at me as we headed down the stairs. “It brings a sense of comfort.”
“I don’t read much.”
“That’s a pity.”
“Why’s it a pity?” I let out a laugh.
“I pity those who can’t get lost in fictional worlds.”
“Oh. I mean, I read magazines and message boards on the internet about old houses and photography, but I don’t read many books.”
“Like I said, pity.”
When we reached the first floor, I was surprised to see everything looked immaculate, as if there had been no party at all.
“Where’d everyone go?” I asked as we walked to the dining room.
“Home.”
“I thought you said they couldn’t get out of here.” I felt myself frown as I sat in the same chair I’d sat in yesterday. River took a seat across from me.
“The tide lowered and they were able to after all.”
“Hm.” My frown deepened. The food was already laid out for us and we dug in right away. Well, I did. River let me serve my plate first. I sipped on my coffee and looked up at him. “I saw you last night. You were a wolf.”
“A wolf?” He raised an eyebrow. “A protector. That’s what your kind would say about that dream.”
“My kind?” I let out a laugh. “You mean humans?”
“Sure.”
His answer gave me pause. He’d already told me he was human, but the way he said sure like that, so flippantly, filled me with turmoil. Even more so because I realized that despite myself, I wanted to believe in someone, maybe even dream a little like one of the characters in the fictional stories he liked to read. It didn’t make any sense, especially since by my own account I was dying to leave this place, but still. Far be it from crazy for me to be attracted to someone who didn’t even end up being part of the human race. Maybe he was lying and was really a ghost, like Esteban. I met his gaze. He was watching me closely. Waiting.
“Are you human?” I asked, my voice a near whisper.
“Back to this?” He chuckled. “I’m whatever you need me to be.”
“What does that mean?”
“If you want me to be a wolf, I’ll be a wolf. If you want me to be your lover, I’ll be your lover.” His gaze darkened. “But yes, I am human. I’m not a ghost or some creature of the night if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m not worried about it.” I cleared my throat, still trying to get over the lovers bit. “Why is it always so dark in here? Doesn’t it drive you mad?”
“Why would it drive me mad? It’s all I’ve ever known.”
“You never answered my question the other day. Did you go to university? Or school in general?” I asked, correcting myself quickly. Maybe he’d been homeschooled.
“I did.”
“Up to what grade?”
“Year four of medical school.” His mouth curved. He was so amused by my questions and so damn sexy when he looked that way. I wasn’t sure which of the two was more maddening.
“Medical school?” I raised an eyebrow. “I take it you didn’t finish?”
“I didn’t.”
“But year four? You were so close to finishing. What happened?”
“Life.” He sighed heavily.
“Hm. Where’d you attend undergrad?”
“Cambridge.”
My brows rose. “And medical school?”
“Cambridge.”
My jaw dropped momentarily. “Why are you here?”
“This is my home.” He chuckled deeply. “Where else would I be?”
“This is your parents’ home. You could easily get your own or finish your studies. Why didn’t you finish?”
“My father needs me here right now and he needed someone to take charge of his investments.”
“So medical school was set aside.”
He nodded. That was commendable. It was the right thing to do. It was what my father would have wanted me to do had things gone differently between us. Then again, hindsight was twenty-twenty. It was probably something he wanted Esteban to do. Thinking about my father and Esteban made my stomach roll. I was no longer hungry.
“So my friends left without me.” I glanced toward the ballroom, where everyone had been drinking and dancing last night.
“They’ll be back tonight. It is a weeklong event, after all.” He set his napkin down beside his plate. “I expect you’ll want to join the festivities again?”
“I’m not sure I do.” I pursed my lips. “I want to see my friends, but I don’t think I want a repeat of last night.”
“That’s fair.”
“And I don’t want to dress to the nines again.”
“You look beautiful regardless of what you wear.”
I bit my lip and glanced away in hopes of hiding my blush. I needed to gather