The Wolf Prince

CHAPTER 8

Darcy had a hard time keeping her gaze on the trail in front of her. Surlock was way too tempting. Every time she remembered the night before when they had been in the swimming pool making love, goose bumps popped up on her arms. It was all she could do to concentrate on the matter at hand.

What was it about him that made her want to draw closer? There was a definite connection between them. He’d felt it, and so did she.

“Tell me about the humming in your ears,” he said.

She stooped and picked up a stick off the ground, swinging it in front of her until she caught his worried glance. What? Did he really think she might whack him over the head again? She doubted the branch would do much harm if she did. It wasn’t nearly the size of the other one. Still, she tossed the branch away, noticing how much he relaxed when she did.

Okay, he wanted to know about the humming in her ears. Gosh, it seemed so long ago, she had all but forgotten about it. “I was adopted when I was a little girl. I was three. I didn’t have the humming then.”

“Adopted?”

“My parents left me on the doorstep of an orphanage.”

“What is an orphanage?”

“A place where people leave their kids if they can’t take care of them.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Or if they don’t want them anymore.”

“So you know nothing about your true parents.” He pulled her close and hugged her tight.

Darcy knew that Surlock might not understand all the words, but he knew the emotions behind them. He felt her pain and she understood his need to make her feel better. She felt the same about him, and didn’t want him to hurt, either.

“But then someone came along who did want you,” he said as they continued down the path. He kept his arm across her shoulders. She was glad he did.

“You’re right.” She smiled to let him know everything was okay. “Steve and Mary Spencer couldn’t have children of their own so they went to the orphanage and brought me home to raise as their child.”

He nodded. “That was good of them.”

She smiled. “I love them very much.” She kicked at a clod of dirt. “Except my mother worries about me a lot. I want to work as a private investigator, but she’s afraid I’ll put myself in danger. I’ve spoken with Dad and he thinks it’s a good idea.” She grinned. “We’re going to double-team her when they get here.”

“And that will work?”

“I think so.

“But you need a boyfriend, too.”

“Definitely. If she thinks I’m unattached, she’ll try her hand at matchmaking, and so far, her choices for me have been nothing short of scary.”

“Then it’s a good thing I came along when I did.”

“Yes, it was.” She frowned. Except that she’d hit him. His timing could’ve been a little better.

“When did the humming in your ears start?”

She’d forgotten what he’d asked. “Sorry, I have a tendency to veer off course.” She thought back. “When I was seven—no, eight, I think. I remember it was after the birthday party with the pony. My dad had a clown, who brought a pony. I remember it because the pony wanted to follow me around all day. Everyone thought it was funny, but it kind of made me nervous.”

“You don’t like animals?”

“It’s not that I don’t like them. They seem to want to get close, and that makes me a little uncomfortable.”

“Close?”

“They have always been friendlier with me. You know, invading my space. The humming started that night. My mother was certain I had a brain tumor and that I wouldn’t live to see another birthday.”

“What was the noise like?”

“Loud. Much like what you experience.” She glanced at him. “Do you think we might be connected in some way?”

“As in?”

“You don’t think we might be related, do you. If we are, I don’t think I want to know.”

“Why would you think that?”

“We have the same birthmark in the exact same place. A rose.” She nibbled her bottom lip. “I saw it very clearly last night after we, well, when we were in the pool.”

His eyebrows drew together. “Show me.”

She turned her back to him and pulled her shorts down just enough for it to show. He lightly ran his finger over the raised surface. Goose bumps popped up all over her body. This was not the time nor the place to have sexual thoughts. Sheesh. This was serious.

“And now we share the humming in our ears,” she told him.

“I have a mark just like yours?”

He didn’t sound convinced. “Exactly like mine.” She readjusted her shorts and they continued. “What do you think it means?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Here we are.” She wasn’t sure she wanted him to dwell on their birthmarks too long. She’d absolutely croak if she discovered they were closely related. No, life could not be that cruel.

“Okay, step into the woods. Try to visualize the moment before I hit you over the head.”

