Page 43 of Eternally Bound
Kadence moved away from the wardrobe and walked over to the king-sized bed as she tried to process everything he told her. She didn’t think that would ever be possible. At least now she understood better what drove him and why he could be so demanding and unbending. Now she also knew why he emanated such a vast amount of power.
“Would you let me come with you to hunt Joseph?” she inquired.
“No.”
“I have every right to be there.”
Ronan’s nostrils flared. She could see the outline of his fangs behind his lips as he watched her. “You are a mortal. You have no training—”
“I was taught to defend myself in the stronghold, and I can expertly handle numerous weapons!” she interrupted.
“Let me guess, you can kill a stuffed dummy with ease,” he drawled. “You have no training where it counts, in the field. The hunters failed you in that. You will be more of a hindrance out there than an asset, and I refuse to put my men in danger to satisfy your vendetta.”
Kadence opened her mouth to protest, but he was right and she knew it. She’d left the stronghold thinking she had the training to fend off any vampire. Joseph had proved her completely wrong.
“And you also don’t want me there because I’m a woman,” she said bitterly.
Ronan snorted. “I know women are just as capable as men when it comes to inflicting damage and death. This is because you are not prepared.”
“Will you… will you teach me? Prepare me?” she asked and held her breath as she waited for his rejection.
Ronan studied her as he tried to decide what to do. “I will until we find a way to return you,” he replied. “I’d rather have you actuallyableto protect yourself rather than just thinking you can. That will only get you killed faster.”
“Gee thanks,” she muttered.
“It’s the truth. I think you’ll find all you need for tonight. If you do need something else, Marta or Baldric will be happy to help you,” he said as he turned toward the door.
“Do you have any books?”
He stopped in the doorway. “Books?”
She smiled at him, an amused gleam in her azure eyes. “Yes, you know, bound paper you read from. My sleeping habits are much like yours and I often stay up all night.”
“There is a library downstairs. I will ask Marta to show it to you.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll send her up.”
“Ronan.” Her voice stopped him from leaving again. The light cascading over her lit her pale hair and emphasized the curves of her willowy frame. He found himself growing aroused as he gazed at her. “Be careful tonight.”
The words rocked him. No one had said those words to him before, and the fact it was her…
She’s leaving,he reminded himself. His jaw locked as he stormed out the door. Stalking into his room, he slammed the door closed with so much force it shook the frame, but it did nothing to ease his frustration.
Changing into a pair of black pants and a black shirt, he strapped on some stakes, a crossbow, and slipped two daggers into the holsters at his sides. He never wore so much weaponry while hunting, but after what he’d seen with Joseph and the Savages, he wasn’t taking any chances.
He slipped his coat on, effectively covering the weapons before he left his room. Kadence’s door was closed when he walked past it to the stairs, but her scent still floated to him.
Killean and Saxon waited for him by the door. “Where’s Declan?” he asked of them.
“Still in the poolroom the last I saw him,” Saxon replied.
“Wait here.”
He turned away from them and strode toward the poolroom. He found Declan leaning against the bar with a snifter of whiskey in hand. Declan rested his elbow on the bar while he gazed out the window. Ronan didn’t know all of Declan’s secrets, but he did know his friend had a special affinity for knowing or at least sensing things.
“Did you know she didn’t intend to return home?” Ronan demanded.
