Not now. She couldn’t afford to fall into a flashback, which was really a prelude of things to come. God, she was so broken. Breathe in, breathe out. It was a simple but effective way to ground herself in the present.
Maccus watched her, his dark eyes showing a brief flicker of concern before returning to their normal state of unemotional and unreadable. How long he had she been lost in the flashback?
“What?” she asked, striving for nonchalance.
His silence worried her. What was he thinking? Maybe even planning?
It was one thing for him to defend her against some demon he could destroy with ease—and yes, he was that good. Would he do it if his survival was on the line?
She wouldn’t ask it of him, didn’t expect it.
Her own actions had put her in this position.
Her goals had once been so clear—save her sister, do her time, be released from her contract. Now it looked as though her sister was lost, her time was coming to an end, and a loophole in the deal meant a one-way trip back to the underworld.
Yup, her goals had become a little murky.
What was clear was that she wouldn’t go down without a fight, and there was no one she’d rather fight alongside than Maccus.
A flash of red caught her eye. Kayley was coming right at them, her heels tapping against the hardwood floor. She was frowning now, her eyes snapping with anger, her lips pursed in a thin line. Guests at the gallery tried to catch her attention, but there was no deterring her from her goal—reaching Maccus.
“I asked you for a private meeting, and you choke my agent.” Her sister vibrated with energy, with life, and also with barely suppressed anger. She was obviously used to getting her own way.
That was on her or had at least started there. Overcompensating for the poverty they lived in and their mother’s death, she’d indulged her younger sister way too much.
Was that what had sent her down this road?
The road to Hell was paved with good intentions. Because her intentions had been good. But something had gone horribly wrong.
“Your agent insulted your sister.” His deep voice grounded her. She wasn’t the only one who couldn’t keep her eyes off him. Her sister seemed spellbound.
She waved away his words. “That’s just Colin’s way. He doesn’t mean anything by it.”
So that made it okay to insult her? Kayley just didn’t give a damn.
“We’ll talk when everyone leaves.” He turned away, the conversation done as far as he was concerned.
It was a surprise when she turned her attention to Morrigan. “You should tell him to come with me.”
Unable to stop herself, she laughed in her sister’s face. “No one tells Maccus to do anything.”
“Maccus, is it?” She made a humming sound deep in the back of her throat. Her expression turned even more calculating. “We should talk, catch up on old times. Come with me.” She started away, as though expecting her to follow like a trained dog.
Morrigan stayed right where she was. Kayley was a few feet away before she realized her sister wasn’t following dutifully behind her. Damn, her sister was a spoiled brat.
Kayley’s eyes snapped with anger, and her lips pulled tight. “Well, come on.”
“No.” Maccus spoke before Morrigan could. “She stays.”
Kayley threw back her head and laughed, the sound drawing attention and more than a few smiles from her admirers. “Ah, so she’s on your leash. If I’d have known, I would have told Colin to let you bring your pet.” She ran her hand down the front of her dress, pulling the material tight to emphasize her breasts and hips. It was a blatant display of sexuality. And an invitation.
“She can watch later if you’d like,” she all but purred. “I don’t mind an audience.” Still laughing, she walked away, letting the crowd swallow her up.
Fury erupted inside Morrigan. “What the fuck was that about? I can speak for myself.”