“Do you think it will work?”

She shrugged. “What have we got to lose except a little time?”

He nodded, then disappeared behind the trees. She waited. Nothing stirred. She was beginning to worry that something might have happened to him when he stepped from behind the trees.

His eyes were glazed over as he stood staring at her as if seeing her for the very first time. Oh, God, something was happening. She felt in her pocket to make sure she had her cell phone, breathing a sigh of relief when she felt the hard surface.

“What’s happening?” she asked.

“No, we’re not related,” he said, almost as if he were speaking to himself.

“How can you be sure?”

“Because our entire race has the birthmark.”

Their race? Cold chills ran up and down her arms and it was suddenly hard to breathe. “Why are you here?” She spoke softly, hoping she wouldn’t break what he was seeing.

“To protect you. Your life is in danger.” His eyes immediately cleared. He hurried the rest of the way to her and grabbed her shoulders. “I remembered something!”

He hugged her close, then swung her around as if she weighed nothing at all. He was thrilled, but he’d scared the hell out of her. He only grew serious when he set her back on her feet and saw her expression.

“Why aren’t you happy?”

“Oh, I think it’s great you remembered something. Even better that we’re not related. I just don’t know why the hell I’m in danger. You’re here to protect me, but we don’t know where you’re from. And what exactly did you mean when you said we were from a race that bears the same rose birthmark? I’ve never heard of any race that has an identifying birthmark.” Her voice rose with each word. “Not every single person.”

He grabbed her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “It will be okay. I was sent here to take care of you, and I will.”

“Sent here from where?” She took his hands in hers. This was crazy. None of it made sense. She didn’t have any enemies. “I’m not sure it’s an accurate memory. We did watch the James Bond movie. That might have influenced you in some way. I can almost say for certain that my life is not in danger.”

At least, she hoped it wasn’t. No, it couldn’t be. The only people who might be pissed off at her were a few old boyfriends. No, she really doubted she was in danger from them.

“I think it was a true memory,” he broke into her thoughts. “I’m here to protect you.”

“But I’m not in danger,” she repeated.

“We don’t know that for sure.”

She frowned. “I know for sure.” She was learning one thing about Surlock—he was stubborn. “And I’m damned tired of people trying to protect me. I refuse to let anyone else wrap me in cotton.”

“Fair enough.”

If it wasn’t for the twinkle in his eyes, she would think she had won. “You’re laughing at me,” she accused.

He pulled her close. She felt the rumble in his chest. “You are as fierce as any warrior. Anyone who tried to harm you would put himself in danger.”

“You better believe it,” she muttered.

The humming in her ears was just a bit louder than the day before. She only hoped they discovered what caused it. She’d never heard of a race having the same birthmark or humming noises. Maybe the humming signaled impending death? That could be why she’d never heard of the race. There were only a few of them because everyone else had died.

Was that what had happened to her parents? Maybe they had started hearing the humming, and it got loud enough that they knew they were going to die. She sniffed. Maybe they had loved her. Deep inside, Darcy had always wondered. Now it was more important than ever to discover Surlock’s identity.

“Maybe Eddie has information,” she said. The mystery could be over sooner than she thought.

But she noticed as they walked back, Surlock seemed to be on guard, his gaze darting past the trees and up the trail. He also put himself between the wooded area and herself. He was wrong about her being in danger.

Great, she had her very own cover-model-sexy bodyguard by her side. Okay, that might not be so hard to adjust to—as long as he didn’t smother her.

“Don’t worry so,” he said. “You’ll discover my identity, and we’ll learn why I’m here.”

As they rounded the corner past a row of bushes and walked up the steps that led to the swimming pool, she leaned closer to Surlock, slipping her arm around his waist. It felt right when he draped his arm across her shoulders.

“You two seem awfully cozy,” a male voice put in a little petulantly.

Startled, her head jerked up. “Peter, what are you doing here?”

Surlock gripped her arm, but showed no other outward sign that he’d slipped back into protective mode. Good grief, Peter offered no threat. She’d known him all her life. When they’d reached their teens, they’d even briefly dated, but it hadn’t lasted. He was more like a slightly older brother to her. Best buds. But why was he here now?

