Ry blinked. He’d chosen his crew because they were all capable of thinking on their feet.
“The first page,” he said, uneasy with the way she saw through him. It had taken his crew time to adjust when he’d suddenly shifted to feline. Camryn teased him, referred to him as a kitty whenever she wanted to irritate him.
“The first page.” She squeezed his hand in encouragement. “Go on. The worst thing that can happen is for more words to vanish. Personally the idea is a bit of a stretch for me, but what do I know? I didn’t believe in aliens. Or kitty-cats,” she added, pure devilry lurking in her eyes.
Ry snarled because she expected the reaction, but silent humor flickered through him, and he had trouble restraining his grin. After sucking in a quick breath, he opened the cover of the book to the first page.
House of the Cat.
Ornate decoration surrounded the words. His breath caught as he stared at them. They didn’t vanish but remained clear.
“Have they disappeared?” Camryn’s nose wrinkled in a cute manner.
“It’s the title page. It’s still visible.” The last time the writing had vanished too quickly to decipher a word. Still, he hesitated to turn the page in case this was a one-off.
“Do you think I could see?”
Ry nodded. It was the title and it didn’t matter if it faded. “Come and sit,” he said, patting his knee and leering at her. Part of him wondered at his playful manner. He’d never felt this way before—relaxed and at ease.
Camryn wrinkled her nose again, and giving in to temptation, he leaned closer to kiss the tip of her nose before rubbing his lips over hers. Camryn dived right into the kiss, opening her mouth to allow him entrance to the moist heat beyond. The taste of her crawled across his senses, sweet and spicy, and he tangled his hand in her hair, holding her prisoner so he could slake his thirst. Ry didn’t think he’d ever tire of the taste of her, the velvety-soft feel of her lips moving against his.
When he lifted his head, their breathing was labored and Camryn sat on his knee. Smiling, he scooped the book from the floor where it had fallen, turned it up the right way and opened to the first page.
“House of the Cat,” Camryn whispered, her thumb brushing across the decorative scroll surrounding the words.
They both stared in heavy silence, waiting for something to happen.
“Turn the page.”
A smile formed at her clear impatience. Ry glanced at the next page, his breath catching until he realized the words weren’t fading.
“It’s a diary.”
“Yes.” And not an interesting one, judging by the entry on the first page. Someone had planted out trees in the grounds of the clan house, detailing the exact locations and type of tree planted.
“Whose diary?”
Ry flicked to another page and a second.
“It’s different writing.
Joseph wanted to keep this book about the new House of the Cat and say nothing of the old life. Although I came with him, disgusted with the way our brother acted, I cannot ignore the past. It shapes us…”
Camryn stopped reading. “Do you have any idea what this person is talking about?”
“No.”
“Are you sure the words disappeared?” Camryn asked. “Maybe they came back.”
“I opened the book toward the middle and flipped over a couple of pages.” Ry turned the pages without reading. “There. Look. Two blank pages. This page starts halfway through a sentence.”
“I don’t understand. Why aren’t the words disappearing now?”
“I don’t know. This page mentions a ball and lists the guests who attended. Not noteworthy for anyone but the owner of the diary.” Ry idly scratched at his back before setting the book aside. He reached for the other fabric-wrapped parcel and peeled it away to reveal the oblong copper box. The instant he touched it, the jewels encrusting the top changed from colorless to a dazzling array of red, green and blue. The largest rich blue jewel in the center sparkled. Giving in to an urge, he stroked it with his finger. A tingle shot down his arm and he jerked his finger away in surprise.
“Wow,” Camryn whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.
Ry turned the container over, searching for a concealed button or catch to open it. He pressed the stone in the center but nothing happened. “I don’t know how to open it.” He turned it over again and noticed the stones lining the side of the container remained clear and translucent with no apparent color.
“Can I try?”
Ry handed her the box and watched her inquisitive expression. An indulgent smile curled across his lips and he pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
“There’s no noticeable joint.” The frown in her voice was clear. She didn’t enjoy puzzles. “I wonder why the stones on top glow a different color when I touch it.”
