“You remind me of her.” He looked at her this time, his gaze flitting over her face. “At first glance, I thought you were her even though your colouring is different. But when I look at you more closely, I can see the differences.”
Eve gave a nervous smile, not sure where the conversation was going or how to respond.
He sighed heavily and looked away again. “I loved her. More than I thought possible. And when she died, it was like I died, too. There was no reason to live. When I wasn’t hoping to die, the only thing that kept me going was my hatred and the need for revenge.”
“Revenge?” Eve frowned trying to recall what he’d told her. His wife had died in a gas explosion, hadn’t she? Surely Damien didn’t have a vendetta against the utility company.
“Yes. You see…she was killed. Murdered because of what she was.” He looked her in the eye. “Because of what you are.”
Eve felt her eyes widen. What was he trying to…? Oh. “She was an…empath—Fae—like me?”
He nodded. “I don’t know if Rafe told you or not, but there are certain factions of society that have a hatred of the Fae. They feel they should be wiped from the face of the earth.”
“No.” A chill went down her spine and she looked at him aghast. “Rafe never said anything about that! But why? What did the Fae ever do to deserve such hatred?”
“It’s too complicated to explain in the little time I have here. But you need to be careful, that Anti-Fae groups exist and could be looking for you.”
“For me!” Eve heard her voice squeak in shock. “Do the police know this?”
“No. Just like most people know nothing about the Fae, this other group is rather secretive as well. If you told the police, most likely they’d have you in for a psychiatric examination.”
Eve pulled her hand free of Damien’s and stood up. “I don’t know what to say. What do I do? Why didn’t Rafe tell me this? Is he in danger, too?” She looked about wildly, not exactly sure why. Perhaps looking for the Anti-Fae persons to come jumping out at her?
Damien stood up and caught her by the shoulders. “Rafe is fine, and I don’t think he initially realized how dangerous the situation was becoming. As for what you do…” He paused and then shrugged. “You’re careful. You stay alert and watch out for strangers, don’t go anywhere alone. It’s not much different than what any single woman would do.”
Eve wasn’t so sure about that. She’d lived by herself for quite a while and taken the usual precautions, but there’d never been any reason to feel she was a target. “Is that what the other Fae do?”
“They go about their lives. Many probably don’t even realize they’re in danger. Your people don’t exactly keep close tabs on each other, and sharing information is sporadic at best.”
“Rafe mentioned something about that.” Eve bit her lip, not sure what to think or do.
“There is one possible solution, a way to make your life safer.” Damien rubbed his thumb over her shoulder in a comforting gesture.
“What’s that?”
“Join forces with someone who knows the danger you face, who can help watch out for you.” He looked her intently in the eye, and Eve had the feeling he was trying to tell her something. Was he insinuating that the two of them…?
“Damien, I—”
“Eve—”
His fingers tightened on her shoulder, and for a moment there was a look about him, as if he wanted to pull her closer. He wet his lips; the blue that rimmed his silvery eyes seemed to grow darker. Was he leaning towards her? The moment stretched between them and Eve held her breath, not sure how she felt about the possibility that hovered between them. Damien was so… But then there was Rafe. An image of him came to mind, and she smiled. With him she felt…
Damien gave a short huff and shook his head, dropping his hands from her shoulders. “No. It’s not meant to be.”
Eve blinked. The air of expectancy that had hovered between them faded away. It was sad but also right as well.
Taking her hand, Damien began to walk again. “There’s something between us, Eve. But I still love my…wife; if I was with someone else I’d feel that I betrayed the bond we had.”
“Bond?” Eve screwed up her face, trying to understand his wording. “Oh, you mean the mental bridge empaths form with each other.”
“Something like that, only I’m not an empath.” He squeezed her hand and a shadow passing over his face. “Even though I wish it were different, I can’t stay. My being around you could bring its own sort of danger.”
“Because you’re an international spy, right?” She teased him, trying to lighten his mood but he didn’t smile. His expression was deadly serious.
