Unicorn Vengeance by Claire Delacroix Read Free Book Online Page B

breath away. “I must ask for the return of the coin,” he repeated. “‘Twas not mine to grant.”
    â€œBut...but, ‘tis spent and gone,” Genevieve sputtered in protest, hating the hesitancy in her voice. A far cry indeed this was from her plan!
    The stranger looked deliberately at the coin that had just been tossed on the cobbles before her. Indignation rolled through Genevieve at his presumption, and she was on her feet in an instant. She swept forward and snatched the coin from the ground before he could lay claim to it, her anger prompting her to wag it beneath his very nose.
    â€œNot yours is this coin, but mine alone!” she declared hotly. He moved naught, though his gaze was bright upon her. “My dinner and board for the night this is, and I will not grant it to you!”
    â€œThe coin was not mine to give,” he said calmly again, as though she had said naught.
    â€œWell does it seem that you might have considered that before you granted it to me!” Genevieve asserted. A tinge of color stained his neck, and she fancied he gritted his teeth.
    â€œI would have the coin returned,” he said tightly.
    â€œNot by me,” Genevieve maintained. She tossed her hair back over her shoulder and straightened to her full height. Still she had to lift her chin to stare him in the eye and, had she not been so angered by his audacity, the coldness she found there might have been daunting.
    He leaned closer and Genevieve held her breath, though she did not dare look away.
    â€œGive me the coin,” he insisted. His hand rose in her peripheral vision, palm up, as though he expected her to meekly drop the requested silver there.
    Genevieve slipped her hand into the neck of her kirtle and jammed the coin between her breasts. The way his gaze followed the gesture reminded Genevieve of her original intent and made her bold beyond her wildest dreams.
    â€œFetch it yourself,” she hissed impulsively.
    He swallowed and his gaze flicked away. Ha! That had surprised him! When his eyes met hers again, it seemed a flame had been lit there, and Genevieve was tempted to flee from him. But she held her ground, determined to see this matter settled between them.
    His gaze was unnaturally steady, and once again she was reminded of the cold stare of a wolf. A wolf on the hunt, a wolf stalking the quarry he would bring down with ease when he was ready to do so. A quarry that he might taunt and tease afore he struck, as surely he would. Naught would stop that wolf from his objective, and Genevieve fancied that little could stop this cold-eyed man. Fear trickled through her with renewed resolve and she wondered what demon fueled her audacious tongue.
    But she could not back down now. He had granted her a coin. It had been hers to spend and she had done so. No claim had he on the solitary coin that would ensure her room and board this night.
    Still, when he lifted his hand toward her, Genevieve shivered. He touched her wrist and she barely restrained herself from bolting, even as the shock of his intent flooded through her. Would he truly seek out the coin as she had dared him? Did he truly intend to touch her there? The heat of his fingertips slid up her arm, but Genevieve could not look away from his simmering regard. Certain she was that his hand shook as his fingers slid over the curve of her shoulder, then his hand rested gently above her heart.
    Its frantic pounding would betray her fear, but naught was there that Genevieve could do. Her mouth went dry, her palms became damp, yet still she did not move.
    Well it seemed that the stranger had not the will to continue, for he remained motionless before her, his hand cupped over the pulse of her heart. Frozen in time they were, their gazes locked as the autumn wind cavorted around them. Genevieve noted the lines from the sun around his eyes, the faint blond stubble from his beard, the flicker of blue in the myriad grays of his