The Wild Hunt.
Harley had never really understood why her mother had bought it. She’d usually collected obscure scenes and objects. There was much about her mother that Harley didn’t understand, including her mom’s relationship with Raul. A maiden, he’d called her. Harley had never been able to figure out what that meant.
“Harley? Are you okay?” Ian asked through the closed door.
She forced her attention from the picture and the implications of her mother’s chosen subject.
“I’m fine. You just woke me up.” Harley shuffled to the door, unlocked it, and flung it open.
Ian stood on the doormat with a bunch of grocery bags. Tall, wide shoulders, thick biceps, and a beanie—he could’ve passed for a redcap, but she knew better than to let the thought take hold. Ian was a good guy, one of the few left. His girlfriend should consider herself damn lucky to have landed him.
“What are you doing here?”
He arched a brow a shade darker than the wavy, russet hair on his head. “Half the town is already talking about your return. It would’ve been nice if you’d let your dear old brother know first. Hearing about it at the grocery checkout isn’t how I wanted to find out.”
“Sorry. I wasn’t sure I was actually going to stay. I’d thought about leaving.” After talking to the figment of the man she’d obsessed over for her entire adulthood and realizing her savior only wanted to use her to gain his freedom, she hadn’t felt like staying. She hadn’t been able to make herself leave either.
She cleared her throat. “Being home is hard. The memories…”
“Aww, Sis.” Ian dropped the bags on the floor and pulled her into his embrace. “You didn’t have to come. I would’ve understood.”
“I had to.” She returned the hug, squeezing him tight. “You’re all I have left.”
“I’m glad you did. I need you.” He released a shaky breath. “I’m getting a horrible case of cold feet.”
Harley frowned at the panic in his voice. “Don’t. They say it’s common.”
“Maybe.” He eased out of the tight circle of her arms. “It’s just…”
After a moment when he didn’t say anything, she prompted, “Just what?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” He crossed his arms and lowered his chin to focus narrowed eyes on her. “How long are you staying?”
“I’m leaving right after the ceremony.”
“Three days.” He dropped fisted hands at his sides. “I get my sister for three lousy days?”
“And if you hadn’t invited me to your bachelor party, it would’ve been less, so stop complaining.” She still couldn’t believe she was going, but his argument that they barely got to spend any time together had convinced her. With her life constantly in danger, she had to grab the few opportunities to spend time with her brother.
“Do you know what Trevor has planned for me?”
Trevor, Ian’s best friend, had texted her the date, time, and location only. She shrugged. “No clue.”
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t wait.” Ian worked his jaw back and forth. “I need a little fun.”
She glanced from his white-knuckled fists to his scrunched brows and sighed. “You want to talk about it?”
He shook his head. “It’s nothing. Same stuff, I guess.”
“Ahh”—she nodded—“let me guess. Your dream girl is steaming up your nights again?”
Years before, Ian had confided in her that he thought he was going crazy. When she’d asked why, he’d told her about his vivid dreams and the woman from them he’d fallen in love with. Harley had convinced him it was normal to fantasize about sex and not to worry about it, even though she didn’t believe anyone could fall in love with a make-believe person. It had eased his mind, though. That was all that mattered to Harley.
A blush crawled up his neck. “It isn’t right, Sis. I’m getting married, and I can’t stop lusting over a damn figment of my imagination.”
She’d suggest his girl was as real as her ghost man, but Ian was human. He’d never have to deal with the shit she’d had to endure. If anything, he actually was a little unstable. And why wouldn’t he have a few issues? His parents and little brothers had been murdered, and his sister wasn’t human. That was enough to send any man over the edge.
“Once the two of you actually have sex, you’ll forget about your dreams and want Cynthia only.” His very strict girlfriend had nixed any suggestions for premarital sex. “Is she nervous too?”
“No.” Ian snorted. “She told me she’s been reading lots of steamy books so she knows what to do with me once she gets me naked.” He shook his head, a small smile playing on his mouth. “She’s a good girl.”
Too good, in Harley’s opinion. Cynthia came across as fake. Her sickeningly sweet, always-happy reaction to the world wasn’t normal. Of course, Harley couldn’t help but see the bad in everything around her.
Harley kept her opinions to herself. The few times she’d met Cynthia and their brief phone conversations weren’t a good enough reason to ruin Ian’s chance at happiness. Besides, he was the one marrying her. After all the years they’d dated, Harley hoped he knew the kind of woman he was planning to spend the rest of his life with. Why else marry her?
“Look, I’m glad you came to visit, but I need some sleep.” And thinking about the happy life her brother would soon be living reminded her how crappy her life was. “I’ll see you tomorrow at your party.”
She turned toward the stairs. Yes, she needed sleep, but she mostly wanted to go over what Calan had said. Hopefully, the nap she’d taken had cleared her mind enough to consider his words and not simply react to her riotous emotions. She’d learned not to let the strong