Ry took a closer look. The blue of the center stone wasn’t quite as deep. He touched it and the color darkened to a rich, vibrant blue. He removed his hand and when Camryn touched the stone, it lightened to an attractive steel blue. “I’ve no idea. Maybe there’s something in the diary.” He stood, his abruptness making Camryn slide from his knee.
“You’re lucky I had a firm hold on the box.”
Ry shrugged. “I’ve tried dropping it. Nothing happened.”
Camryn chuckled. “I would have liked to have seen that.”
“I jumped on it too,” he confessed, wanting to make her laugh to witness the way joy took hold of her entire face, her eyes sparkling, all demons chased away. She didn’t think about the other man—Gabriel—when she laughed.
“It survived the ordeal all right,” she said with another laugh. It warmed his insides. Camryn set the box aside and turned to him, arching her eyebrows with a teasing glance. “Are you going to feed me? We missed dinner. And a bath. I need to wash again.”
“We could go out,” he said. “We’d have to wear a disguise, but we can go to a bathhouse.”
“A communal one?”
“No.” Not bloody likely. His eyes only. He’d pay more and hire a private bath. It would be safer anyway. “They have private rooms for hire. There’s a chophouse nearby with good food.”
“Sold,” she said. “But don’t you want to read the diary first?”
“I can read about gardening and balls when we get back.” He sighed. “I thought I might find a clue this time. Seems I was wrong.”
Talor’s hotel, Ornum
“Where is he? Where’s my brother?” Talor focused on Kaya, not bothering to hold back his anger. Power swirled through the air, making the woman’s blue hair rise and crackle. She had the good sense to study her feet instead of holding his gaze. She’d made the mistake before and paid for her impertinence. “Where?” he thundered.
Kaya winced when the glasses on a sideboard rattled. “He went to the
Indy
with Camryn. He said he had to collect something. I don’t know what.”
He didn’t require a charm or compulsion to know she spoke the truth, not when it trembled in her voice.
Talor paced across the floor of the hotel room, impatience simmering through him. His brother had more luck than anyone he knew. The mercenaries he’d hired had failed in their mission. Every time he tried to shoot Ryman and his crew out of the sky, his brother escaped. He’d attempted to steal their hell-horse so at least he’d win the final race but the seer had scared his men so much that two of them still weren’t speaking in coherent sentences. There had to be some way—some weakness he could exploit.
Ryman must die. Soon. He couldn’t hold his creditors at bay for much longer. He needed the inheritance to revert to him.
He whirled back to glare at the woman. “Seduce him. Slip a knife in his ribs while he’s sleeping.”
The woman’s face paled. “No.”
“No?”
“He’s only interested in Camryn.” She couldn’t quite conceal her irritation and this piqued Talor’s interest.
“The woman. Where did she come from? Who is she?”
“She comes from Earth. She looks after the hell-horse.”
“
Hmmm
.” Talor scratched his chin and paced the length of the reception room again, circling the plain wooden table and mismatched chairs. Bah! He hated this place, the necessity of soiling his hands. But the bad run of luck at cards and failing powers over the last two cycles had left him desperate, willing to try anything. Especially since his creditors were starting to cry foul and demand their money.
Talor snarled under his breath, tension thrumming in time with his pulse. None of this would have happened if his mother hadn’t given Ryman a slice of the Coppersmith fortune. She’d always been blind to Ryman’s faults, even when he’d left, stealing away in the dead of the night with heirlooms and cash. Currency that belonged to Talor.
Luckily no one outside of the family lawyer knew of the inheritance, not even Ryman, but Talor couldn’t sell the property his mother had left to his brother or mortgage the place. Damn, he had to get rid of Ryman and the property would return to him since his brother didn’t have children. There had to be a way.
“Tell me everything you know.”
“I have to go,” the woman said. “I can’t delay any longer or they’ll ask questions. Besides, I’ve told you everything I know.”
Talor acknowledged she could leave, aware she remained his sole link to his brother’s activities. He needed her help. “When will they return?”
“Tomorrow, I believe. We haven’t heard otherwise.”
“You will meet with me as soon as they return.”
“It’s not easy.”
The woman grew braver. Fury washed through him, sending her hair swirling again. She gasped at a charge of electricity and backed away, wariness etched into her expression. She was right to feel apprehension, right to worry because as soon as his brother died he wouldn’t need her aid.