“I’m not what I seem, Eve. Neither is Rafe.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t say. It’s not my place.” He stopped and turned her to face him. “What you need to do is go to Rafe. You’ve started to form a bridge with him. Why not see where it will take you?”
She tried to pull her hand free, but Damien wouldn’t let go. Compressing her lips in anger, she looked to the side, not really seeing the walking paths that wound through the trees. “Rafe left without a word. I’m not going to go chasing after him.”
Damien put a finger under her chin and turned her face towards him. “He had his reasons. Ones he thought were legitimate and might still be. It all depends on you and how you’re feeling about what happened to you.”
“I was kidnapped by a crazed empath!”
“And attacked by a wolf.” Damien added. “Will you ever be able to forget that? To get over your fear?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t been thinking much about it. Wolves don’t figure prominently in my life.”
“But what if they did?” He prodded. “What if I told you that part of Rafe’s work involves wolves? How would you feel?”
“Wolves?” She made a face, totally confused. “I thought he was a psychiatrist or a psychologist or something.”
Damien ran his hand through his hair. “It’s…complicated, and I can’t say much. But I want you to think about it.”
“Why are you so interested in getting me back together with Rafe?” She narrowed her eyes.
“I’m not. But it’s the best solution I can come up with given the amount of time I have. You’ll be safer with him.”
“But Rafe’s an empath as well. Won’t these people—these Anti-Fae, as you called them—be looking for him, too?”
“Rafe is capable of taking care of himself and you, too. Plus he’s surrounded by a network of…watchdogs.” He laughed softly at what must have been some private joke.
Eve was silent. The idea of simply seeking out Rafe, with the hopes that he’d protect her, was distasteful. If she went looking for Rafe—and it was a big if—it would be because she wanted a relationship with him, not simply to use him as a kind of bodyguard.
“Think about it, Eve. Please. I…I need to know you’re safe. I can’t handle losing someone else.” Damien looked at her, his eyes revealing his inner torment.
She laid her hand on his chest. “Why do you care what happens to me?”
He wet his lips and reached out to cup her face. “You’re special to me, Eve. I’ve always sensed a connection with you. If things had been different, maybe you and I… But I’m not capable of ever loving anyone else. My heart died in that explosion.
“I understand.” She slowly spread her fingers over his chest, feeling the warmth of his body, the steady thumping of his heart. He rubbed his thumb over her cheek and then as if one they drew apart.
Damien gave a crooked smile and once again she was struck by his good looks. His wife had been a lucky woman.
“If…if you don’t mind me asking, what was your wife’s name?”
He glanced away, his eyes taking on a distant look. Eve had the strangest feeling that he could actually see the woman standing just beyond her, and she had to resist the urge to turn and look. “Beth. Her name was Bet
h.”
“Beth? I had a distant cousin by that name, but I lost track of her years ago.”
Damien snapped his head in her direction. “What’s her last name?”
“Whitson, I think. What was your wife’s?”
The brief look of excitement died in his eyes. “Maynard.” He gave a bitter laugh. “For a moment I thought maybe…” He let the sentence die and shoved his hands in his back pockets.
“I know I have some distant Maynard cousins. And I think my cousin’s mother had remarried, but I’m not really sure.” Eve knit her brows together. “We moved around a lot when I was younger, and my family’s not great on keeping track of each other.” She shrugged, wondering if it was the Fae in her family that had caused those loose family ties.
“It doesn’t matter.” Damien made a face. “I just thought it would be nice to think I had contact with a member of Beth’s family.”
“Her parents are deceased?”
“No.” He stared at the ground, idly kicking at a weed. “They didn’t approve of me, though there’s nothing new about that. It seems to be the story of my life.” He gave a dark laugh. “They blamed me for her death, cursed me to hell the one time I tried to see them.”
“That’s awful!” Eve stepped forward to lay a comforting hand on his arm, but he shrugged her off.
