Uncharted Territory (The Compass Series Book 3) by Tamsen Parker Read Free Book Online Page A

two different colors are a sign of the devil. This crowd won’t be deterred.
    Rey leads me down the stairs to where people are milling about and grabs us two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. It’s only a second before people are approaching. It’s the friendly, if predatory, figure of Constance Cooper that claims us first.
    “Rey.” She greets him with a peck on the cheek. She’s wearing a dress this evening, strapless and bright yellow. It’s her color and she’s gorgeous. In kitten heels, she’s taller than I am and her up-do adds a couple of inches.
    “Constance, lovely to see you as always.”
    “Not as lovely as it is to see this one.” Her eyes run up and down my body, and Rey doesn’t scold her like he did Ben. Constance is allowed to stare. “You have outdone yourself. She’s stunning. I hope you won’t keep Baby in a corner all evening. It’s not fair to bring a toy like this and not share.”
    “We’ll see.”
    Rey’s evasion is met with a scowl from Constance. She gives up on him and shifts her eyes to me. “Kitten, I’m so glad you came to join us tonight. I thought after your run-in with Tobias we might have scared you off, but you’re tougher than you look.”
    “Thank you, mistress. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
    “Honestly, Rey,” she snaps, turning on her heel and stalking off. “You’re killing me!”
    The next hour or so is more of the same, and I’m getting antsy. Where’s Hunter? Rey said he wanted to see me. I’ve been stealing glances around the room whenever I get the chance, but I’ve never even caught a glimpse of him. I didn’t go to all this trouble for anyone else here—despite their obvious interest—and I’m feeling neglected. Isn’t this his party? This is, at the very least, poor manners.
    After another half an hour of show and tell—and in some cases, touch—I’m annoyed and I want to leave. If Hunter’s fucking with me, I’m tired of it, and I’ve yet to find someone who’s captured my interest in the same way. Not that there aren’t stirrings of something from the palpable power and authority of some of these people, but it’s not the same thrill Hunter sent through me. If only. I’ll have to ask him later to be sure, but I’m fairly certain Rey’s fielded at least half a dozen indecent proposals for me.
    When our latest friend leaves, a willowy blonde mistress trailed by her muscular and friendly boy, Ben cuts in. He leans close to Rey and says something I can’t make out. Rey’s face settles into a subtle but satisfied smile and his eyes slip over to mine. This is going to be good.
    When Ben pulls away, Rey offers him a short nod, and Ben retreats. Rey draws me in closer. “Mr. Vaughn has requested the pleasure of your company in the library.”
    Holy shit. My annoyance has turned to weak-kneed breathlessness and then panic. I can’t go see Hunter by myself. I’ll never come back.
    “Don’t worry. He knows you’ll be chaperoned.”
    A mix of relief, disappointment, but mostly anticipation settles in my stomach. I’m getting called up to the big leagues. Hunter Vaughn wants to see me.
    After saying a quick hello to a man I don’t recognize, Rey excuses us and leads me down a dark wood paneled hallway. He’s been to the library before. He doesn’t bother knocking before pushing open the heavy door, and I find myself in a beautiful room full of more dark wood, the smell of well-loved leather, and books. Lots of books. Walls of books. I could spend days in here.
    But my attention is drawn to a figure rising from a leather couch in front of a sizable fireplace. It’s Hunter. I was worried my memory of him was faulty—that I’d imagined him to be more attractive than he really is—but I erred in the wrong direction. He’s even better looking than I remembered, and my lips part when I lay eyes on him. Since our last encounter, Rey’s told me Hunter is thirty-two, not the mid-twenties I’d thought. Not only is