“Oh, no-no, Gran. You’re coming with us. I won’t leave you here alone.”
“This is my home, child.”
“Yes. But it’s dangerous for you to be by yourself. You forgot what happened a year ago when that horrid Neal came after you just to get even with Echo.”
Lila said nothing. They faced each other like sparring opponents instead of kin.
Frustration realigned Kira’s tan features. And, Lila? Hell, the female sported an inflexible look Týr knew all too well, considering that he and the other warriors faced-off with her often enough when they got wounded by those almost unhealable demon bolts, and had to be dosed with her miracle potion.
“Gran, there is nothing to discuss,” Kira said with a stubborn tilt to her chin. “You either come live with us at the castle or…or I’ll stay here with you.”
“So you won’t live with your warrior if I don’t move?”
Kira’s luscious mouth flattened, her gaze lowered to her cup.
Týr waited on edge for her response. But on the off chance that she chose differently than he’d like, he was quite prepared to check into Hotel Brownstone until they convinced the Oracle to beat feet back to the castle with them.
“No, I’m not leaving him.”
At her rejoinder, a smile started, but he shut it down. What? He wasn’t a teenage boy with his first crush. Okay, maybe he was.
“And I’m not leaving you alone either. We’ll stay here until you see sense.”
“Aren’t you going to work this evening?” Lila countered.
Kira lifted a brow at the change in subject. “Smooth, Granny. But yes, I am.”
Damn, he’d forgotten about that. “Kira…” Týr moved his cup aside. “About your job—”
“Yeah, yeah, I understand. I’ve been around the castle long enough to know how you guys operate. I can’t continue working any longer.” A glower started. “Then what? I become your kept woman?”
None of the mates of the Guardians could take on jobs out in the open where evil lurked. She looked really adorable in her ire of this non-negotiable edict, eyes spitting fire.
He couldn’t resist. “Sounds like a plan. But I wouldn’t dare say so. You’d probably shave off my hair in my sleep.”
“Týr, I can’t just do nothing.” Kira thumped her cup on the table. Luckily it was empty, or else the Oracle’s pristine white tablecloth would have been ruined.
He sighed. “Look, we’ll discuss this later.”
“I think it’s a brilliant idea,” Lila said happily, sipping her brew. “You want a life with a Guardian, this is how it will be.”
Kira no longer glared at her grandmother. Nope, now, she kept all her glowers for him. Adorable female.
Lila set her empty cup back on the tray, along with his barely drunk one, and rose.
“Let me do that.” Kira jumped up.
“I’m going to the kitchen, dear, not another house. You stay with your warrior.”
“He’s not going to miss me for two minutes.” Kira cut him a brief scowl. Yeah, still pissed. She grabbed the tray and stomped off, her grandmother following.
Not miss her?She had no idea.
Dishes rattled in the kitchen. And irate grumbling sounded through the door.
After a short silence, Kira’s hesitant voice reached him. “Gran?”
At her tone, Týr instantly pushed to his feet, knowing exactly where this would lead. Her sire. Recalling how upset she’d been when she told him, he really hoped Lila knew nothing about Kira’s long-lost father. He made his way across the room.
