“It was easy to pick,” Xander said with a shrug, his nostrils flaring. “You stink of death.”
“Thanks, it’s natural,” she replied, her voice only slightly stronger than before. “What are you doing here?”
Xander slowly climbed to his feet, his boots thumping on her carpet as if he had landed them with extra force.
“Xee, what’s with the scream?” a voice asked from the corridor.
Kyra had already sensed the other Guardian, so she stepped out the way as the one with beautiful red hair appeared in the doorway. He frowned, eyes scanning the small space quickly. His mouth opened as if to speak, but whatever he said was drowned out by the clang of a wok against his head.
“Back the fuck away!” Eva shouted, her hands clasped around the end of her makeshift weapon.
“Kace,” Xander warned. “Don’t.”
The red-head growled, turning to face Eva with his scowl.
“Back off,” Eva said, the wok still held out in front of her. “I’ll hit you again, I don’t care.”
“Will you, now?” he all but purred, moving forward until he crowded her, hands planting on each side of her head as he backed her towards the wall. “Don’t worry, I like a little pain.”
“Kace,” Xander barked, “go stand guard outside.”
“What am I, your fucking dog?” he snapped back, stepping back.
“Kyra?” Eva called past Kace, annoyed by the proximity of the Guardian. “You okay?”
Kyra began to reply, and then her stomach recoiled for the third time that night. Heaving forward she gagged, spitting black vomit onto her clean carpet. Hands pulled gently at her hair, moving it away from her face.
“Thanks,” she said, expecting Eva. Except it had been Xander who had helped, and Eva stood beside her with her face creased in concern. Her friend flicked her gaze to Xander, then settled back on her.
“Everyone out!” Eva shouted. “Now!”
Xander stood straighter. “What happened?” he asked, ignoring her.
Kyra sucked in a breath, the nausea settled. “Oh you know, my life.”
Xander nodded to Kace, who excused himself into the corridor before returning his attention to her.
“Eva,” Kyra called quietly. “Give me five minutes, please.”
Eva shot daggers at Xander, but followed Kace. “I’ll be just out here, okay?”
“Tell me everything,” Xander demanded as soon as they were alone. “You’re… different.”
“Different,” Kyra laughed, the sound on the edge of hysteria. “Now that’s something I have always been. What do you want, Xander? I’m not really in the mood.”
“I’ve been asked to watch you until whoever’s behind those threats is caught, or worse.”
Kyra blinked. “You? Why you?”
“Trust me, it wasn’t my idea,” he growled. “Pack your stuff, you can’t stay here.”
Kyra looked at the dark stain she had made. “I can’t leave, ifhefinds out… I can’t risk it.”
“Whoeverheis, can go fuck himself. Pack for a few days, we’ll figure everything else out later.”
“No.”
He pulled off his sunglasses. “You asked for help, and now you don’t want it. Make up your fucking mind.”
