Joshua watched Kira as she walked away, her skirt swaying with every step. She was probably going back to the house, and given the way she so stiffly held herself, he had a fairly good reason to believe that she was pissed at him for something. Maybe for not answering his phone? Maybe she’d been worried. Or maybe it was something Jenny had said, and had nothing to do with him. He wasn’t sure, but he elected to give her space. Instead, he served as a cart-pusher for Chelsey as she got the things they needed.
“As long as you’re here, I ought to tell you about some of Kira’s favorite snacks,” Chelsey told him. She threw a variety of snacks into the cart, and Joshua pulled them out again, studying the packaging.
“That’s good to know, thanks,” he said awkwardly. “Er, while we’re here, is there anything you need while you’re visiting? My treat.”
“Kira didn’t raise me to go asking for handouts. But I’d like to see how far I can push you, now that you’re my brother-in-law. So… lobster. Yeah. Lobster, ravioli, and some of the expensive veggies. Oh! And blueberries. I’ll cook up a good feast tonight, and you can praise my skills, even though you’ll be getting the burnt stuff.”
Joshua had never spent much time with Chelsey before and so wasn’t sure if she was kidding or just trying to push his buttons. He nodded solemnly. “I wouldn’t think of doing anything else. But if I might make a suggestion? We recently had a large lobster harvest. Lamb is more expensive right now.”
Chelsey narrowed her eyes, but her lips twitched. “Huh. Okay. We’ll do lamb. You know, you’re not as much of an asshole as I thought. Unless you’re just trying to impress me.”
“Oh, I’m an asshole,” Joshua reassured her. “But I am trying to impress you. Kira and I… we’re married. And I want to make her happy.”
Chelsey gave him a judging look. “She told me about the Elder Council’s… interference with your relationship. And you ought to know that Kira doesn’t like to talk about her feelings. So making her happy… It’s going to have to be about a lot more than impressing me.”
Joshua frowned. “I can’t be a mind reader.”
“No, you can’t. Nor should you. I love my sister, but I also know her. She’s always had the thought process that she can’t rely on anyone else. She has to take care of everyone. So you…” Chesley shook her head as she gathered a few more ingredients and dumped them into the cart. “You’re a conundrum. You change things. You don’t need to be taken care of. You want to take care of her.”
He continued pushing the cart silently, the frown still firmly on his face. How did Chelsey read him so easily? They’d never spent much time together, and yet she could see how much he wanted to take care of Kira.
Joshua took a deep breath. “How do I get her to let me?”
“Fuck if I know.”
Well. That was far less than helpful.
***
After the shopping trip, Joshua and Chelsey discovered Kira was neither at Joshua’s place nor theirs. Joshua bit backan instant surge of frustration and worry. She had been agitated after the confrontation with Jenny, so where would she have gone? To Gwen? No, Gwen, Rafael, and Lianne went to the mainland today.
He took his wolf form and jogged back to the spot where he’d last seen her. He found the trail and started to follow it. Kira had wound her way through town, toward Gwen’s house. She must have forgotten about the trip. She veered suddenly onto a different path, and Joshua followed that trail. It took him down toward their beach, only to circle around and instead go into the forest.
Away from the protections around the town.
When he found her, she was sitting beneath a cedar tree, whose long branches swept out and formed a tent around her. Her hands rested on her knees, and she stared up through the branches with an unfocused expression.
Joshua shifted back to human form and pulled his clothes back on before he ducked into the sweeping branches. Kira startled when she saw him, her eyes widening. She sucked in a breath and gritted her teeth, as though bracing herself for his scolding.
Which, he’d been just about ready to launch into. It wasn’t safe out here. She shouldn’t be alone, certainly not while injured.
Seeing how wary she was made him wince. He didn’t want her to look at him that way. “Let’s go back to your place,” he said, trying to keep his voice gentle.
“I’m fine where I am,” she snapped. “Leave me alone.”
His patience started to fray. “You’re not fine. You’ve overexerted yourself, and you’re vulnerable out here beyond the protections of the town. We’re going back to your place.”
He took hold of her arm and pulled her to her feet, mindful to be gentle. Kira’s cheeks flushed, and her nostrils flared. He expected her to rip her arm away, but instead, she stared at him, uncertain, breathing heavily. Her skirt bore evidence of having moved through the forest, with bits of twigs and dirt sticking to it.
“I’m fine,” she said again, but this time she sounded a little less certain.
Joshua frowned at her. “Are you certain about that? You look unsteady. Did you get hurt?”
“I’m not hurt. I promise. I just… I don’t want to go back to town yet.”
“Okay. Then we can go to the protected beach. Just a place where the demons can’t find you. Come on.” He slid his hand to her wrist.
Her pulse leapt beneath his touch. Her cheeks darkened, and her eyes widened. Her nostrils flared again, and she swallowed. Joshua froze, his grip loosening enough for her to pull away if she wanted. Instead, she remained where she was, her gaze not moving from his. He opened his mouth, paused, and tightened his grip again.
