“Elder is fine.” He stalked across the room and took the lip gloss from her hand. “You’re beautiful, Rachael, and you damned well don’t have to look perfect for him.”

For the first time in a while a ghost of a smile curved her mouth. “Talk about someone who has little moods! Actually, tree dweller, I was going to look perfect for you, not your brainless elder.” She held out her hand for the lip gloss.

He put it in her palm. “I should at least get points for the beautiful compliment.”

Her smile widened. “I censored because of the beautiful compliment. It would have been a lot worse than tree dweller.”

“You terrify me.” Rio bent and kissed her upturned mouth. How had he managed to live so long without her and think he was alive? Had he just been walking through life all those years? Loving her terrified him. It was so strong, a tidal wave welling up inside of him, consuming him, so at times he couldn’t even look at her.

“Well that’s a good thing as far as I’m concerned.” Rachael applied the lip gloss and a bit of mascara. She was apprehensive and struggled to hide it. She glanced at Rio from under her long lashes. He was definitely on alert in spite of the banter back and forth between them. She reached across to the table, slipped a knife from the sheath and slid it beneath the cushion of her chair. Assassins came in all shapes and sizes and genders. Age never seemed to matter either.

17

PETER Delgrotto was tall and thin, a tough, sinewy man with lines etched deeply in his face. His eyes were a strange amber, glittering with some hidden fire, a focused, haunting stare that carried a great degree of menace. Rachael had expected a wizened, elderly man staggering under the weight of his years, but Delgrotto carried power and danger in his piercing eyes. He stood straight, fully clothed. The only sign of the long, arduous trip was the sheen of sweat on his skin and the breath moving in bursts in and out of his lungs that he couldn’t quite hide.

“You honor us with your presence, Wise One,” Rio said formally.

Rachael made a small strangling noise in her throat and then covered her displeasure by coughing when Rio tossed a quick warning glance her way.

Rio stepped back to allow the older man entrance. “If you wish to come in, please do so.” He felt awkward, uncertain what to say or how to act. By all of their laws, the elder should not come near him, acknowledge him or speak to him, let alone enter his dwelling. Rio had no idea whether he was being discourteous in inviting the man inside.