Gran was back. Her life was in chaos. And there was no sign of Tomas. Tagg didn’t have any news either.
Worse, she hadn’t seen Týr since he brought her back yesterday evening and then vanished. She’d heard him once when he passed the TV lounge during the day where she and Echo normally hung out, but he hadn’t come inside. His easy banter with his fellow Guardians made her heart ache, but she couldn’t blame him for avoiding her.
Was she wrong in wanting to protect herself?
The Guardians were blessed with their destined mates, and their obsidian daggers made doubly sure of that. But given her situation, and knowing just how faithful the warriors were to their chosen mates once they met, how could Týr expect her to simply walk in, knowing what could happen?
Kira dropped her head against the backrest of the couch and rubbed her tired eyes. The day dragged like a turtle on a Sunday amble. Now she had to go home.
She’d barely slept last night, worrying whether that wretched invisible enemy hunting Týr was back. What if he’d gotten hurt again? She shot up from the couch, her stomach heaving because knowing that stubborn immortal, even if he were hurt, he wouldn’t say a word.
Masculine voices drifted from the corridor through the slightly ajar door. The warriors were probably heading for the rec room.
“Can’t believe those demon fuckers, thinking they could get away with the shit they thought to pull last night,” Aethan snorted. “Sending human females to distract us. Norse, you handled them like a pro, man.”
“Gotta do, what we gotta do,” Týr retorted.
“What about the rainbow?” Nik asked. “Thought you and she were solid.”
Rainbow? Kira frowned, expecting to hear a barbed rejoinder. All that drifted to her was absolute silence. Her heart tripped. Her knees buckled, and she dropped down to the couch again, not wanting to believe what she’d heard. There was some woman called Rainbow?
“How about a game of basketball?” Aethan called out, changing the subject.
“It’s outside,” Nik groused.
“So?”
“Snow.”
“So?”
“Piss off.”
“And you’re the ice king?” Aethan laughed.
“Let’s get the fucking game on the road before it’s time to haul our asses back out on patrol,” Týr snapped. “Bets?”
The door opened wider. Echo popped her head into the room and smiled. “There you are. Want to go grab a bite to eat?
“Not hungry…” She found it hard to speak, Nik’s comment still ringing in her head.
Echo shut the door, crossed to Kira, and sat beside her. “You’ve been so quiet since you came back from the Adirondacks. I’m really worried. Did something happen between you and Týr?”
Kira lowered her gaze to the cell in her hand. “We talked. He—we—I like him. A lot. And he feels the same way…” She inhaled a choppy breath and looked up. “He asked me to move in with him, but I said it was too soon, and that I couldn’t because…because…”
“Of the destined mate issue?”
Kira nodded. “I can fight most things, Echo, but I can’t fight fate. I mean, look at all of you.Youleft Aethan, but you were drawn back because you couldn’t stay away. Even Darci and Blaéz. It was probably the same with Shae and Dagan. Týr’s angry that I won’t give us a chance. But I’m terrified.”
Troubled mismatched eyes searched Kira’s face. “What about his dagger?”
She shook her head. “It isn’t mine to summon.”
“I’m so sorry, Ki.”
“It’s not your fault.” She forced a smile. “Besides, I’m human, not meant for eternal life like you—”
“Don’t say that,” Echo whispered, distress darkening her expression. “I cannot bear the thought of you no longer with me. You’re like my sister.”
