Darling Wildfire (Red Rabbit #2)

14

THERON

It was the night of Kaelin’s art show.

I’d gotten held up at work so I was meeting Kaelin and Graham at the gallery. Nyx and Atlas would be there too—Kaelin had invited everyone actually—even Viktor and Kon, but I needed them to watch Kaelin’s house. She’d seemed a little annoyed when I’d told her as much but had simply pursed her lips and decided not to push things.

It was a black tie event and as I stepped through the doors into the crowd milling about the artwork, I was transported back to the gala where I’d first laid eyes on Kaelin after months of not knowing if she was alive or not.

I stood across the room, my eyes automatically finding her in the crowd. Even if she hadn’t been wearing a red dress, I would have been able to find her, that’s how much she dragged me into her orbit. The dress hugged her like a second skin and I let my eyes drift over her hungrily as I sipped my whiskey.

There was a slight tremor in her hands and a tightness around her mouth whenever she spoke to someone, but otherwise she seemed to be in her element here. Or she was hiding things well, which I’d seen her do first hand and the more I watched her the more I was convinced something bad had happened in the Warren after I’d left. She was too jumpy—her confidence a thin barrier when before it had been a force to be reckoned with.

Still, she was stunning and I wanted nothing more than to grab her and take her out of here. But I had somewhere else to be. I’d only come over here to sneak a look at her quickly to satisfy the ache that had settled in my chest ever since I found out she was alive. I had no intention of letting her see me—yet—but it was as though she was drawn to me in the same way as I was to her because suddenly her eyes clashed with mine.

It was like a direct hit to my senses.

We both stood frozen and her eyes widened as a myriad of emotions flashed through them—shock, disbelief, wariness…was that excitement?

Then her glass slipped through her fingers and shattered the moment. As soon as her eyes left mine, my breath rushed back to me and a rumble of irritation ran through me. I threw back my remaining whiskey and walked out before I did something I didn’t have time for—like go up to her.

Then I’d never leave because this time, once I had her in my arms, I wasn’t going to let her go again.

Tonight she was wearing a silver dress that shimmered and fell from her curves like liquid quicksilver. Again, my eyes immediately settled on her. She was laughing at something someone said and I marveled at the contrast between this event and the gala—she looked vibrant tonight.

Confident, proud…happy.

Just like the gala, she seemed to feel me watching her and her eyes swept the room to land on me. This time, instead of shock, her gaze sharpened into that calculating self assurance I loved to see on her. Her lips pulled into a slow seductive smile and as I walked over to her, she slowly took me in from head to toe, no longer paying attention to anyone around her. I stepped to her side and my arm snaked around her, pulling her into me.

“Hello darlin’,”

I said quietly.

My other hand took her chin gently but firmly between my fingers and planted a lingering kiss on her lips, full of possession as I claimed her in front of everyone. This time, I wanted the world to know she was mine. She kissed me back, her fingers lightly grazing my jaw in affection.

“You look incredible,” she said.

“So do you,”

I said. “Now where’s this artwork of yours?”

She took my hand in hers and led me over to where one half of the room was dedicated to her paintings. Kaelin stopped in a spot where I could see her entire work on display and I realized they told a story as you progressed through the series. Most of them were massive pieces, elegantly lit to create more drama. They started out dark, morbid even, with intense storms of dark colors. That part of the room seemed more shadowed, like her paintings were absorbing all the light in the space. Gradually things lightened until the other end of the room was bright, full of redemption, courage and victory.

“Darlin’ this is—”

I shook my head, running my attention over the entire thing again. I turned to her and whatever she saw on my face made her breath catch and I watched the hopeful apprehension fade into pride. “I’m so proud of you.”

It was like the words made her light up from the inside out and a smile appeared on her face and stayed there. Before she could say anything, Atlas walked up with Nyx in tow.

“Kaelin, you are incredibly talented,”

Atlas said. “I’ve been to a lot of gallery showings and I’ve never seen something quite like this.”

“You should be proud of yourself,”

Nyx added, kissing her on the cheek.

“Thanks guys,”

she said, an adorable blush tinting her cheeks pink.

“Come on, I want to look at this side again,”

Atlas said, nudging Nyx before he walked off to get a closer look at one of the paintings.

Nyx winked at Kaelin. “He’s like a kid in a candy store—he won’t stand still. He’s loving being around all this art again—thanks for inviting us.”

“It never crossed my mind not to,”

Kaelin grinned, giving Nyx’s arm a squeeze.

I watched Nyx walk up to Atlas and put an arm around his waist. A burst of pride swept through me. All of us had come so far to be here like this. They deserved a night to relax and be happy even though I knew it wouldn’t last. We still had a lot to do before this was over.

For the next few hours we celebrated Kaelin.

I let her lead me through the entire series, explaining her vision and then she was pulled away for a bit to socialize only to come back a short time later, flushed and vibrant.

“I made a sale,”

she breathed, the green in her eyes a vivid burst of color. I’d never seen her so radiant. Graham congratulated her and Nyx and Atlas reappeared to toast her. She was all smiles after that and as the night wound down, it became apparent she was going to sell most of her paintings and come away with a few key contacts.

She was rambling on about one commission she’d been approached about when suddenly her words cut off abruptly and she was staring at someone over my shoulder; her face growing paler by the second.

I heard a voice that set my teeth on edge.

“Well, well, well—Kraven, you didn’t tell me you took your rabbit out of the Warren.”

“What are you doing here?”

Kaelin snapped, her voice shaking slightly along with her hand that was choking the life out of her champagne glass.