“Is that any way to greet an ex-boyfriend?” His gaze strayed to Surlock, a smile playing about his lips.

Did Surlock growl? It was a barely perceptible noise, but she was almost certain it was a growl. She squeezed his hand to reassure him she was in no danger.

She hurried to Peter and let him embrace her in a hug. “I’ll murder you later,” she whispered, then quickly stepped away. She certainly didn’t want Surlock going into attack mode. Not that she really thought he would. Just in case, she hurried back to Surlock, who looked quite grim.

“Peter is an old friend. I’ve known him all my life,” she quickly assured Surlock. “Peter, this is Surlock, a new friend.”

Peter stepped forward, reaching out with his hand. “Ouch. You make me feel quite ancient, Dar.” He followed his words with laughter.

Peter was nice looking, very GQ, with light blond hair. He was always impeccably dressed. Today he wore a beige pullover top and deep green slacks.

“It’s nice to meet a friend of Darcy’s,” he said.

Surlock looked at Peter’s hand, but didn’t take it. Peter’s eyebrow rose.

“He’s not from around here,” she quickly intervened, turning to Surlock. “It’s customary to shake someone’s hand.” She took Peter’s hand and shook it, then aimed Surlock’s hand toward Peter’s. Surlock was not being very cooperative, but he did take Peter’s hand finally and they shook.

“That’s some grip you have there. Almost like you actually work for a living,” Peter said. “Where exactly are you from?”

“Sweden,” Darcy said quickly. “How long are you down for, Peter?”

“A few weeks.” His cell rang. “Excuse me. It would seem I can never get away from business and since I am the vice-president of my father’s paper company … Well, I’m sure you understand.” He took his cell out of his pocket and walked a short distance away.

“I don’t like him,” Surlock said, continuing to glare at Peter’s back. “Maybe he’s the danger.”

Oh, good Lord! “I’ve known Peter all my life. His parents’ estate is next to ours. We dated a few months, but he’s always seemed more like a brother to me so I broke it off. Believe me, he’s no threat. You can relax.”

“Why did you tell him I’m from Sweden?” He turned his attention back to her. “What is Sweden?”

“Sweden is a country.” She blushed. “I didn’t want him to think you were a freeloader or anything.”

“What’s a freeloader?”

“Someone who …” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. You’re not. I just don’t want anyone to know you have amnesia. Remember, you’re supposed to be my boyfriend. It might be kind of tricky convincing someone that we’re dating if neither one of us knows who you are.”

He studied her face, then nodded. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Peter snapped his phone closed. His shoulders were stiff as he shoved it in his pocket before turning to face them again. She would have thought he was angry, except for the smile on his face.

“Sorry about that.” Peter rejoined them. “What did you say you do for a living?”

“I didn’t,” Surlock said just as easily.

Peter laughed. “No, you didn’t, and I’m being crass. It’s just that I’ve known Dar for some time now and I’d hate for her to get mixed up with the wrong kind of person. There are a lot of people who would only be interested in her money.”

“Peter!”

“Not that you would be, of course,” Peter said. “I never meant to imply you would. No offense.”

“Of course not,” Surlock said.

Darcy looked between the two men again. Great, a pissing contest. That was all she needed.

“There’s a band at the club tonight,” Peter said. “I stopped by to see if you’d like to go. The invitation is open to you both, of course. I’ll bring a date.”

Darcy looked between the two men again. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“Yes, I would like that,” Surlock said.

Now what was he up to?

“Good.” Peter beamed. “I’ll drop by at eight to pick you both up.”

Darcy had a feeling nothing good would come of this. As Peter walked away, she turned on Surlock. “What was that all about?” she whispered, not wanting Peter to overhear.

“I like to keep my enemies close.” Surlock’s gaze was fixed on Peter’s back.

“Peter is not an enemy. I told you that.”

“I think he is.”

Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn. She was not looking forward to tonight. Not one little bit.