âNot now. Not unless you use your magic.â
âThen why donât you sit down?â Tamsin said, just as distrustful.
âI donât need to sit down.â He sounded annoyed and stubborn, his hand moving to hide the crude bandage around his arm. She could see the edge of it beneath the cuff of his jacket, and it looked as if heâd tried to bind his wound with his left hand. âI donât have time. Lives depend on getting the answers I need.â
That piqued her curiosity, but safety came firstâand that meant calming him down. âIâd feel better if you sat. Youâre rather tall.â
His expression hardened another notch. âI can watch you better from here.â
âOh, for pityâs sake.â Without waiting for him to answer, she stalked to the kitchen nook and grabbed the bottle of red wine sheâd opened the night before. It was almost full.
âWhat are you doing?â Gawain growled, turning to keep her in sight.
She set the wine and two glasses on her tiny table. âIâm offering you a drink because Iâll certainly need one if weâre going to continue this ridiculous conversation.â
It was too dark to see that piercing blue gaze, but she could feel it all the same. He was all predator, all male, and his will was iron. Tamsin braced herself, summoning her courage. She had to take control of the situation. âYou seem to know your history. Maybe you understand the old rules of hospitality. If you accept my wine, then we have a pact. We treat each other with respect while youâre under my roof.â
He made a low sound of surprise. âYouâre offering me guest rights?â
âI am.â
To her relief, he gave a slow nod and pulled out one of her wrought iron chairs. âI accept.â
Gawain sat down carefully, as if expecting the chair to collapse beneath his muscular frame. Then he braced his injured arm on the glass tabletop, the tension in his shoulders easing as he studied her. His expression was still guarded, but she caught a glimpse of smug satisfaction, like a cat that had finally got its way.
The very masculine look made Tamsinâs cheeks warm. She poured the wine, her fingers trembling slightly. âWhy did you come to my home?â
âThe church is being watched.â
Startled, Tamsin spilled a few drops of wine. She set the bottle down, her mind racing. âWatched?â
He nodded. âI followed you here so we could talk alone.â
âAbout the tombs? I donât know any more than I did three hours ago.â
âYou have the means to find out, historian.â His lips curved down. He had a sensual mouth, the kind that betrayed emotion as easily as the eyes. âEvents force me to insist that you hurry.â
âOh?â
He pointedly raised his injured arm. âIâm running out of time.â
Gooseflesh ran up her arms. âAnd out of time means what?â
âToday it meant a bullet.â He picked up a wineglass in his good hand. âTomorrow something worse. Shall we drink to good health?â
Tamsinâs whole body tensed. âSomeone shot you? Did you call the police?â
âMy story would be a bit much for them.â He continued to hold the glass midair, pointedly waiting for her to drink first. Witches were adept with poisons.
Tamsin took a sip, but now her hand was unsteady. Crazy was one thing, but guns were another. His eyes held hers across the tiny table. There was so little space between them that she could feel the warmth of his breath.
âIâm not in trouble with your laws,â he said. âIâm simply working by rules that have no meaning here.â
She didnât even try to make sense of that statement. âAnd the man who shot you?â
âTrust me, no jail could hold him. Heâs part of the faery court.â
Tamsin sucked in a breath. âAre you telling me the