Page 59 of Reaper’s Curse

“Mm-hmm.” With the hint of a frown tugging at the corners of her mouth, Camilla nodded once, sharp and slow, then turned to make her way toward the back rooms.

Winter followed, his brow pinching. Confusion and curiosity regarding her reaction nibbled at him as his gaze bored into the back of her skull then dropped down to her backside.

He quickly swung his attention back toward her shoulders.

“I know you find her intriguing,” Camilla continued. “That much was obvious when you brought her here in a broken-doll state. But you’d best be careful because Chace⁠—”

“Spare me the Chace talk.” He held back a snarl. “That guy grates me the wrong way and is completely overbearing.”

She cast him a sympathetic smile as she stepped into her workroom, the space where her creations came to life. “There may be good reasons on both accounts.” She rested her palm against his cheek, her touch stilling his irritation. “I’m just telling you to be careful. That’s all.”

“Noted.” His chest rose and fell as he did his best to ignore the tingle of his skin beneath her touch.

He shifted his gaze past her to the many in-progress garments cluttering the room. Clipped over the top edge of a cabinet at the back hung the shell of a black gown in the makings. Raven’s gown for his brother’s upcoming birthday bash, he assumed. The whispered thought tugged a tiny smile to his lips, but it didn’t hold.

With a slight shoulder lift, Camilla turned away and started shuffling through a basket filled with rolls of lace. “You know, there was a time when you would have taken on the challenge Raven and Chace’s dynamics provide and tried to woo them both into your bed…together.”

Winter’s muscles tensed. “That Winter died long ago, and please do not turn my stomach with sexual suggestions involving that irritating male.”

“Sorry.” She didn’t sound the least bit sorry, and for some damn reason, her reaction warmed something inside of him.

“You never need to be sorry for such things. You’re a good woman, Camilla.” He reached for her but retracted his hand before making contact. “My brother was a fool for not making a full commitment to you and the girls.”

Camilla shook her head and waved away his comment, dropping the two of them into an awkward silence.

Winter scratched the back of his neck and drifted his gaze around the room. He needed to redirect matters and erase the unease.

“I saw Kira on the street,” he said, deciding they sorely needed a change in subject. “You wouldn’t happen to know where she was going or what she’s up to, would you?”

Camilla shrugged and shook her head.

“Really? But she’s your daughter. She’s just a kid.”

“She’s been just a kid for some hundred years now, Winter,” she countered. “At what point do you think she’s learned enough, experienced enough, to take some responsibility and make a few choices on her own?”

Winter jerked back. Camilla was right, 100 percent so. Despite their appearances, they had lived a considerable amount of time. He kept his mouth clamped because he had no response to the fat wake-up call she had just slapped in his face.

“So.” She dropped her fists onto her hips. “Did you come here to slow my work? Or is there something you need?”

“I surely don’t mean to hinder your progress,” he jested. “But I happened to be out and about today and thought I’d check in to see if you had anything ready for Raven yet.”

She frowned. “It’s been less than a day. Do you think I have the magic to whip things up instantaneously?”

“Well, no⁠—”

“Then don’t be ridiculous! I’ve only finished a few small things. When I have the garments completed, I’ll want to schedule her for a fitting. That way I can verify if any adjustments are necessary before releasing the items. Plus, I want to see her. I miss her.”

Winter failed to hold the grimace from his face. “You hardly know her, Camilla. She was unconscious for most of her stay here, and since then, you’ve seen her, what, once?”

She crossed her arms and leveled a hard stare at him.

“Oh. Right.” He lifted his chin. Dropped it. “Your magic.” Not a question, but she nodded anyway. “She doesn’t harbor the same connection.”

Camilla’s gaze dropped to the floor, and guilt dumped over him like a pail of ice water. He needed to change the mood immediately.

“You said small things?” He raised an eyebrow as Camilla lifted her gaze. “How small? As in…”

He motioned to his chest and downward.