like his father’s, either. When she shook Aldo Xenakis’s hand at the restaurant on Monday, she’d felt his dark magic like a layer of slime over his skin. It repelled her, a force both ugly and unclean and more than a little bit dangerous.
There was nothing at all repellant about Sebastian. He carried that same sense of danger, of darkness—but not.
Why was his different?
Why was he so different?
And why, she wondered, did it matter to her so much?
There was no way to avoid the obvious. Lily Cheval fascinated him every bit as much as she aroused him. Sebastian couldn’t take his eyes off her. When she stood at the podium and thanked the organizers for the event, he felt as if she spoke directly to him. When she talked about the link between the art museum and the community and the importance of the preservation of works both great and small, he was ready to pull out his wallet.
It was obvious that Lily Cheval was beloved by the people here, every bit as much as her absent father. The Chevals had become strong pillars of this dynamic city, supporters of important causes, and popular for their altruism and good works.
He couldn’t help but draw a comparison to his own father, one that was so embarrassingly lacking that he quickly shut down that line of thought.
At the moment, Lily was speaking to a group of women who’d cornered her near the podium. Sebastian watched her, wondering if she would search him out when the conversation ended as she’d done a couple of times this evening.
Already he felt a sense of ownership. She wasn’t his. He barely knew her, and yet he felt as if he’d known her all his life. Felt a connection that had no explanation, but knew it was one he wanted time to explore.
She broke away from the group with smiles and a few soft-spoken comments. Then she was there, beside him, looking up with those beautiful amber eyes, and once again he was lost.
Lost, and loving every second of the mystery.
“It’s been a long day, Sebastian. I’m ready to leave, but I wanted to thank you for your rescue.”
“You’re going home?” He hadn’t thought of the evening ending. Had somehow pictured himself leaving with her, but one didn’t barge in on the life of a princess, and Lily Cheval was the closest he’d ever come to royalty.
She shrugged and glanced to both sides. “Actually, I’m headed across the bridge to Mount Tam. I really need to run tonight.”
“Would you care for company?” He took her empty glass from her hand and set it on the table beside him.
She smiled. “I wish, but I plan to shift. My wolf hasn’t had nearly enough freedom this week.”
“That works for me.” There, he thought. Let’s see what she makes of that.
Lily frowned. “Are you Chanku? I don’t sense it in you.”
He shook his head. “Not Chanku, but I have other skills. I’ve mastered a trick or two.”
Her eyes went wide for a moment. “I see.” Narrowed, as if she judged him more carefully than she had earlier. “Then yes. I would love to have company. Please. Will you join me?”
His heart thundered in his chest, but he merely nodded. “Did you bring a car?”
She shook her head. “No. I came in the company limo. We can take that, or . . .”
“I brought my car. Do you have a wrap?”
She nodded, and he wondered if she regretted accepting his invitation. They waited while one of the staff retrieved a dark, glistening shawl that wrapped her in russet and gold fire.
Her aura spiked. The reds were back. Darker, deeper, flashing true crimson, more brilliant than before. Did she have any idea how openly she broadcast her own arousal?
Then he wondered if she saw auras as well. If she knew he was hanging on to polite behavior by a thread.
He touched her back lightly with his fingers, guiding her toward the door. More than a few noted the fact they left together, and he wondered how long it would be before his father got word.
Wondered if he already knew.
They waited in front of the museum while the valet retrieved his vehicle from the large lot. Lily dismissed her car and driver, but her thoughts were hidden behind strong shields. Sebastian wondered what Lily was thinking, why the easy communication between them had ended so suddenly.
He opened her door, and she climbed in, every move graceful and composed. Had she been born with