Sparrow

"Brace yourselves," Cullen advised, leaning against one of the walls in his temporary room. "What we're about to discuss is not for the faint at heart."

At his last statement, I noticed his dark eyes flicker in Sparrow's direction.

"I'm sure we can handle it," I said, my tone suggesting he hasten to share whatever information he held.

"Montgomery," he called, causing the older, dark-skinned male to look his way. "You actually witnessed what happened. Do you want to tell them?"

"No man would ever want to tell another soul the things I've seen" he corrected, his stare haunting as it passed over each one of us.

I'd seen many things in my life—things that would make a person want to end themself just to ensure they never see it again—and yet, the emptiness leaking out of Montgomery made me uneasy.

"Of course not," Cullen agreed respectfully.

Nodding his head, Montgomery's leg shook, causing the old ricketing bed he sat on to creak. Lifting his eyes, they stilled on Sparrow, and then turned to me.

"You sure you want the lady to hear this?" he asked.

No doubt, Sparrow was seething at the way he asked for my approval on her behalf. My mind, however, went to just a moment ago, when we were following Cullen here. She didn't realize it, but she kept fidgeting as we walked, and her eyes darted left and right, restlessly. She was afraid, whether she'd admit it or not, and a part of me feared that Montgomery's report would send her over the edge. But, whether she heard it was not my call to make.

"She's a grown woman," I reminded him. "Why don't we ask her?"

When he made no moves to do so, I did.

"Sparrow?"

"Yeah?" she responded, her guard clearly up, as always.

"What do you think? Think you can handle Montgomery's tale?" I asked, locking eyes with her stormy grey ones.

A pleased smirk formed on her pale, pink lips at my question, catching my attention, considering I'd only really seen her frown. "You'd be surprised by how much I can handle."

Letting my gaze stay on her, I began to wonder just how much this woman could take. She wasn't much when it came to combat, but she certainly was not built for the domestic life. She'd most likely die before succumbing to the life of a simple village maiden. No, she was made for greater things.

The longer I stared, the more her answer replayed in my head, my body stiffening when they began to sound like that of a rebellious temptress.

"I don't think you understand," the brown-toned man sighed. "This is not something a lady should hear."

I could see Sparrow's temple pulsating as her mouth closed tight in disatisfaction. Clearing my mind of any dishonorable thoughts, I focused back on the conversation, feeling the tension thickening.