“You will meet me every day until the start of the race,” he instructed. “Or else.”
Talor watched her leave and continued to fret during the long night. Although his powers had gained in strength, he felt as if his life ran out of control. And his men still hadn’t captured the elusive black leopard, although they’d reported seeing the creature running near the village in the mountains. He needed the animal to ensure luck for House of the Cat.
The next afternoon, he waited for Kaya to meet him in the village tavern. She didn’t come. Another day passed, and he waited inside the tavern. Exhausted. Tense.
Finally he saw her. He leapt to his feet and stalked over to confront her about her tardiness.
“I told you to meet me yesterday,” Talor snarled.
Kaya didn’t flinch. “I couldn’t get away.”
“You didn’t want to sneak away,” Meghan corrected from behind him.
“Is that true?”
“Yes,” Kaya said. “I won’t be coming to see you again.”
“Ryman will cast you out when he learns of your treachery.”
The color bled from her cheeks. “Maybe, but at least I’ll have my self-respect.” She turned away and Talor grasped her arm, hauling her to a stop.
“What does my brother intend to do today? How does he attempt to win the race?” He backed up the questions with a blast of compulsion, his grip tightening cruelly on her forearm.
Kaya’s eyes rolled while she fought an inner battle. His compulsion won.
“Camryn intends to ride our hell-horse to victory.” The unwilling words squeezed past her lips.
“Ride?” Talor’s eyes widened at the news. “Impossible. The other horses will rip her to shreds.”
“They’ll have to catch her first,” Kaya said and walked away without looking back.
* * * * *
Dowry Derby Race Day, Ornum.
The crowd roared. Sumptuously clad musicians entertained along with jugglers and tumblers. Palpable excitement pulsed through the cram-packed arena.
“Welcome to the Dowry Derby.” The announcer’s screech boomed through the loudspeakers.
Camryn walked away from her viewing position to slip into the stall. Gabby tossed her head and danced on the spot, just missing her foot.
“Easy, girl. It’s me. Remember me?”
Gabby settled but issued a troubled whicker. Luke squeezed past his mother to nudge Camryn on the leg, unruffled by whatever disturbed Gabby. Chuckling, she scratched him behind the ear and placed her hand on the mare’s quivering shoulder. Gabby suffered the same nerves as she. The mare had always been uneasy in Ry’s presence and recently had started reacting the same way with her. Camryn hoped they’d both make it through the race without mishaps. Just thinking about the carnage she’d witnessed whenever hell-horses attacked sliced fear through her gut. But this was it—her mission.
They had to win for Ry, for the crew. She could not screw this up. A desperate need to talk to her brother struck her then. He was her best friend in the world, the only person besides Gabriel she could always count on in a fix. Even if he had threatened to book her into a clinic for treatment.
But what about Ry?
The words jumped into her mind. She stared into the depths of the stall, her heart thudding in loud, solid beats. Breathe. Breathe through the panic. She inhaled, concentrating on her goal, visualizing riding past the winning post with the other hell-horses behind them. Her positive thoughts skidded to a halt. What would happen if she failed? If she didn’t win the race? If something happened to Gabby and she was injured?
“Camryn, are you in there?”
Her pulse rate lurched into a crazy beat before a deep inhalation calmed her pre-race nerves. “I’m in here, Ry.” Competently, she placed the makeshift saddle on Gabby’s back and fastened the girth strap.
The door to the stall opened. Gabby snorted but Luke never hesitated. With a welcoming squeal, he charged, almost knocking Ry over. Ry laughed and petted the creature, rubbing him behind the ears until Luke trembled with pleasure.
“They’re starting to lead the horses out. I…hell, Camryn. Stay safe.” He hauled her into his arms and held her so tight she felt his heartbeat. His familiar scent wound through her senses, calming her in a way her deep breathing exercises hadn’t. With gentle fingers he tilted her head up and kissed her—an unhurried kiss that brought a surge of need yet made her feel treasured. Their tongues tangled in an easy rhythm, each thrust and surge echoing in her sex. When they finally pulled apart, her legs trembled and her entire body hummed.