Read Online Scratch the Surface (Wolf Within) by Amy Lee Burgess - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Amy Lee Burgess
Ads: Link
with velvet bands around throat and waist, sheer black stockings and patent leather pumps. Silver bracelets were laddered up one arm, a diamond tennis bracelet on the other. Her bond pendant, a duo of a diamond and an emerald, dangled on a long silver chain below her small breasts. She nibbled on a piece of Gruyere and a tumbler with rye and soda on a cocktail napkin rested on the end table beside her.
Classical music, one of Mozart’s sonatas for flute and harp, played softly from a CD player housed within a discreet cabinet with glass doors.
In a small alcove at the back of the room was a beautiful thirty-six string Celtic harp. My heart did a little queer thud against my ribcage. Surely, they wouldn’t.
Kathy noticed my stare and smiled.
“We were hoping, Stanzie, that you might play for us tonight. Possibly after dinner.”
Murphy gave me a look of surprise. I had never mentioned I could play the harp.
“I haven’t played in over two years, Councilor. I’m sorely out of practice.” Remarkably, my voice remained calm but really I wanted to shriek in outrage.
“I’m sure you’d play beautifully. Isn’t this harp almost like the one you had?” she wondered.
“The one I found hacked into a million pieces along with the rest of my stuff after the funerals?” I snapped before I belatedly tried to get a grip on myself
Murphy’s face took on a thundercloud expression of outrage, while Kathy winced delicately and reached for her rye and soda.
Allerton said nothing. He continued to munch on his damned canapes.
“Your stuff was hacked to pieces?” Murphy demanded. “By who? That bloody bastard of an Alpha?”
“I don’t know,” I returned in as calm a tone as I could muster. “Whoever did it, did it during the funerals. Jonathan was there the whole time so I don’t see how it could have been him.”
“But I bet he ordered it done,” said Murphy balefully.
I wasn’t so sure. Vaughn was the one who had truly known how much my harp meant to me. I’d always had the sneaking suspicion that most of the wreckage was camouflage for the destruction of my harp.
Vaughn had been my duet partner, and, he’d been in love with Elena. He’d confessed as much to me one Sunday night when we’d gotten drunk together after practicing most of the afternoon.
She’d never returned his affection, save as fondness for him as a pack mate. Her love was unreservedly for me and Grey.
I’d felt sorry for Vaughn until I saw my harp in shattered pieces. He’d been late to the funeral, arriving agitated with his tie crooked and the appearance of having thrown on his clothes in a terrible rush. He hadn’t even combed his hair.
He’d given me one malevolent, resentful smile that had chilled my blood and made me glad he was on the opposite side of the caskets. Everyone was, except Councilor Allerton who had made it a point to stand close beside me.
Murphy stalked to the drinks cart while muttering imprecations in Irish under his breath, and made a gin and tonic. He poured me a flute of champagne and handed it to me, still cursing.
“It was a long time ago,” I said gently. I could smell his anger. His face was flushed and I thought he might crush the glass containing his gin and tonic if he didn’t fling it at the wall first.
“It’s the goddamn principle of the thing, Stanzie,” he argued with me in a low, growling tone. “I can’t believe these people. Are they animals? Because that’s what they act like in every story I hear about them. I saw it myself at the Gathering. Those two arseholes went out of their way to knock into you and spill red wine all over your dress that night. I saw the whole damn thing. I only wish I’d kicked the shit out of that bastard when I’d had the chance.”
“I hope you’ll restrain yourself tonight, Liam,” said Allerton mildly, but his blue eyes held a distinct warning.
Murphy made a snarly noise I guessed meant he would try not to lose control.
Allerton
Classical music, one of Mozart’s sonatas for flute and harp, played softly from a CD player housed within a discreet cabinet with glass doors.
In a small alcove at the back of the room was a beautiful thirty-six string Celtic harp. My heart did a little queer thud against my ribcage. Surely, they wouldn’t.
Kathy noticed my stare and smiled.
“We were hoping, Stanzie, that you might play for us tonight. Possibly after dinner.”
Murphy gave me a look of surprise. I had never mentioned I could play the harp.
“I haven’t played in over two years, Councilor. I’m sorely out of practice.” Remarkably, my voice remained calm but really I wanted to shriek in outrage.
“I’m sure you’d play beautifully. Isn’t this harp almost like the one you had?” she wondered.
“The one I found hacked into a million pieces along with the rest of my stuff after the funerals?” I snapped before I belatedly tried to get a grip on myself
Murphy’s face took on a thundercloud expression of outrage, while Kathy winced delicately and reached for her rye and soda.
Allerton said nothing. He continued to munch on his damned canapes.
“Your stuff was hacked to pieces?” Murphy demanded. “By who? That bloody bastard of an Alpha?”
“I don’t know,” I returned in as calm a tone as I could muster. “Whoever did it, did it during the funerals. Jonathan was there the whole time so I don’t see how it could have been him.”
“But I bet he ordered it done,” said Murphy balefully.
I wasn’t so sure. Vaughn was the one who had truly known how much my harp meant to me. I’d always had the sneaking suspicion that most of the wreckage was camouflage for the destruction of my harp.
Vaughn had been my duet partner, and, he’d been in love with Elena. He’d confessed as much to me one Sunday night when we’d gotten drunk together after practicing most of the afternoon.
She’d never returned his affection, save as fondness for him as a pack mate. Her love was unreservedly for me and Grey.
I’d felt sorry for Vaughn until I saw my harp in shattered pieces. He’d been late to the funeral, arriving agitated with his tie crooked and the appearance of having thrown on his clothes in a terrible rush. He hadn’t even combed his hair.
He’d given me one malevolent, resentful smile that had chilled my blood and made me glad he was on the opposite side of the caskets. Everyone was, except Councilor Allerton who had made it a point to stand close beside me.
Murphy stalked to the drinks cart while muttering imprecations in Irish under his breath, and made a gin and tonic. He poured me a flute of champagne and handed it to me, still cursing.
“It was a long time ago,” I said gently. I could smell his anger. His face was flushed and I thought he might crush the glass containing his gin and tonic if he didn’t fling it at the wall first.
“It’s the goddamn principle of the thing, Stanzie,” he argued with me in a low, growling tone. “I can’t believe these people. Are they animals? Because that’s what they act like in every story I hear about them. I saw it myself at the Gathering. Those two arseholes went out of their way to knock into you and spill red wine all over your dress that night. I saw the whole damn thing. I only wish I’d kicked the shit out of that bastard when I’d had the chance.”
“I hope you’ll restrain yourself tonight, Liam,” said Allerton mildly, but his blue eyes held a distinct warning.
Murphy made a snarly noise I guessed meant he would try not to lose control.
Allerton
Similar Books
