Dreams of a Dark Warrior

lengthy sleeves. “How’s that?”
    “I won’t be gettin’ on the boat with you.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Regin, I’ll scour this island for all of your friends first.”
    “You’ll get yourself killed, before the curse ever gets a chance to do it.”
    “If the alternative is not having you, then so bloodywell.” He shrugged. “But you forget, this is what I do. I hunt immortals. And this is
my
island. I’ll find them.”
    “And Lucia?”
    “She’s stayed alive this long. So I’m counting on her to live one thousand years
and four weeks
. If I can get everyone to safety, will you give us a shot?”
    “What about the cur—”
    “Don’t answer now,” he interrupted, his tone curt. That curse talk maddened him. He felt with a certainty deep down in his bones that he had a future with her. He’d be damned if they’d argue over something that he
knew
didn’t apply to them. “Just think about it.”
    As Regin and Chase made their way back to meet the others, she studied him under her lashes.
    Before, he’d been intriguing to her, attractive, even sexy. This morning, he was
devastating
.
    His wet hair whipped over those lean cheeks. His camo pants clung to his sculpted legs and ass, until her claws curled painfully. Had his steely-eyed gaze always been so breathtaking?
    Their activities last night had certainly agreed with the man. Chase seemed to have grown overnight—and shed a couple of decades’ worth of tension. The stiffness in his back and neck was absent. Now that his lips weren’t pressed into a grim line, she could see his even, white teeth, making her fantasize about what his smile would look like.
    She doubted even Chase knew. The man didn’t have a single laugh line anywhere on his face, not even a hint of one.
    As they neared the others, she asked, “Don’t you want your sweater?”
    His expression darkened. “Do
you
want me to wear it?”
    She frowned. “I don’t care either way.”
    He smoothed a braid from her face. “Then I’d rather it keep you warm.”
    When they rejoined the group, almost as one, their gazes locked on his bare, scarred chest.
    Brandr looked troubled but sympathetic. Thad gaped, while Natalya winced. Lothaire didn’t bother hiding his derision.
    Chase jammed his shoulders back, chin raised, and her heart gave a pang. Beautiful Aidan had never had to back down before anyone, had never been embarrassed a day in his life.
    But maybe Chase deserved this scrutiny and more from the people he’d hurt.
Walk away from him. Let him feel this alone.
    Yet her hand decided to reach for Chase’s, and her stupid fingers felt the need to lace with his.
    The look he gave her as he tightened his grasp was one she’d never seen from him before.
    Tenderness.
    Brandr broke the silence. “Come on, then, let’s get moving. We need to cover a lot of ground today.”
    As the others set off, she tried to make light of the situation. Because Chase was clutching her hand—like a lifeline. “Did the big bad Blademan just have a funny feeling in his chest?”
    His gaze pinned hers, and he rasped one word.
“Aye.”

FORTY-EIGHT

    W hat a difference a day can make,
Declan thought as the six of them climbed a mountain trail.
    In that short time, he’d gone from the lowest low to the highest high.
    Yes, they were on the run for their lives, beleaguered by a squall, but he felt a hundred pounds lighter. For the last several hours, he’d led Regin through gusting winds and biting rain, blocking both for her. And each time he’d glanced over his shoulder to check on her, her eyes had flickered—with definite interest.
    Chest swelled with pride, he realized he might have a shot at
more.
    When the group took a break before a particularly steep ascent, he squired her back the way they’d come. Out of sight of the others, he leaned down to kiss her damp neck. The lass let him. “Been needin’ to do that since we left the stream.” He nuzzled her ear. “Have you thought about my offer?”
    She pulled back. “Offer? It sounded more like a decree. So, in this imaginary world, where we’re a couple and all my allies are safe and sound—and there is no curse that’s about to kill you—what do we do with our time?”
    “You wanted to ally before. We could be partners, split bounties. I’d still get to hunt Neos and Cerunnos. Slay some Horde vampires, right?”
    “You’d let me go into battle with you? Not afraid I’d get hurt?”
    “I’ve seen you