“It’s the truth. I should have protected her. That’s why I’m trying to watch out for you.”
“I’m not your responsibility, Damien.”
“Perhaps not officially, but I’ll feel better once I know you’re safe.” His cell phone rang then, and he checked the number and swore loudly. “I have to go. I might not see you again, Eve. Please… Be careful.”
“I will. “ When he would have left, she grabbed his arm. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but I think it’s dangerous. Promise you’ll not do anything foolish.”
“Now where would be the fun in that?” He gave her a cocky grin, hesitated and then pressed a brief kiss to her cheek. “Go see Rafe. He needs you just as much as you need him.”
She squeezed his arm. “Try to stay in touch. Please? I’ve sort of grown attached to you…in a sisterly way.”
“I’ve never had much of a family. A sister might be…nice.” He stared off into the distance, a lonely look in his eyes. Pulling his arm free, he gave a brief nod. “I’ll try to check in once in a while.”
Strangely enough tears were stinging her eyes, and she blinked them away, forcing herself to speak in a stern tone. “You do that or I’ll come looking for you.”
“I bet you would.” He tapped her nose, and before she could say anything else, he turned and walked away without a backward glance.
Eve touched her fingers to her cheek where Damien had kissed her. Her heart belonged to Rafe, just as Damien’s still belonged to Beth, but she knew she’d never forget him.
Chapter 52
After returning to the apartment, Eve spent the rest of the day pondering what Damien had said. She was adamant that she wouldn’t go looking for Rafe simply because she wanted a bodyguard. But Damien claimed Rafe needed her just as much as she needed him. Was that true? Was Rafe feeling as lost and as lonely as she was? Or had Damien said that because he didn’t want her alone and unprotected?
Eve nibbled on the end of her pencil studying the drawing pad that lay in her lap. A sketch of Rafe stared up at her. She’d been doodling as she thought, and now realized she’d drawn a wolf in behind him. Cocking her head she decided it looked natural somehow. Damien had hinted that Rafe worked with wolves, but how could that be? Was he one of those animal therapists who figured out why pampered poodles overate? Laughter bubbled inside her at the idea of Rafe sitting in an armchair taking notes while a fluffy white poodle lay on a couch looking depressed. No, Rafe wouldn’t waste his time like that. And Damien had specified wolves, not dogs.
“I’m ba-ack!” The door to the apartment slammed shut and Caro bustled into the room, her arms laden with containers of Chinese food and shopping bags. She dumped all the packages on the island counter that separated the kitchen from the living area, took one look at her temporary roommate and sighed heavily. “Eve, I can’t believe you’re still moping around in those dreadful clothes. Did you do anything at all, today?”
“I went out for a walk,” Eve protested.
“Looking like that?” Caro’s eyebrows shot upward and she clasped her chest theatrically. “I hope none of my neighbours saw you. They might have me evicted for harbouring undesirables!”
“Aren’t you being a bit over dramatic? I don’t look that bad!” Eve stood up and forced herself not to glance at the mirror. Damien hadn’t thought she looked awful.
Caro sniffed. “Perhaps.” She began to take the food out of the bags. “But I do have a reputation to uphold. You know, just the other day…”
Eve found some plates and cutlery and set them on the table, letting the other woman’s words wash over her. Sometimes Caro could be…well…Caro. Flamboyant and dramatic and intense, it was what made her good at her job, but it didn’t mean she was always the easiest person to be around. Having a thick skin was a definite must as she seldom pulled her punches.
“Did you draw this today?” Caro had moved into the living room and was holding up the sketch of Rafe with a wolf.
“I was just doodling.”
“I like it.” Caro narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips. “It’s good. Very good.” She looked up at Eve, a smile on her face. “I’ll forgive you your horrid fashion sense if you can produce more drawings like this. Paranormal is big right now and this is very marketable.”