I turned to see Greg Mahoney, looking crisp in a suit, his eyes lazily sweeping Kaelin from head to toe before settling on me. His hand was outstretched and forcing a smile onto my face I shook it.

“Greg,”

I said, working hard to keep the irritation from my tone. “I didn’t know you were into art.”

“I’m not really, but one of the artists here is a friend of mine.”

His attention returned to Kaelin. “You are full of surprises my dear—if I had known who you were in the Warren…”

He reached out a hand to touch her and I casually stepped to intercept it as Kaelin stiffened next to me.

“You know I charge for that,”

I said lightly, even though my blood was running hot and I wanted to rip his hand from his body for even daring to try and touch what’s mine. His face hardened as he looked back at me. We stared at each other for a long moment before Mahoney shook his head, a suggestive smirk pulling at his lips.

“And here I thought we were friends, Kraven,”

he said casually.

“Friends?”

Kaelin choked out, seeming to have found her voice again.

Mahoney ignored her, his attention still fixed on me as he studied me with renewed interest and a wariness I hadn’t seen on his face since the beginning.

Fuck. I couldn’t have him questioning our friendship now—after all the work I’d put in.

I huffed a laugh and slapped a hand on his shoulder, breaking the tension and stepping between him and Kaelin as I directed him away.

“Come on—friend,”

I said. “I need a drink.”

I didn’t look back but walked with Mahoney to the bar, ordering a whiskey before turning to him.

“Kaelin doesn’t know I’m still involved with specific dealings,”

I said. “I’d like to keep it that way.”

Mahoney studied me a moment longer and then I saw the questions fade away and he grinned knowingly.

“I get it. I do wonder though—I heard the Warren was destroyed. Specifically in an attack.”

He let the words hang in the air between us.

“Do you know by who?” I asked.

Mahoney shrugged. “Rumor is there’s a new savior in the game—haven’t gotten a name yet. But I will.”

He spoke with his usual calm assurance and I knew it was true. Greg Mahoney always got what he wanted sooner or later. I would have to warn Deathwing his cover was wearing thin.

“So how did you acquire her if you didn’t save her?”

He really wasn’t dropping the Kaelin thing, and I saw his eyes drift to her again. She was standing with Graham across the room, her posture tense and those green eyes alive with fury as she glanced over at us every few seconds. Graham was speaking to her, leaning down near her ear, but it wasn’t doing anything to calm her down.

“I just got lucky,”

I said evasively.

He was quiet for a moment then turned to me and lifted his shoulders as though he was shrugging the whole thing off.

“Well, if you ever feel inclined to share her again—I’ll gladly pay.”

I chuckled and nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

We both took a drink. “How was your trip abroad?”

“Profitable,”

he said. “Come by the club tomorrow, I could use your help with the inventory.”

My eyebrows raised in surprise and skepticism. “Where’s Palmero?”

Mahoney never let anyone help him with inventory for an auction except his partner in crime, Alex Palmero.

“He’s around. But your advice ended up being crucial on this last sourcing trip and I don’t enjoy being in debt to someone.”

“I didn’t know advice between friends came at a price,” I said.

“Everything has a price,”

Mahoney countered dryly. “Even between friends, as you just demonstrated.”

He finished his drink and set his glass on the bar behind him.

“Enjoy the rest of your night,”

he said. “Tell your rabbit it was truly a pleasure to see her again.”

I nodded curtly and watched him walk off through the crowd. Only once I watched him disappear through the main doors did I walk back over to Kaelin and Graham, steeling myself for the storm I could see gathering around her. Nyx intercepted me before I made it across the room.

“What the fuck was Mahoney doing here?”

He demanded.

“Hell if I know. I want West to look into it,” I said.

I hated secrets and I wanted to know whether Mahoney had been telling the truth about knowing someone here or if he’d been following me. If he was following me, it meant his trust in me was in question. I didn’t completely believe that all of a sudden he was ready to include me in helping him with inventory when for the last three years, he’d only let himself and Palmero touch that aspect of his business. I couldn’t afford to lose all the ground I’d made with him.

I was too close. Deathwing was too close.

“Kaelin recognized him,”

Nyx stated, a question in his eyes.

“It’s worse than that,”

I sighed. “I let Mahoney have a go at her in the Warren.”

Nyx stared at me and then chuckled. “Oh boy, have fun with that one.”

I continued on towards Kaelin and Graham who were both eyeing me with varying looks of displeasure. Kaelin’s was more violent and as soon as I stopped in front of her she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She shut it and then tried again.

“What the fuck, Theron!”

“I didn’t know he’d be here,” I said.

“You’re friends with him?”

Her voice was quiet, accusatory and dripping with hurt.

“It’s complicated—”

“It’s a yes or no question,”

Kaelin breathed.

I took a step towards her and she took a step back, running into Graham’s chest. He was frowning at me as his hands went to her shoulders to steady her. My jaw clenched at her avoidance and I stepped up in front of her, my hand going to her throat.

“I might have shared you with him in the Warren,”

I growled. “But I want to make it very clear he is never going to touch you again.”

“I don’t know you at all, do I?”

She murmured, the hurt now dominating over the anger. She sagged back against Graham. “I want to go home.”

“I’ll drive you—”

Graham started to say but she shook her head.

“No, I want to be alone tonight,”

she said firmly.

I let my hand drop from her neck but I didn’t step away. Graham released her shoulders and she slipped out from between us. A low sound of displeasure escaped me as I watched her walk away.

“Does this have to do with Vetticus?”

Graham asked.

I could feel his eyes drilling into the side of my face as I watched Kaelin leave.

“No,”

I said shortly. “It doesn’t.”