Pack of Lies (Shadow Guild Pack of Lies (Shadow Guild Wolf Queen #3) - Linsey Hall Page 0,26

done that,” he almost growled, then spun around and charged from the room.

Panting, I stared up at the ceiling.

Holy fates. Had that really just happened?

And his eyes…

Lachlan

* * *

I strode away, my mind racing and my heart barely able to keep up. At the base of the stairs, I leaned against the wall.

What had I just let myself do?

With shaking hands, I dug one of Mordaca’s potions from my pocket and swigged it back. The foul taste was welcome, and I prayed it would suppress the curse that I could feel raging through my veins.

Frustrated, I pinched the bridge of my nose.

The fact that I had been desperate for her was no justification.

I’d known that we were impossible even when I was a teenager. That I’d avoided other women hadn’t been to save myself for her, because she was never supposed to happen. It had just felt…right.

Lonely and frustrating, but right.

Ever since I’d seen her, there’d been no one else for me. I couldn’t even imagine it.

So I’d spent all my free time in the fight ring. Fat lot of good it had done me now. At the first opportunity, while my defenses were lowered in sleep, I gave in.

And how glorious it had been.

But it could never happen again.

10

Eve

* * *

I woke alone.

Lachlan had never returned, and I was grateful. The last thing I needed was to roll over and look into his eyes.

Last night had been…amazing. Stupid, but amazing.

I rubbed my chest, wondering how much further my heart had inched toward him.

Nope. No time to think of that now. I needed to get my head in the game and solve the mystery of what the hell was going on here.

Of what the hell I was.

It didn’t take long to pull on my boots and jacket. Sleeping in my clothes hadn’t been fun, but it had been efficient, at least. Ralph was nowhere to be seen, for which I was also grateful. I couldn’t imagine that he would have any comforting words for me.

The stairs creaked as I made my way down. The early morning was still dark, the air crisp and cool with a hint of rain on the horizon.

Lachlan leaned against the wall next to the door, but he straightened when I stepped out onto the pavement. I could see people in the distance, still partying on the streets from the night before.

I stopped a few feet from Lachlan and leaned against the same wall. He handed me a takeaway coffee cup and warm paper bag. The scent of a sausage roll wafted toward me, and my stomach grumbled.

“Thanks.”

He nodded and looked away, clearly not wanting to make eye contact.

That was fine. Better, in fact.

I turned and looked out at the street, listening to the sounds of the continuing party as I bit into the savory, salty roll. I finished my breakfast in record time, then started on the coffee. After my first bracing sip, a car rolled up.

The Land Rover was muddy and well used, but the woman at the wheel was as coiffed as she had been yesterday. Fiona rolled down the window and nodded toward the back. “Get in.”

Lachlan strode toward the car and opened the door, gesturing for me to enter. After I climbed in, he shut the door and walked around to the other side.

“Sleep all right?” Fiona asked, a smile in her voice.

I frowned at the back of her head. Had she read what there was between us and intentionally put us in such a tiny room?

I frowned.

“Fine, thanks.” Lachlan’s voice was short. “The boat burning was impressive. We saw it from the window.”

“Yes, the builders try to outdo themselves every year.” She turned onto a country road that led away from the town. “We’ll be there soon.”

The car climbed a hill and looped around. The moon hung low, illuminating the standing stones towering toward the sky. They were utterly massive, fifteen of them at least, flat and wide and tall.

Fiona stopped the car and stepped out. I followed her, watching her squint up at the sky. “Looks like a clear morning. Good news for us.”

“Why do we need clear skies?” I asked.

“We want to see the moon set.” She walked toward the stone circle, and I hurried to keep up, keenly aware of Lachlan at my back.

As we passed through the stone ring, magic shivered down my spine. Suddenly, my blood and bones felt alive with power. It sparked through me like I was made of carbonated soda, and I