Eve shrugged, not sure if she wanted the picture to be marketable or not. Sometimes her quick sketches were like another person’s journal; a way of expressing her thoughts and feelings. It was personal and not meant to be shared with the world.
Caro had no reservations of course. “I’ll take this to work with me tomorrow and show it around.”
“No.” Eve hurried over and took the sketch pad. “I’m not done with it yet.”
“It’s good enough for a sample.” Caro moved to take it back and Eve actually hugged the picture to her chest.
“Caro, I said no!” She hadn’t meant to speak so forcefully but somehow it had slipped out.
“All right.” Caro held up her hands in mock surrender. “Don’t have a fit. It seems that picture is more than an ordinary exercise in drawing.”
“Maybe.” Eve felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment.
Caro raised one carefully penciled brow but let the subject drop. “I’ll change my clothes. You reheat the food.”
A few minutes later they were seated at the table eating. Or at least Caro was eating. Eve was pushing her food about her plate, still thinking about what Damien had said. Rafe needed her, Rafe worked with wolves…
“It’s a good thing Mr. Chang can’t see how you’re treating his moo goo guy pan.”
“Hmm?” Eve looked up, distracted.
“Your dinner. You aren’t eating anything.” Caro gestured with her fork.
“Oh.” Eve popped a piece of food in her mouth and chewed slowly. “Caro…you knew Rafe was a doctor before I did.”
“Right.”
“Why did you bother checking up on him?”
Caro winked. “Besides the fact that he’s a gorgeous male specimen?” She shrugged. “He gives off a certain vibe, like there’s more to him than meets the eye. I wanted to see what I could find out about him.”
“And what did you find out? I mean, you discovered he was a doctor but was there anything else? Any information about exactly what type of work he does?”
Setting her fork down, Caro leaned back in her chair and eyed Eve speculatively. “What’s up? Why the sudden interest in the man? I’ve tried to get you to talk about him for two weeks and you refused. Now you suddenly want to play twenty questions.”
Eve was tempted to lie but decided Caro might be able to offer some insight into the situation. “Damien—the
handyman you saw at Rafe’s—stopped by. He mentioned that Rafe worked with wolves and I was just wondering in what capacity. I’d always thought Rafe was more of a counsellor than an animal trainer.”
Caro’s eyes widened and a delighted grin swept over her face. “I knew it! The minute I saw the man I knew it.”
“Knew what?” Eve had seldom seen such genuine emotion on Caro’s face. The woman usually wore a sophisticated mask, every response preplanned to convey the perfect image of success and fashion.
Caro leaned forward, elbows on the table and her chin propped in her hands. “Do you know my favourite reading material?”
“Um…paranormal romance?” It wasn’t a big secret since Caro had stashes of the books all over the apartment but there had to be a purpose behind the question.
“Exactly. I read them, but… I’m also a believer.”
Eve blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“There’s more to this world than mere humans can see. I’ve known it for years, observed the signs, had a few brushes with ‘others.’”
“Others?” Eve blinked unsure how to respond. This was side to Caro she’d never suspected.
“That’s the term we believers use to talk about the shifters, witches and fairies that share the world with us.”
“Oh. Right.” Eve barely kept from rolling her eyes. Shifters really existing? What a ridiculous idea.
Standing up, Caro placed her hands on her hips. “You of all people shouldn’t be throwing stones, Eve.” Caro gave her a meaningful look and Eve started to squirm in her chair. The other woman didn’t know—couldn’t know—that her temporary housemate was Fae. Hell, she’d barely figured it out herself and still forgot about it at times.
Eve studied Caro carefully, wondering if she really knew something or was just bluffing. And if she did know about the Fae, what had tipped her off? The woman didn’t say anything, but a knowing smile graced her lips and her one brow was raised in a supercilious way.
Not quite willing to concede defeat, Eve sighed. She wouldn’t admit anything but... “All right. Let’s suppose that these ‘others’ exist. What does that have to do with Rafe?”