In her peripheral view, Týr appeared in the doorway just past the fireplace. “You were supposed to fill me in when you got back this morning.”
“Yeah, been detained.”
Lord, he was cranky. “Well?” She glanced at him, slipping her phone into her pocket. “Did you see—oh…” Her breath caught. He wore nothing but a towel. The sheer impact of him stunned her into silence.
Týr braced a forearm on the jamb near his head and raised an eyebrow.
Don’t look…don’t look down.
But avoiding his taunting gaze, she got trapped by his tough, sexy body. Slabs of flesh were woven into hard muscles, honed both by centuries of training and his job, making him the deadly warrior he was. Sure, she wanted to strangle him most times, but damn, he was absolute physical perfection. Her gaze moved lower…
“Face is up here, Fluff,” he drawled, pointing to his amused expression.
Heat flooded her cheeks. Clearly, Týr knew what his looks did to poor, unsuspecting humans. Kira scowled. She didn’t know what it was about him that drew her, because every time he opened his mouth, it made her want to snap. And still… Every time she looked at the sensual curve of his lower lip, she wanted to kiss it.
He straightened, distracting her from dangerous thoughts, and he readjusted his towel, biting the same lip as if not to laugh. But the power of that half-smile almost scorched her where she stood. Týr undoubtedly liked playing Russian roulette with her fluctuating emotions. This was his fault. She had been fine until he’d decided to superglue himself to her as her darn guard.
He rubbed the biceps inked with a myriad of symbols that made up a sword. “You wanted something?”
“Yes,” she said, struggling to focus on why she’d hunted him down. “Tomas? Did you find him?”
Týr’s teasing expression vanished. “I didn’t, but Nik did.”
Thank God.“And?”
“He gave Nik the slip.” Týr disappeared back into his dressing room. Bob abandoned her and ambled after him.
That’s it? She frowned at the empty doorway. Was it such an effort to explain what happened? Men! “Then we find him tonight. I’ll wait downstairs.”
His grunt apparently concluding their scintillating conversation, Kira shook her head and marched for the door.
A few minutes later, her jacket and backpack collected from her room, she sat on the bottom step of the grand staircase in the elegant foyer and waited, her mind back on the missing kids.
Maybe Shadow could help. She knew the alleyways like the back of her hand since she lived underground in the labyrinth beneath the city. Kira had offered her a place to stay when she heard that, but her friend had politely declined.
Frowning, she put on her jacket, then got out her cell, and called Shadow.
“Kira?” her soft, breathy voice flowed down the line. “It’s been a while. How’s the little brat?”
Kira laughed, rolling her tense shoulders. Shadow had been the one to help her find Tomas the first time he’d run off. “I’m good. But he’s gone again. A misunderstanding this time…” She briefly explained about the wedding and being unable to see him for a few days, excluding the real reason why he’d taken off.
“That boy’s quite attached to you, isn’t he? I’ll see if I can get wind of where he’s holed up.” The line dropped.
At the sounds of boot steps approaching, Kira pushed her cell into her jacket pocket and glanced over her shoulder to the corridor past the stairs. Nik came into view.
Like all the Guardians, he cut an imposing figure in his all-black patrolling gear. Despite his striking looks—tan skin, startling, pale green eyes, and buzzed hair—with all that tatts and cold stare, he looked like a straight-up killer.
The guy could literally freeze a city with just a stare, or so she’d heard. But such empty eyes. Echo had assured her that he did possess a soul, unlike Blaéz, who had been completely emotionless until he met Darci.
Nik slowed. “You ready?”
It took a second before the truth hit her like a slap in the face. Hurt surged. Týr had shoved her off onto Nik and didn’t bother telling her when they’d spoken a few minutes ago. Fine. Kira picked up her backpack and rose. “You know, I can get Hedori to take me.”
Those pale eyes turned colder than the Arctic, the serpent’s head on the warrior’s neck darker as if it were equally displeased by her response.
“Týr asked me to keep you safe while we look for the boy. It’s what I will do.”
Footsteps sounded behind her. She didn’t turn, hating that she knew exactly who it was. “I’m ready, let’s go.”
