Page 43 of Redemption

“Do you take me for a fool?” she snapped. “If this is your way to avoid telling me the truth about how you came to know about Timothy, I find it despicable.”

“I would never take you for a fool, Rhea. In fact, I’d hoped never to tell you about my family’s ability.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Rhea sprang to her feet, and he quickly followed suit. As she turned to leave the alcove, he caught her arm. The electric current that streaked up his arm caught him by surprise, but he ignored it as he forced her to look at him.

“I am not a liar,” he bit out harshly. “The first time I heard this Timothy’s name was when Jamie mentioned him this evening.”

“Are you trying to tell me that your nephew has this gift as well?” Rhea sneered with skepticism.

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you,” he said with frustration. Her skepticism wasn't unsurprising, but his need to ensure she believed him was. Jamie’s abilities surpass everyone else’s in the family.”

“And I suppose you’re telling me that you have this gift as well.”

The sarcasm in her voice scraped across his senses, and he jerked his hand away from her. It wasn’t the first time he’d wished he was incapable of having visions. But the scorn in her voice stung more than he liked. When he didn’t reply she narrowed her gaze at him. Suddenly her eyes widened in bewildered astonishment.

“That night in the museum,” she whispered as she paled with fear and panic. “You knew. You knew who I was.”

“No, I didn’t know who you were.” Percy shook his head in denial. “I’d had a dream about you, but the only thing the an dara sealladh showed me was your eyes. A beautiful pair of violet eyes filled with fear and pain. I knew you were in trouble, but I didn’t know how to find you, and when I did, I wasn’t able to help you.”

Rhea stared at him in silence. Confusion mixed with fear and distrust flitted across her face, and his body tensed as he waited for her to flee. When she remained immobile, he eyed her cautiously. After a long moment, she met his gaze steadily.

“Have you had any other…other visions about me?” The question tightened his muscles until they were rock hard. Percy jerked his head in an affirmative manner.

“Yes,” he muttered.

“Today?”

“Yes.” Short and abrupt was the best he could manage at the moment because his jaw ached as if he’d taken a jab from a sparring partner at the club.

“What did you see?” The question held the smallest hint of trepidation, which was almost buried beneath the strength he’d come to admire in her.

“You were surrounded by a group of children.” Deliberately, he refrained from sharing the image of her fighting with Ruckley.

“The children,” she murmured with a nod of her head. A second later, her gaze locked with his as if knowing he was holding something back. “What else.”

“I saw you struggling with a man I assume was Ruckley,” he said softly. She flinched and Percy stepped forward to rest his hands on her shoulders. “I won’t let him hurt you anymore, Rhea. I give you my word.”

For a moment, she appeared ready to argue before she dropped her head and nodded. Beneath his hands her tremor vibrated into him. Without thinking, he pulled her into his arms in a protective embrace. She didn’t protest, but melted into him. It felt right holding her like this with her body burrowing into his and her cheek pressed into his shoulder. He tried to discard the thought, but it was impossible to do so. A soft sigh escaped her as she straightened and lifted her head to look at him.

“I’m beginning to think you should be called Sir Percy.” The small smile curving her mouth made him smile in return.

“Why is that?” he chuckled.

“Because you seem to have the penchant for taking on the role of a knight in shining armor.” Her observation made him arch his eyebrows before he laughed. When she eyed him with puzzlement, he laughed again.

“I own a white gelding I’m partial to riding every morning.” The confession made her eyes widen in surprise before she laughed. It was a pleasant sound, and he liked knowing he was responsible for it.

“Then I really will have to begin referring to you as Sir Percy.”

“Somehow, I think you’ll find a way to mock me with that title.”

“Of course not,” Rhea said with a distinct flash of mischief in her eyes.

She had the look of a woman free of any cares. It made her beautiful. Without thinking, Percy ran his thumb across her bottom lip. His touch made her draw in a sharp breath, and her violet eyes shimmered with something undefinable as her gaze locked with his. The tip of her tongue flicked out to wet her upper lip, and his entire body hardened in reaction to the innocent act.

“You’re a complex woman, Rhea Bennett.”