She asked, “What’s wrong?”
He loved that her question came out breathless. Lifting his head, he told her, “Nothing is wrong. You’re just too great a distraction for me when I’m supposed to be on a mission to save you, Rez,andanother woman.”
Alifair’s pretty lips puckered in irritation. “What other woman?”
Wasshejealous?
He felt better now but quickly explained before she got the wrong impression. “That’s why I’m here with the three shifters from the United States. They’re unusual shifters connected to a brown bear shifter living in Austria. They believe Krol might have kidnapped his pregnant mate.”
Her head bobbed excitedly. “That’s true.”
Bosse stumbled mentally, trying to figure out how she could know this. “Did you dream about this woman?”
“No. I met her in person. Her name is Magdelina. Krol brought her into the castle today and shoved her into this room. I had been in here cleaning for a few hours. He told me to take care of her needs. During the time he left us alone, we became friends of a sort.”
“Yes, that is the woman we were told to find.” This would be great news for the Gallize men. Bosse couldn’t wait to send the paper airplane message. “Where is she?”
“That’s what I was explaining. Krol came by a little over an hour before you opened my door. I had not found Rez, but Magdelina was using her gift to see if she could locate her. She did, but before she could tell me what was happening, Krol opened the door and said Magdelina had to leave with him. Rez stood behind him. She looked up and recognized me before I could stop her from saying my name.”
Bosse digested all that and zeroed in on the one thing that worried him the most. “Krol now knows you helped me, and you know Rez, which would clearly mean you were here trying to free her as well.”
She lifted her shoulders. “Yes. He’s not happy with me at all.”
Major understatement. Krol would torture her as an example to the rest of the servants and guards before killing her. Bosse had never wanted to kill Krol more than this minute. Rage roared to life in his chest. “I’m getting you out no matter what you say. If he shows up before that happens, I’m killing him.”
Her shoulders drooped. “I can’t go back to my people and say I found Rez but gave up on rescuing her. I have invested too much time in this place to walk away now. You said the guards told you Krol would not be back tonight. Let me have another chance to find her before asking me to leave.”
Alifair was confused if she thought he would only ask her to leave. He intended to carry her out of here if that was what it took to keep her safe. She could be angry, but she’d be alive to find Rez, and he’d help her.
She started fussing with her hair, pulling it back and twisting it into a knot on her head. Stray curls fell loose. “I look awful. I wish I had known you were coming. I could have washed my face. Like a ninny, I broke down after he took Rez away. Now my eyes are red and swollen.”
“Your eyes are extraordinary.” He kissed her, a light touch of his lips. “You have faced far worse than others with grace and determination.” He held his palm against her face. “Nothing could lessen your beauty.”
She snorted at that. “Freedom has clearly ruined your eyesight.”
He smiled at hearing her smart off at him. He’d scowled and snarled at everyone for the last couple of years while living on the constant edge of fury to survive.
Then she came along and quieted a monster with homemade cookies.
When Alifair calmed him the first time, he’d soaked it up, then ordered her not to do it again, or he’d end up killed. Looking back, he realized what an ass he’d been.
The energy that filled him with contentment had been a gift, one he would welcome for the rest of his life.
He now realized how futile his words had been.
Only a fool would believe this woman could be ordered to do anything against her will.
Memories of her had kept him going through the days apart. He used a finger to tip her chin up so he could look deep into that stunning gaze. “I have shifter eyesight. It is perfect.”
That awarded him an unladylike snort. “It is good to know your ego is still intact.”
She could always make him smile.
But her lips lost their happy curve, and her brow furrowed. She swallowed hard. “I’m selfish to be so glad to see you. That you came for me means so much.”
He scowled at the reminder of the night he’d escaped. “Of course, I came back. If you had not convinced me I would put you in harm’s way by staying, I would not have left you.” His voice carried the guilt he’d suffered. “I have never been more miserable than facing every minute without you once I left the castle. By the time I found the shipping docks in Italy, I had decided against boarding a ship. I was coming back for you then.”
Her lips parted in surprise. “Then how did you meet those shifters in the States?”
