s tone. “Bay is under my protection.”
Tasmin looked unimpressed, arching one raven brow. “If I had wanted to hurt her, it would already have been done.”
“Still, you’re an unknown quantity right now. I’m not leaving you here.”
“I don’t think that’s your choice.” Tasmin’s voice was deceptively soft, his eyes beginning to glow. Bay looked between him and Lily, whose own eyes had narrowed, and knew she was going to have to step in. When she did, her words surprised her… though not as much as they appeared to surprise everyone else.
“He’s a guest in my home, Lily,” Bay said. “If he wants a minute, he can have it.”
Lily blinked, and she and Ty spoke in unison to protest. “Bay—”
“It’s fine,” Bay interrupted, cutting them off neatly. “I’m not worried about it.” Which wasn’t exactly true, but close enough. Besides, it was past time she took a stand on this sort of thing. Lily had formed plenty of boundaries in her new life. Bay was entitled to have a few as well. She wouldn’t be ordered around in her own home.
Lily drew herself up and looked like she wanted to argue further, while Ty simply glared at Tasmin. Bay ended the standoff neatly, and with the only words that needed to be said… no matter how they hurt her to say them.
“Lily,” Bay said quietly. “I’m not one of your subjects. I’m your friend. This is my house, my choice. Respect that.”
Lily’s blue eyes reflected so much hurt back at Bay that for a moment she nearly took it back, tried to smooth it over. But she didn’t. Couldn’t. And slowly, Lily nodded.
“Okay,” was all she said. Then she looked at Ty, and Bay saw some silent communication pass between them. It was hard to miss the
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