Chapter 8
“Aunt Sel, we’re gonna be late!”
After five days holed up in her new house, unpacking and getting settled, Selene still thought Saturday night arrived far too quickly.
Selene finished putting in her earrings as she hurried down the stairs. “Sorry.”
Allie whistled. “Look at you.”
“You think this will be okay?” She glanced down at the blue silk sheath she regularly wore to big-ticket campaign functions.
“More than okay,” Allie said. “You’re gorgeous.”
“Well, you said their dinners are usually formal.”
“They can be kind of old-fashioned that way.” Allie gestured to her own outfit. “Why else do you think I put on a skirt? I hate skirts.”
Selene laughed and slipped into her coat. “Let’s go.”
They drove to the edge of town and then a mile and a half down a drive marked Private that brought them to an imposing set of wrought iron gates.
“They know we’re expected,” Allie said. “The gates should open in a sec.”
Even as she spoke, the tall barrier slowly swung back. The road behind the gates wound through a dense forest for another mile. They passed formal gardens and manicured lawns, and when, at last, Fenris Hall’s home appeared, Selene’s jaw dropped.
“Allie, this is not a big house. This is a small—no, make that medium—castle.”
The building looked like a cross between an English manor and a fortress. Selene stared and waited for someone to cue the rumble of thunder and flash of lightning followed by a river of bats surging out from beneath the parapets.
“Come on, Aunt Sel,” Allie replied. “Don’t make a big deal. Fenris is old. Like Crusades old. He’s had time to make money. And a lot of the wolves live here, so it’s not like they don’t need the space.”
“Crusades old?” Selene’s eyes widened as she parked the car. She envisioned a battle-scarred, grizzled man with bent limbs and one eye. She hoped she wouldn’t stare too much when they were introduced.
Allie shrugged, unbuckled her seatbelt, and exited the car. She scurried up the steps to the massive oak doors of the building. Selene walked slowly up the stairs, glancing nervously around.
“Why are you so slow tonight?” Allie said impatiently and waved for her aunt to join her at the front door.
“How did you get used to this?” Selene murmured. “I’m trying to take it all in. I feel like I need a map and a tour guide.”
“It’s really cool.” Allie took her hand. “You’re gonna love it.”
“Should we knock?” Selene stared at the door.
But before Allie could answer, the doors swung open.
“Oh my god,” Selene whispered.
Her oh-so-hot and mysterious helper from the bookstore smiled. “Hello, Ms. Jones.”
“You—” she blurted. “What are you doing here?”
He’d traded the Henley and jeans for a crisp white dress shirt, collar unbuttoned, sleeves rolled to his elbows, and dark twill pants, but it was definitely him.
“Aunt Sel,” Allie frowned. “You already met Fenris?”
Fenris? Selene stared at the young face, the tousled ash-brown hair, and the playful smile. This guy is Crusades old?
“Good evening, Allison.” He kissed the girl’s cheek. “Your aunt and I bumped into each other downtown the other day. Literally.”
Selene blushed but quickly went from flabbergasted to annoyed. “I didn’t know who you were, but you knew perfectly well who I was, which is hardly fair. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Forgive me.” His gray eyes were warm, if mischievous. “I didn’t want to introduce myself until the appropriate occasion arrived. I’m Fenris Hall, but call me Fen. I’m honored you accepted the invitation to dine with us this evening. Learning about our world can be something of a shock.”
Allie laughed. “She fainted when she found out. Did Josh tell you?”
“Allie!” Selene grimaced. So much for good first impressions. Though technically this was a second impression. Which meant she was zero for two.
Fen extended his hand. “Please be assured, you have nothing to fear from us, Ms. Jones. And if you faint again, I’m sure we have smelling salts somewhere.”
Smelling salts? I guess he is from another century.
“Thank you, and it’s Selene.” She smiled, appreciating his effort to make her feel better, and took his hand in a light clasp. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Fen.”
She’d become slightly distracted by the way the touch of his fingers made her skin tingle when he jerked his hand back with what sounded like a snarl. Selene’s eyes rounded. He took in her startled expression and frowned.
“I apologize,” he said quietly. “Your ring. Would you please remove it?”
“My ring?” Selene stared at him and then at the simple Celtic knot that adorned her right ring finger. Emma had given it to her as a birthday gift when they were in college. She wore it almost every day.
He turned over his palm to reveal a glaring red welt. “Silver burns us.”
“Aunt Selene!” Allie’s shrill exclamation hammered Selene’s eardrums, and she knew she’d committed some heinous werewolf faux pas. “You wore silver?”
