Dark Secrets - Linsey Hall Page 0,6

As usual, he wore one of his impeccable suits. He looked like a spy right out of a James Bond film in the elegant apparel. His sharp cheekbones and strong jaw were highlighted by a faint stream of light coming from the window, but it was his full lips that drew and held my gaze.

“Thank you, Miranda.” His low voice feathered over my nerve endings.

Miranda nodded and disappeared silently. I met his icy gray gaze. It warmed slightly at the sight of me.

“Grey.”

“Carrow.” He gestured for me to enter. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“I’m not sure it’s going to be a pleasure.”

“Any time spent with you is, regardless of the circumstances.”

“Um…” I didn't know what to say in response to his smoothness.

I stepped into the main living room, struck again by how pristine and perfect it was. It was austere, yes, but so was he. At least on the outside. Like him, the space was gorgeous. An enormous glass window provided a view of a moonlit beach. Massive waves crashed on a rocky shore, the pale light making them sparkle like diamonds. It was magic, but it looked real. Through the bedroom door, I could see a sliver of the grand piano that sat in the corner.

The lid was up, as if he’d recently been playing.

It hadn’t been up last time. Then, the piano had looked untouched for years. Centuries, maybe. The thin layer of dust on it and the air of neglect had been hard to miss.

“Have you been playing the piano?” I hoped so. If he had been, I liked to think it was because of me, an indicator that he cared about me.

Crazy and fanciful, maybe, but hell, I was crazy and fanciful.

He nodded. “Yes.”

I raised my brows, hoping he would continue. Of course, he didn’t.

We weren’t there in our relationship. I cared for him more than I wanted to admit—more than made sense, even—but now wasn’t the time. I had Mac and Seraphia to think about.

“Can I offer you anything?” Grey leaned against a heavy armchair, relaxed and casual, a predator, a lion lounging on the Savannah, ready to strike.

Oddly, I wanted him to. I shivered.

“No, thank you.” We’re Cursed Mates! I wanted to scream. But we still didn’t even know what that meant.

“Are you here about the Council and joining a guild?”

“No.”

Though I should be more worried about that, considering my status. I didn’t belong to a guild. None would have me, as we’d both recently learned. A few days ago at a ceremony to help me find my place in Guild City, I’d been rejected by all.

It didn’t matter that I didn’t particularly want to join one. I’d wanted the option, for God’s sake. I needed to be a member of a guild to stay in the city. As things stood, my days here were numbered. Especially since some Council members seemed to hate my guts, like Ubhan the sorcerer. Miserable bastard.

I shook the thought away.

“I thought I’d see you before now.” I nearly slapped a hand to my mouth. I hadn’t meant to admit that. It was like saying I cared for him.

I did care for him, but I’d never tell him. Once we’d learned we were Cursed Mates, we’d agreed not to pursue the attraction between us. It was too dangerous.

Even so, he’d asked me to stay with him after the Council meeting three days earlier. I’d said no. I was afraid, afraid of how quickly things were moving between us and of our status as Cursed Mates. He, it seemed, had temporarily lost his mind when he’d asked me, and now I’d lost mine by admitting that I’d hoped to see him.

Cool and collected, nerd. Play it cool and collected.

“It’s too dangerous,” he said.

“Of course. Because of the Cursed Mates thing.”

He nodded. “You had a vision of me drinking you to the death. I can’t ignore that.”

I shivered at the memory. Obviously, he was right. We didn't know the exact specifics of our situation, but we knew enough.

“I’m trying to figure out why we are what we are,” Grey said. “And how we can stop it. Until then, I thought it wise to avoid it entirely.”

“Avoid me, you mean.” I nodded, trying to appear nonchalant. “Clever.”

The briefest pain flickered in his eyes, and I wondered about the piano. Did he play that when he was distraught?

Did a man like him even become distraught?

That was probably the wrong word for it.

“Fate has plans for us,” he said. “Being Cursed Mates