My gaze flicked around the room. It was the same as the last time I’d been inside. Well-worn rugs covered the wood planked flooring while comfortable furniture was arranged in a semi-circle around a low coffee table sitting in front of the fireplace. The kitchen fed off to the left and there was a hall to the rightthat led to Keir’s bedroom and bath. The space wasn’t all that large, but what it lacked in size it made up for in coziness.
“Just as I remembered,” I mused.
“I’ve seen no reason to change it,” Keir predictably answered. “Would you like some tea?” Keir headed toward the kitchen before I could answer. He knew I wouldn’t say no. Keir made the best tea.
He must have already had a pot brewing because Keir came back to the living area less than five minutes later, two teacups in hand.
“Please, sit.”
A padded footstool sat off to the side. Its backless comfort was ideal for winged pixies. It worked equally well for a kitsune’s tails.
I grabbed my cup of tea before sitting. The aroma trigged even more memories, these bitterly pleasant. I inhaled deeply, drawing more of the comforting scent into my body before taking a sip. The temperature was perfect, just as I’d expected. Just as it always was.
Keir and I sat in mutual silence, both of us drinking our tea, neither ready to address the elephant in the room. The fire crackled and popped, sending sparks floating into the chimney. I wasn’t typically at a loss for words, but I suppose loss in general made words wither.
“I was worried you’d been… I wasn’t certain if Tenzen was able to take anything more from you,” Keir finally said. “I counted your tails. I’m relieved to see you still have seven.” I’d once had eight until I foolishly gave one up when Huxley asked for it. I’d been such a trusting idiot.
Flicking my tails, I answered, “Yup. All are accounted for.” My tone was far more flippant than I truly felt.
Keir softly smiled. His face was all sharp angles. Sometimes, his smiles accentuated those angles. But every so often, I got aglimpse of one that rounded those edges and outwardly exposed Keir’s deeply caring nature.
“I didn’t think…I mean, I don’t think any of us thought Tenzen would go after you. I thought…” Keir’s smile faded into a regretful frown.
“Looks like none of us were all that special.” I certainly hadn’t been. I’d been a thing to be used and nothing more.
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry, Hikaru. If I’d known what Tenzen was up to, I?—”
“He would have killed you as soon as looked at you,” I stated. “That’s who he was.” My tone was flat. I had no idea if all shadow borne were as ruthless as Huxley. As far as any of us knew, all other shadow borne were peacefully slumbering. Where? We hadn’t a clue and I hoped it stayed that way.
Keir didn’t so much as flinch. His jaw tightened and his amber eyes briefly flared with the intensity of his emotions. “Despite knowing you’re right, that doesn’t make me feel better.”
I shrugged. “It wasn’t meant to.”
“No, I suppose it wasn’t.”
My eyes wandered the area, searching for another topic. Anything to avoid what I’d come here for. “Where’s Martin?” I tilted my head, my lips twitching. “You know that dryad has a hard-on for you, right?” I inwardly snickered at my bad joke. Martin was an oak dryad. Oak was a hardwood.
Keir’s lips twitched as he tried to tamp down his amusement. Despite his efforts to the contrary, Keir had always found me more amusing than irritating. “Martin is an excellent assistant. He?—”
“I’m sure he’s learned toassistyou with a lot of things.” I suggestively waggled my eyebrows and Keir rolled his eyes.
“Really, Hikaru? Is that the best you can do? I must say, I’m a bit disappointed.”
Not even the slightest bit put out, I shrugged. “What can I say, it’s been a tough month.”
All amusement seeped from Keir’s face. “That it has.” Swallowing, Keir’s amber eyes narrowed, the warmth from earlier long gone. “Since you’re here, I assume Warlock Holland passed along my message.”
“He did.” I stared into my nearly empty teacup. “He said…Niki wasn’t sure of the details.” I cleared my throat and attempted to look anywhere but at Keir. “Niki said something about needing to travel through stone.”
Keir nodded while running a hand through his multicolored hair. Strands of dark brown faded into lighter shades. Some of those strands were tipped in white and resembled the feathers of his shifted form. “That’s correct.”
My tails nervously twitched. “How?”
“How did we find them?”
I nodded.
“Tabitha.” Tabitha Clark was a talented medium. She could not only speak with the lingering spirits of the dearly departed, but she could help them manifest themselves as well.
