Under Crimson Blades (The Immortal Accords Book 9) by Anna Hawke

Author:Anna Hawke [Hawke, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hawke Publications
Published: 2024-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Momentary dizziness washed through her, and a touch of nausea followed in its wake. But as soon as her vision cleared, the churning of her stomach dissolved. Blinking, Ava inhaled deeply, allowing Remmus’ fresh spearmint scent to fill her lungs.

Though the walls were mostly empty, the leather recliners and plush blankets looked inviting. Scores of reading material littered bookshelves, and a massive television floated above a well-used hearth. Around a corner, a modern kitchen looked well stocked, and she could just see the edges of a deck and pool beyond sliding glass doors.

When she glanced over at him, there was hesitation in his gaze. Immediately, she softened and linked her fingers with his.

“Hey. I love it.”

Relief washed over him, the tension ebbing from his shoulders. “I’ll admit: it’s a bit of a bachelor pad. I only buy the essentials: food, movies, and blankets.”

“A bit of a bachelor pad might be an understatement.” Ava chuckled, running a hand over the plush fleece that was draped across the back of a recliner. “Oh, I do like this one. I’m going to keep it.”

Not to wrap around herself, Ava thought, but maybe to lay upon.

“Presumptuous of you to think you can claim a blanket without claiming the man.” Danger twinkled in his eyes, that smug, smoldering grin highlighting the wicked handsomeness of his face.

“Whoever said I wasn’t claiming you?”

Ava chose to ignore the sudden tendril of distress that rebounded through their mating bond following her words. Walking over to a bookcase, she plucked a leatherbound book off the shelves without reading the title. “Didn’t take you for a reader.”

“I wouldn’t classify The Tattooed Dude’s Compendium as a scholarly read.”

Ava’s attention snapped to the book in her hands. “Seriously? What kind of person has a tattoo book sitting on their shelf? And gets it leatherbound?”

“A nerd, probably.”

Something shifted in her as movement caught her attention. His home was situated close to a street or walking pathway, and she could just make out several moving figures beyond the front windows.

A hint of anxiety collected in her gut as she focused on the faces. Though she had no way of knowing who had been clanless at one point, she’d never forget how Ciru’s parents had looked when they’d murdered her own.

She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to study the Raeths outside. There were enough in view to have her eyes jumping from one pair to another. While she got distracted, Remmus had roamed closer and softly tugged the book from her grip.

“I promise no one will hurt you here, Ava.”

The apology in his voice made her wilt. Spinning, her heartrate accelerated at his proximity. “I know. I’ve just never been to any clan lands before. All my life, I’ve been afraid of Raeths. To be here, surrounded by your breed—” she shook her head, “—it’s a little overwhelming.”

It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the entire truth. Being here meant he’d trusted her enough to bring her to his home, but she wasn’t comfortable opening the door to her past and allowing him in.

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