Chapter 3
“The Oracle would be pleasedyou’ve chosen to stay at the castle during her absence, Kira,” Hedori said with a warm smile as they headed indoors a few minutes later. “Excuse me. I have to make sure all is put to rights in the rec room again. Echo’s in the kitchen if you’re looking for her.”
“Th-thank you…” She kept her breathing shallow. Darn, her chest still hurt. At least her face no longer did. The wound there had strangely healed.
After another considering glance, Hedori disappeared down the long corridor.
Did she still have blood on her face? Kira grabbed the hem of her sweater and scrubbed her cheek, hoping she’d gotten it all. She eyed the stairs, sorely tempted to hibernate in the bedroom she occupied whenever she stayed over, but then she’d be trapped. She swallowed a groan. How did her life get so complicated? Usually, she did whatever she pleased. And as long as she came home at a certain time, Gran was happy. No one policed her for her activities.
Now, she had a hulking, raving-mad beast at her back.Gaaaaah!
Might as well face him and get this out of her way because, gut-deep, Kira knew Týr would come after her.
Sighing, she trudged to the kitchen and opened the door. The mouth-watering aroma of something chocolatey greeted her. She found Echo at the island counter that separated the spacious kitchen with its oak cupboards and sweeping gray granite counters from the dining area.
Her friend looked up from pouring cocoa, a relieved smile brightening her unusual, bi-colored amber and silver eyes, the colors a startling contrast to her honey-gold skin and raven-black hair. The latter she wore in a spikily cut style that suited her angular features. “You’re back. I’m glad.”
“Yeah.” Kira cut off a grimace and wandered to the closed French doors. Flurries gently floated to the ground. She wrapped her arms around her waist and stared at the flakes settling on the potted shrubs lining the terrace. And waited. For the storm to arrive at any moment now.
“Come. Sit.”
Rubbing her cheek again, Kira trudged over and dropped wearily into a chair. At least the pain in her chest had faded somewhat. Echo set mugs of cocoa on the massive dining table then slide a dessert plate with a slice of chocolate cheesecake to her, before taking the seat on the opposite side. Her friend arched a delicate brow and rubbed the shallow dimple in her chin. “What’s gotten you so worked up?”
Man, where did she even start? Kira picked up her fork and speared a piece of cake. Before she could open her mouth, the ominous sounds of heavy footfalls had her biting back a groan.
Well, then. Kira leaned back in her chair, keeping a casual mien as she ate a piece of gooey cheesecake that stuck in her throat. Týr stalked into the kitchen, the usual smirk on his face missing as if he’d left it somewhere in the backstreet downtown. He just stood there and stared at her.
Instead of rolling her eyes at his intimidation tactics, Kira airily pushed to her feet. “Echo, excuse me. I’ll be right back.”
She brushed past Týr and marched down the corridor. He followed closely behind like a darn shadow, making her too aware of him. She spun around and glared, walking backwards now. “I don’t know what you’re so peeved for.”
He grasped her arm and pulled her into the rec room like she’d forgotten how to walk. Every sign of the wedding reception from a few hours ago had been erased. Kira stomped over to the other side. The foosball table was back in place, along with the pool table. The central leather couches were once more set in front of the huge flat-screen TV, adjacent to the arcade games.
Everything appeared normal…except for her. And him.
She stopped near the bar, but at the ominous click of the door, she wheeled around, anxiety nipping at her like teeth. Týr leaned against the wooden panel. Dressed in his all black patrolling gear, man, he was way too huge and menacing right now. His face a cold, dangerous mask. All hard, sculpted angles and raw power…and so annoyingly perfect.
“What the hell were you thinking, going into those alleys? You could have gotten yourself killed!”
Wow, seriously worked-up. Kira bit her lip, not about to admit to anything, let alone how worried she’d been about Tomas. She still was.
“You lied.”
Man, both he and Tomas all in a tizz because she’d supposedly lied. Well, she did, but only tohim.
“How long did you wait at the bar?” His tone matched his icy stare as he strode toward her. “Did you head out right after I left?”
Uh-oh. Kira hurriedly stepped back but forgot the bar counter that was behind her, stopping her retreat. Then she realized what she was doing. Sheesh.
She straightened, eyes shooting daggers. “Let’s get a few things straight. One, you aren’t my keeper. Two, not that it’s any of your business, but I had to help someone.”
“Is that so?” Týr’s lips curled into a chilly imitation of a smile. “Let’s examine theseassumptionsof yours. One, I don’t want to be your keeper, but you are under our protection. Two, that means if you’re in trouble…We. Get. Involved.Understand?”
“Ugh! Why don’t you ignore me like you used to?”
He grasped her wrist when she would have stomped off. “Believe me, it’s damn hard to do when you won’t listen. What were you doing in that alley filled with demons? Why the hell didn’t you run? You gothurt. Had it been a demon-bolt, you could have died!” Týr brought his face close to hers. The pale striations in his toffee-hued irises blazed like wildfire. His fury startled her a little.
“Y-you licked my face.”
