Shit. He was going to disappoint her again. And she would probably slap him again. After a quick glance at the open window above them, he teleported to the interior of the room, taking Jia with him.
She stumbled back as she materialized, then glanced about the room with a confused look. “Why are we here?”
“Isn’t this where you live?” He’d noticed the two guards out front before sneaking around to the back and discovering the silk rope stretched taut through the back window.
He pivoted, inspecting the small room. It was surprisingly plain for the home of a princess. There were two chests, one low table, and two square pillows to sit on. The only decoration was a screen across one end of the room, and the only color was the bright red rope she’d tied around a ceiling beam.
“We can’t stay here,” she whispered, casting a nervous glance at the door. The walls were thin, so she was probably afraid the guards would hear. With an excited grin, she grabbed his arm. “Let’s go to your secret hideout!”
He hesitated, aware that his response would wipe the hopeful look off her face. “No.”
Her smile wobbled, then returned full force. “Then we’re going straight to work, investigating Master Han’s campsites?”
“No. I’m not taking you anywhere. I only came to see how you were doing.”
Her hands slipped off his arm, falling limply at her sides as she stumbled back a few steps. Her face went pale, all expression wiped clean. Even the sparkle in her eyes turned dull and lifeless.
Russell’s chest tightened. He might as well have stabbed her. No, this was even worse. As a were-cat, she had nine lives. She would survive a stabbing. What he had done was inflict injury to her soul.
He backed away. “I shouldn’t have come. I’ll go now.”
“Wait.”
When her eyes flashed with anger, he felt a surge of relief. Her fighting spirit was still there.
She stepped toward him, her teeth gritted. “We need to talk.” She lifted her hand, and he caught her by the wrist.
“What . . . ?” She tugged at his grip, but he held fast. “Why—”
“You were going to slap me.”
She snorted. “I said talk. But I think I like your idea better.” She pulled her other hand back, and he nabbed that wrist, too. “What—”
He lifted her hands over her head and turned her like they were doing a country-western dance. Then, with her arms crossed, he pulled her back against his chest.
“Let me go!” She struggled to get free, but he held her closer.
“Ssh,” he whispered in her ear. “You don’t want the guards to hear.”
“Maybe I should call them in to beat the tar out of you.”
“I would just teleport away.”
“Coward.”
He drew in a hissing breath. “Princess.”
“Don’t call me princess.”
“Don’t call me coward.”
“If the shoe fits.” She stomped on his foot, but he merely winced and pulled her tighter against him.
She grew still. He closed his eyes briefly, relishing this position. He’d enjoyed it last night, too. Even with the backpack she wore, her body seemed to fit perfectly against his, smaller, but snug and sheltered, as if she were a blade and he, the sheath. He lowered his head till his nose grazed her hair, and the floral scent of her shampoo filled his senses.
A shudder ran down her body.
Was he offending her by holding her like this? He knew he should release her, but it felt so damned good. Just a few more seconds. “My apologies for grabbing you. I thought you were going to slap me.”
She shook her head slightly. “I was only going to point at the rope to prove how desperate I am to escape.”
“I see,” he murmured against her soft hair.
“Why won’t you take me with you?” she whispered.
“I work alone.” And I don’t want you to get hurt.
“But I can help you.” She turned her face to try to see him, and his mouth accidentally brushed against her brow.
He lifted his head, and she looked away. He felt her rib cage expand as she took a deep breath. Would it hurt to take her to a few of Master Han’s camps? She would be an extra set of eyes.
But she would get in the way, he argued with himself. He would get distracted, and that would put them both in danger.
He eyed the silk rope she’d made to escape. She was clever, resourceful, and brave. Excellent with knives. How could he find fault with her for wanting to succeed? Especially when her goal was the same as his?
“We want the same thing,” she whispered, echoing his own thoughts. “Please take me with you.”
He swallowed hard. It was getting damned hard to refuse her. “You could get hurt.”
“So could you. I’m willing to take the risk. I won’t be a burden to you, I promise.”
He squeezed his eyes shut. You could be her hero.
A knock sounded at the door and he jumped back, releasing her.
“Jia?” Rajiv called from the front porch. “Are you asleep?”
Her eyes wide with horror, she lunged forward and grabbed Russell by his T-shirt. “They mustn’t find you here!”
“I’ll just go.”
“No! I still need to talk to you.”
Meaning she still wanted to convince him to take her with him. “I can—”
“Hide!” She ran over to the screen, pushed it back, and motioned for him to come.
As he approached, his gaze landed on the white banner with the figure of a man painted on it and a knife firmly embedded in his groin. “What the—”
She gasped. “My favorite knife! I almost left without it. How could I be so forgetful?”
He gave her an incredulous look. “I’m a little more concerned about your aim.”
She winced. “I was . . . distracted.”
“Remind me never to distract you.”
“Jia?” Rajiv knocked on the door again.
“Just a minute,” she called back. “I-I was asleep.” She dashed across the room and furiously pulled the rope back through the window. Loops of red and gold silk pooled onto the floor.
With a snort, Russell yanked her favorite knife from the wall, then levitated up to the beam and sliced the material free.
“Thank you!” she whispered, bundling up the fabric in her arms.
He dropped quietly to the ground and helped her gather up the rope and carry it to the small area behind the screen.
“Don’t leave!” she warned him. She dropped her backpack on the floor by his feet, kicked off her boots, then stretched the screen across the room.
He sat on the floor, surrounded by mounds of gold and red silk. It was darker here, since the screen blocked the moonlight that filtered through the open window. Even so, he spotted a thick, quilted pallet folded and stashed in the corner. Was that her bed? Then this small area had to be her bedroom. He winced, imagining Rajiv’s reaction if he caught a vampire in the princess’s bedchamber.
Jia’s soft footsteps crossed the room to the door, then Russell heard the scrape of the bolt. “Is there something wrong, Rajiv?”
Heavier footsteps entered the room, and the door closed. “Everything’s fine,” Rajiv answered. “I just wanted to give this to you.”
“What is it?” Jia asked, and Russell shifted closer to a gap in the screen. Unfortunately, all he could see was Rajiv’s back.
“Another gift from the Grand Tiger of South Korea,” Rajiv explained. “It must be very expensive, since he sent it with a courier.”
“Oh.” Jia didn’t sound overly thrilled.
“The courier told me he had a tough time getting it through customs, so it delayed his arrival here,” Rajiv continued. “The Grand Tiger insisted that you receive the gift today, so the courier begged me to bring it straight to you. Apparently, you’re supposed to receive a gift every day until your betrothed arrives.”
Betrothed? Russell sat back. Jia was engaged? To a Grand Tiger? He closed his eyes, no longer wanting to see, and wishing he didn’t have to hear.
“They really shouldn’t go to so much trouble,” Jia murmured.
“It is a bit much,” Rajiv agreed, “but look at it this way. They’re definitely serious about the marriage. And they’re trying hard to impress you.”