Read Online Betrayed: Days of the Rogue by Nicky Charles - Free Book Online Page B

feelings—perhaps she’d be able to determine what made
him different from the rest of the population.
    She was only a few car lengths away
when he suddenly straightened and looked directly at her. The angle
of the sun seemed to illuminate his eyes showcasing the strange
silver rimmed by blue. The effect was so startling, so intense,
that her steps actually faltered and a shiver of awareness coursed
through her. As she stood there transfixed, he abruptly rose to his
feet and walked off at a brisk pace.
    Eve opened her mouth to call after
him but, not knowing his name, that wasn’t possible. She hesitated,
briefly weighing the pros and cons of her actions before deciding
to follow him. Whoever he was, she wanted answers; exactly how
she’d get those answers without revealing she was Fae she didn’t
know, but she’d figure that out once she managed to corner him.
    Grassy Hills wasn’t a large place.
A typical prairie settlement, businesses lined the highway that
went through the centre of town and several side streets led to
small residential areas. Still, it was large enough that she could
lose him and so Eve quickened her pace, cursing softly when he
rounded a corner. By the time she got there, he was gone.
    “Damn!” The expletive slipped from
her lips. A woman passing by with a small child in tow gave her a
dirty look. “Sorry,” Eve apologized distractedly while trying to
decide her next move. He couldn’t have gone far.
    She walked down the side street,
noting the empty sidewalks and peering into the alley that ran
behind the stores. There was no sign of the man anywhere. Hands on
her hips she frowned. Now where could he have gone?

    Damien watched as Eve walked back
to her car, obviously having given up on finding him. He stepped
out of the shadowed doorway he’d hidden in, narrowing his eyes as
he considered the close encounter. A part of him had wanted her to
find him, to have a chance to talk to her and hear her voice.
    And it had been a perfect
opportunity to get to know her. Why hadn’t he grabbed it? Was it
because he wanted to maintain the illusion for a few days longer?
After all, as long as he kept his distance, he could pretend,
right?
    He inhaled deeply, the faint
remnants of her scent lingering in the air. So like Beth…and yet
not.
    When she’d walked into the café
this morning he’d had difficulty not staring at her. Close up, her
resemblance to Beth hadn’t been as strong, though it was still
enough to stir his memories. He’d felt his inner beast awaken, too.
His wolf had immediately been alert and keen eyed, scenting the
air, attempting to activate the long-dead blood bond. Tendrils of
thought had hovered in the air, waiting, hoping for a response, for
some hint of recognition. Of course it hadn’t come and the eager
expectation of the animal had subsided into a dejected heap.
Almost, almost, he’d felt sorry for the creature but there was too
much history between the wolf and him. Instead, he’d ignored the
animal and concentrated on his own reaction.
    The woman’s presence had caused a
myriad of emotions to play through his human self; pleasure at
seeing her again, regret that she wasn’t his Beth. It wasn’t the
woman’s fault that she so closely resembled his dead mate, but the
disappointment had been too much to bear and he’d left abruptly
despite his intention to speak with her.
    He shook his head, berating himself
for his behaviour. There was no room for attachments, no room for
dreams in his life. He knew what he had to do. Next time he’d have
to act, take whatever opportunity presented itself and do what he
must.
    A noise from the alley behind him
had him twirling around, ready for an attack. He let out a faint
huff of laughter when he saw a stray cat peering out at him from
behind a garbage can. The creature was thin and wary with tattered
ears and a scarred nose.
    “You’re up against it too, aren’t
you, cat?” At the sound of his voice, the cat bristled as