Marley wasn’t at all sure how much “we” there would be moving forward.
Something of the thought must’ve shown on her face because he said, “Please don’t do something that might put you at risk just because I handled things badly.”
“Is that what you call it?” she asked.
“Given your limited exposure to the Mirus world, to the people in it, would you honestly have agreed to see Scarlett if I’d told you the truth ahead of time?”
“I don’t know.” Probably not, she thought. “But not telling me what you had planned, not giving me a choice, just expecting me to go through with it without having time to consider the ramifications because you thought it was the right thing was definitely not the way to go. Regardless of practicality, force is still force, and it’s not okay. It’s never okay.”
Ian went motionless. “Who hurt you?” His voice was quiet, controlled, in contrast to the complete and utter fury in his eyes. “Is that what you remembered?”
“No,” she said quietly. “And no one. I was one of the lucky ones. But I know plenty who weren’t.”
He closed his eyes, and she could see him reaching for control, trying to leash the quick burst of rage. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think of it like that.”
“Of course you didn’t. You’re a man. You don’t live your life with the threat of being victimized in the back of your mind. But you can think about it now. I won’t be made to feel a victim, Ian. Or like I’m not in control of my own life.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know how many other ways I can say it. There is no guidebook for this. I’m fumbling along trying to protect you the best way I know how.”
Part of her wanted to crack at that because everything he’d done so far could be seen in that light. But it just didn’t play for her.
“I still don’t understand why you’re doing this.”
“Because I don’t think you should be punished for someone else’s mistake.”
“Yeah, yeah, no collateral damage. Except nobody does that, Ian. People get smacked around on the street and other people walk by and pretend they don’t see it. It’s how the world works.”
He strode around the counter until he stood toe to toe with her. Temper rolled off him in waves as he got down in her face. “Listen up. I don’t have to be here. I’m saving your ass, and you aren’t the only one who’s lost something because of it. I don’t owe you a damned thing, least of all an explanation. My actions should speak for themselves, so why don’t you think about that while you’re trying to decide whether to trust me again.”
Chapter 7
The war of Marley’s tempers was evident in the swirl of colors around her, and in the midst of it all were thick ribbons of regret and shame.
“I don’t understand you,” she said.
“I know.” He stepped back and struggled to rein his own anger in as he turned to deal with the food.
Not productive, he reminded himself. He was so fucking tired, and more than a little pissed off because she wasn’t entirely off the mark. How many times in the past had he done exactly what she’d said? Ignored and moved on because those were his orders. But how far in the other direction did he have to go to get a little damned credit?
“Ian, I’m sorry.” The words were quiet, more meaningful because they hadn’t been said on a reflex.
It scraped at him, that she’d led the kind of life that made it so difficult for her to believe someone would get involved only because it was the right thing to do.
“What’s done is done. Now’s the time to regroup and assess our options. I want us to go into town later. I have a contact there who might be able to help us.”
Her tension was palpable. “Another mind wiper?”
Ian set the food on the table, met her eyes. “A warlock.”
She paused a beat before dragging out a chair and sitting. “Naturally. And what exactly will a warlock be able to do?”
“Well, a couple of things. There may be some sort of cloaking spell to hide you from Dream Walkers. And, I hope he might be able to give us a lead on the warlock who came to your apartment. Each warlock’s spellcraft has a unique signature. Identifying him might give us a better idea of what we’re up against on that front.”
She considered. “And if there is a cloaking spell?”
No matter how inconvenient, he wouldn’t screw this up again. “Then it’s your decision whether to use it.”
The topaz haze faded. “Okay.”