The Wolf's Pursuit (London Fairy Tales #3)(43)

They both wore masks, but hers did nothing to hide the beauty of her eyes, crystal blue eyes looking directly through him. Perhaps he should avoid staring at them lest he become entranced in their spell.

She hooked her arm into his. "Now, where shall we do this?"

Hunter tripped and cursed. "Sorry, the cape has a mind of its own." He looked away and rolled his eyes, quite certain that he had, in fact, just blamed his inability to walk in a straight line on an inanimate object.

Hunter touched his own mask to make sure it was still secure. "Now, what exactly did you have a mind to do?" He pulled at his cravat as it choked him even more, and waited.

"Our little talk, of course. I wish to know what you know. No more secrets."

"Dance with me," he said, quickly pulling her into his arms.

Soon they were matched up for a quadrille. "Really, your grace, must you be so dense?"

The man to Hunter's left coughed.

When he and Gwen touched hands again he whispered, "Have a care, we are in public."

"Thank you for reminding me."

Hunter nodded emphatically, and took a step back only to join her once more.

"Had you not reminded me," Gwen continued, "I would have accosted you where you stand for being such an idiot."

"Tell me," Hunter murmured as they turned. "Would that have been before or after you kissed me?"

Gwen gasped and stepped back.

Amused, Hunter winked and continued the dance.

When their hands met again, however, Gwen made a point to step on his toes harder than one ought, earning an earsplitting curse from him.

Ladies gasped.

Gentlemen chuckled, but the dance continued.

The minute it ended, Hunter grabbed Gwen's elbow and led her down the hall and up the back stairway.

Without speaking, he went to the first door and ushered her in, nearly pushing her to the ground in the process. "Is this a game to you?"

"Of course not!" Gwen leaned against her crook. Fire blazed behind those icy blue eyes. "I am your partner! If you keep things from me, how am I supposed to help?"

"I should ask you the same thing." Hunter said, his voice cool and detached.

"You. Are. Impossible. I do not even see why you are so special. What makes you the great Wolf of Haverstone? You haven't done a thing! While I've been thrust upon society like a tart!"

"Sweetheart, please do not compare yourself to such delicacies. At least tarts do not have fangs."

"Wolves have fangs."

"Believe me, I know." Hunter tilted his head to the side. "What is it you desire?"

"I want you to be real."

"And yet I stand before you, flesh and blood. I admit, you have me confused." Even as he said the words, he felt himself pale, felt the blood drain from his face. She asked too much of him. Women always did.

"For once." Gwen swallowed and walked toward him cautiously. "Leave the Wolf behind, take off the mask. Allow me to see you."

He cursed. "Why?"

"Because you are asking me to blindly trust a lie."

"And if the lie is better than the truth? What will you do?"

"Then I will have no choice but to trust the man."

"And the beast within?"

Gwen sighed. "Him as well."

It was one of those moments Hunter wished he could run away from. He could count on his one hand how many he had had in his lifetime. And they all had to do with his job as a spy and his role as a failed husband. They were moments that when one was held at gunpoint, one's treacherous mind replayed. Telling you, if only, and what you should have said, what you should have done.

With shaking hands, Hunter slowly reached up and pulled the mask away from his face.

"They are a joke, you know." He tucked the mask into his pocket and faced her head on. Allowing her to see the man few ever saw anymore.

"What are?"

"The idea of masks."

Gwen reached up and touched his face. He closed his eyes and pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist. She gasped. "Why is that?"

"I tell myself it hides reality, when in fact, I lost touch with reality long ago. The mask and I are one and the same, never to return to the shell of a man I was before. I am the Wolf, the Wolf is I, and Hunter… he died ten years ago."

"Why?"

"That, my dear, is the question. Why? Why live when death of one's heart and soul is so much less painful? For if I return to that place, I die all over again, and I'm too selfish to experience death twice."

"Now you speak in riddles." Gwen brushed the hair away from his forehead and kissed his chin.

"I speak in truths. The man everyone knows as the Duke of Haverstone ceased existing as a person the day he watched his other half, his soul mate, die in his arms."

For a moment, Hunter couldn't believe he had actually said all of that aloud, but he had no time to think. Voices interrupted his thoughts, so without pause he pulled Gwen behind the drapes and closed them. They were trapped between the balcony and the room, nothing but a bit of material hiding them and their costumes.





Chapter Nineteen





Wolf—

I would not hold my breath if I were you. And if I've given you false hope, I sincerely apologize. My intention was to give you Hades. Of course they both start with h so you can see my confusion. Apologies.