“It’s fine, Allison.” Fenris smiled gently. “Our sensitivity to silver is an odd concept for humans.”
“Oh, oh god,” Selene stammered. “I am so sorry.” She pulled the ring from her finger and the earrings from her ear lobes and shoved them into her purse. “I don’t know the rules yet.”
“It’s nothing. I heal very quickly.” He showed her his palm again. The redness was already fading.
He stepped back so they could enter. “Please, come in. Josh is waiting for us upstairs.”
Allie glared at her as she moved through the doorway.
Selene bit her lip and glanced apologetically at Fen.
He turned the knee-buckling smile on her, and she tripped over the doorstep.
Fen caught her elbow and righted her. His firm grasp sent tendrils of heat over her skin, and she nearly stumbled again.
She looked up at him, and their eyes locked.
Her heart tripped the same way her feet had.
Oh no.
Selene couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a visceral reaction to a man. In fact, she didn’t think she’d ever felt this sudden lightning strike of desire. An irresistible urge to get closer to him. To feel his touch.
“Careful,” he murmured as he released her.
Selene had the distinct feeling he wasn’t talking about her lack of balance. She fought for composure, irked at herself for being so easily distracted. This dinner was about Allie and Josh.
So she was attracted to Fen. What of it? He was charming, handsome, and powerful. Anyone would be drawn to him. Besides, the allure she felt had to be one sided. Fen probably had women falling at his feet constantly.
That last thought stung.
“Anu will take your coats.” He gestured to a slender girl who appeared from the shadows.
When the girl stepped into the light and extended her arms, her skin looked mottled and rough, like bark.
Selene slid her coat from her shoulders and handed it to Anu, who took Allie’s coat as well, nodded to Fen, and then slipped back into a dark hallway.
Selene’s eyes followed the girl. “She’s . . .”
“A wood sprite,” Fen said. “My household requires a substantial staff to maintain. I have a large number of Fae in my employ.”
He took her arm and guided her from the front door into a spacious foyer with a wide staircase at the far end.
Their footsteps echoed on the polished marble floor, and Selene kept her jaw cemented shut so she wouldn’t gape at the sculptures that ringed the space or the immense tapestries that lined the walls.
Allie trotted happily at her side, unbothered by the opulent surroundings.
They climbed the stairs and started down a hallway that, for all appearances, was endless.
“Our formal dining room is a bit large for four people. I’ve arranged for us to dine in the conservatory,” Fen said. “I thought it would be more intimate.”
She wasn’t sure if she’d imagined that his fingers caressed the inside of her forearm when he said “intimate,” but goosebumps appeared on her skin as if he had.
“Oh!” Allie exclaimed. “The conservatory is my favorite room in the mansion.”
“Josh may have mentioned that.” Fen smiled at her.
They stopped in front of a large oak door, which Fen opened. He stood aside.
“After you.”
Allie darted into the room. “Josh!”
Josh crossed the space between them with impossible speed, picking Allie up and twirling her around. “Hi, beautiful.”
Allie kissed him soundly on the lips, which made Selene’s stomach clench, and then said, “I missed you today.”
Selene forced herself not to roll her eyes and glanced at Fen. He watched the young couple with a slight frown. When he caught Selene looking at him, a sardonic smile flickered on his lips.
“The rapture of young love.”
She returned his smile. “Something like that.”
“We should talk,” he said quietly. “Soon.”
“I agree.”
His gaze moved over her slowly, a crease forming on his brow.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Fen’s scrutiny had her fighting the impulse to touch her hair and ensure it wasn’t in disarray.
“At the bookstore, I wondered—” He cut himself off, seeming to think better of what he’d been about to say. “It’s nothing.”
But he was still looking at Selene as if she was a puzzle he needed to solve.
As Fen studied her, she was seized by the impulse to move closer to him, to lift her chin in challenge to the power he radiated.
Aside from Josh’s obvious physical strength, he was by all appearances a teenager. A very cute, but still ordinary, sixteen-year-old boy.
There was nothing mundane about Fenris Hall. He radiated quiet confidence and unquestionable authority. It was so obvious now, Selene wondered how she could have missed it when she ran into him at Page Turner.
Maybe he had the ability to rein in that aura of strength when he wanted to. What color would that aura be?
She didn’t know anything about auras, but Natalie could teach her how to see them. Or she could just ask Nat what color Fen’s aura was.
God. Why am I suddenly obsessed with his aura?