Chapter 23
As Kira pulledon black pedal pushers, she glanced back at Týr. He stood near the first window in the bedroom and stared out into the pitch-black night where the temperamental volcano occasionally retched, sending an orangey glow across the distant sky.
After their wild loving in the alcove, Týr appeared to have regained some of his control. If she were honest, it eased her a damn lot.
“Before we leave,” she said, pulling on a dark green tank top in deference to the heat, “we should find Riley and see what he knows about the missing children. Wait, what did he mean bylater?”
“About that…” Týr turned to her and pushed his hands into his pants’ pockets. “He’s already got a lead. We’re going to check it out.”
“Thank God. Can we go right now?”
“You can’t come, Kira.”
“What? Nuh-uh!” She shook her head vehemently, her hair flipping about her shoulders. No wonder he’d been so quiet. “I am coming.”
His expression hardened. “Where we’re going, it’s too dangerous. I refuse to let anything happen to you. I’ll find the kids, come back for you, and we’ll leave.”
He was so darn one-track minded. “Dammit, Týr—”
“I have to go. The sooner this gets done, the faster we can leave this place. You’ll be safe here with Wrath around.”
He seriously wasn’t pulling theI’m-the-powerful-manon her, was he?
Grinding her molars, Kira glared at his retreating back in helpless frustration. But something inside her spurred her on, a feeling she couldn’t ignore. She had to be with him. Pushing her feet into a pair of black sneakers, she took off after Týr.
Darn it, the man could move when he wanted. Undeterred, she sprinted down the five flights of stairs to the ground floor and almost crashed into a demon about to take a step up. He hastily moved aside and bowed.
“Sorry!” she threw over her shoulder as she raced to the lobby leading outside into the muggy air. At a flash of pale blond hair amidst all the darker heads, she narrowed her eyes and dashed after him. “Týr, darn it,wait!”
He looked back, and at the hard jut of his jaw, yep…he wasn’t happy. He grasped her wrist and hauled her outside around the corner of the building to a quiet niche. She yanked free. “I’m going with you.”
“Dammit, Kira! This place isn’t like Earth. The demons where we’re going are extremely dangerous.”
“I’m not scared of them. You forget, I haveyou, mybrother, and myfather—they will remember that, I’m sure.”
“It’s because of who your sire is and what I am!” Týr’s snapped. “I’ve destroyed hordes of them. Your sire sentences the condemned to an eternity of suffering. Do you honestly think none would come after you to get revenge on either of us? They went after your mother.”
Her heart sank. She’d told Týr what Wrath had revealed about her mother’s death. “That’s a low blow.”
“I refuse to let anything happen to you. Wrath is here, he won’t let any harm come to you. You are my life, Kira.”
Sure, she’d be safe here, but who would keep him safe? Tears of frustration burned her eyes. He was so damn stubborn. But the churning in her stomach intensified, her instincts refusing to lie still. They pounded at her to act. He needed her with him.
“If you don’t take me, I’ll—I’ll ask Nicor.” There.
His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Go anywhere near him, and I will kill him.”
Kira raised an eyebrow, refusing to give an inch. Ugh, she wouldn’t ask Nicor. She’d probably ask her father, but Týr made her so mad, she’d said the first thing that came to mind.
But dammit, she worried abouthim.With that darn male pride a mile-high, she pushed her point home, “The children would prefer to see a woman, it’ll make rescuing them easier. And Tomas could be there, too.”
“Then he’s going to have to acceptmerescuing him.”
“Hey,” Riley said, rounding the corner to where they were. “What are you doing here—?” He frowned when he saw her. “Kira?”
At their standoff, Týr growled, “She’s coming along.”
Relief flowed. It wasn’t a victory like he probably thought. Not only would he need her, the children and Tomas would, as well. God only knew what they’d endured.
