It’s Ira.
ChapterNineteen
CAUGHT OUT
The big vampire from the Dome is dressed in black, the tattoos on his arms covered, only a few curving lines visible at the neck of his shirt. He moves like a shadow, despite his size.
‘Ira.’ Kyle keeps his voice low. ‘How are things?’
Ira spreads his hands wide. ‘Things, my friend, are not so good.’
Kyle has his arm back, holding me against him. I manage to lean my head around. ‘Hello,’ I say, my voice cracked with emotion.
Ira pauses in his approach, his eyes widening. ‘My lady! Is it so?’
‘Er, yes. It’s me.’ I push against Kyle’s arm and he lets me go. I pull the hem of my dress down, wiping my face with my other hand.
‘What are you doing here? It’s not safe for you.’
‘I-I wanted to see. To… bear witness.’ I gulp the words, stumbling on the long grass.
‘It is a dark thing to witness, my lady. I salute your bravery.’
‘I-I saw, the boy, the one who, he was?—’
‘Yes.’ There is deep sorrow in Ira’s voice. ‘He should not have been here.’
‘But, was he, I mean, how could he be a?—’
‘My lady, there is more happening here tonight than you know. In fact, it’s best if you leave, as soon as you can.’
‘We were just about to.’ Kyle slides an arm around my waist.
Ira folds his massive arms. ‘Taking her home?’
Kyle stares at Ira. Then he nods, once. ‘Yes, home.’ He scoops me into his arms.
Ira comes closer, laying one massive hand on my arm. ‘I’d like to send you a gift, my lady. Will you be home tomorrow eve?’
‘Er, yes?’ I sniff again. ‘I mean, thank you, that’s very kind.’ Odd, but kind.
‘I’ll deliver it myself, then.’ He smiles, squeezing my arm briefly. It’s surreal.
‘We need to go.’ Kyle steps back from Ira, who releases my arm.
‘Safe travels, my lady,’ he says. ‘May darkness protect you.’
I nod. ‘Th-thank you. And the same to you.’
Kyle starts to run but reaction has set in, a deep trembling through my whole body. I can’t control it, try as I might, gasping for breath. Kyle slows again, coming to a stop.
Trees are tall around us, moon filtering through their branches to cast a lattice of shadow on the cold ground. Kyle sets me down and I slide like a jellyfish down the front of his body, curling into a ball, trying to pull all the shaking back inside myself.
Kyle kneels beside me, rubbing my back. I shake so much my teeth chatter, and I barely understand what he’s saying. I suck in a breath, managing to control myself enough so I can hear him properly.
‘—need to keep moving, Emelia. I’ll keep you safe, I promise. It’s all right, you’re okay.’ Is it all right? I think it’s pretty fucking far from all right, to be honest. My world is upside down and I’m lying in a forest, shaking like the proverbial leaf. ‘Please, my love, please.’
Did he just call me his love?
