Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(43)

Lilly could feel her cheeks heat as Toby whispered these words loudly as he moved to her side. She hoped no one else had overheard him, as she had no wish to give Devonshire any more ammunition to use against her.

“Of course, I'll be fine,” she said, patting his head. In seconds he was gone and she was surrounded by black and Sinclairs, and she wasn't sure which terrified her more.



Dev, unlike the others, could see what was happening before it happened. His night vision allowed him to move freely in the dark. Cam had the twins in hand, and Warwick seemed comfortable with Toby. Essie, he noted, had fallen in behind the boys in case she was needed, which left Lilly to him. He loved his family, but never more so when they were looking after him, and there was little doubt both Ess and Cam had deliberately left them together.

The room was not overly wide but it was long, and he could see wisps of mist before them. The walls were dotted with small indentations in which stood figures, some real, others fake. Large cobwebs draped the ceiling and drips of something that looked like blood fell into pools on the floor. He supposed if you didn't have his vision and were scared of the dark, like Lilly apparently was, it could be intimidating. There were pockets of red light strategically placed to add atmosphere, but only enough to lead the way.

“We have to walk through there, Lilly; the door behind us is now locked. Remember what the man told us when we entered,” Dev said, taking her arm to guide her forward. She hadn't made a move to follow the others.

“O-of course.”

She took a step forward and then another, but she looked a bit like a drunkard, listing from side to side. Dev kept pace with her, trying to see her eyes; however, her head was lowered and he had a suspicion she was closing them every few feet.

“You really are terrified of the dark.”

“No, of course not. Adults are not afraid of the dark.”

“Where is that rule written?”

“It just is.” He could tell she wanted to snap, but her words didn't have the strength behind them.

“Is this another weakness of the beautiful Miss Braithwaite?”

“No—yes, I... I— Dear God, what was that noise? The children, I must get to them.”

“Cam and Essie have them, and they are at present laughing and shrieking in delight at their adventure. You, however, are pale and sweaty and about to pass out from lack of air if you do not slow your breathing down.”

“Don't be absurd, I never faint.”

That put the poker back in her spine.

“How very well-bred of you,” Dev taunted.

“’Tis ill-mannered to rag at s-someone when they are not at their best, Lord Sinclair.”

“I am duly chastened,” Dev said, leading Lilly forward as the children called for them to follow.

Her body was rigid, the arm he held clenched tight.

“It's funny what scares us. I can't stand to see my siblings bleed. Unmans me completely, and I usually end up on the floor.”

“Really?”

Her eyes were going from left to right with speed, waiting to see what horrors awaited her next.

“Yes, it is a weakness, and gives my family no end of enjoyment at my expense, but there is little I can do to change it. Seeing the blood of anyone I care for unsettles me.” He remembered how he’d felt seeing the blood on Lilly's chin that night she had saved the boy, and prayed fervently he never saw any on her again in his lifetime.

Dev saw the man lift the ax and get ready to lunge at them, but knew Lilly had not. Placing an arm around her waist, he drew her to his side.

“My lord, unhand— Argh!”

Dev was sure he had just ruptured an eardrum, but it was worth it. Lilly was now buried against his chest. Her heart was beating a rapid tattoo and she was clutching his coat in her fists. He was a cad for taking advantage of her fears. Bad person that he was, watching her come unraveled was as enjoyable as her touching his face. When her defensives lowered, Lilly was extremely hard to resist.

“Lilly, it's all right.”

“I... I hate the dark and I hate to be scared and I want to l-leave now.”

The words were muffled in his chest. She sounded young and vulnerable at that moment, and he wondered at the experience that had given her this fear. One day she would tell him, along with everything else he wanted to know about this infuriating woman.

“And so we shall, but first we have to find the way out.”

Taking a deep breath, she pushed out of his arms and looked up at him.

“You're enjoying this.”

“Having a beautiful woman terrified in my arms? Never.” Dev laughed as she huffed.

“I will concede to being scared witless, my lord, and I will also concede that I need your assistance to navigate the remaining corridors of this hideous place, yet once we are outside, I will again dislike you intensely.”

“Fair enough, forewarned is forearmed. However, I must point out that you don't dislike me at all,” Dev said, intercepting her hand as it sought his sleeve and twining their fingers together. She struggled for several seconds, but he won the battle as a cobweb brushed her face and she swallowed a shriek.

“No, I do.”

“Of course you don’t. We have visited a Watch House together. I am the first person you have touched and enjoyed. Then there is the small matter of me saving you several times.”