Inhaling a deep breath of air into his compressing lungs, Nik rose, picked up the empty glass, and made his way downstairs.
As he headed down the long corridor to the kitchen, feminine laughter reached him.
“So whatcha think of him?” someone asked.
“He seems quite intense. A little on the scary side.”
Nik frowned. The soft voice replying sounded like the Oracle’s.
“Yeah, yeah, we know all that, Jade. I meanhim?” the interrogating female demanded.
Jaden laughed. “Those eyes…sexy.”
“I thought so, too,” someone else piped up.
“Yup, those glacial greens are waaay hot.” Interrogator again.
“Wait ‘til your mate hears about this.”
“He won’t—”
Chortles erupted.
“And all those tatts. They add to the air of danger, don’t ya think?”
Nik had no idea who was grilling the Oracle. He didn’t spend much time around the females. But he knew exactly who they were dissecting.
Him.
He opened the door, and four pairs of eyes belonging to the mates of his Guardian brothers, and those of the Oracle, widened in shock.
Kira’s smile slipped, then rushed straight back up. “Hey, Nik.” No matter her earlier merriment or current guilty look, worry darkened her hazel eyes. “How’s Shadow? Jaden told us what happened.”
“She’s asleep.” He nodded to them and strode to the fridge, got out the juice, and poured a fresh glass to take back to Shadow. Then he glanced up, meeting their mortified gawking.
“As you were.” There. Now they could forget their embarrassment over being caught gossiping.
“As if we could,” Kira mumbled, expression wry. “Sorry about that.”
He shrugged. He didn’t really care either way. Only one person’s thoughts mattered, and despite her earlier revelation, she thought him a caveman, anyway. But if the Norse heard Kira, Nik would probably lose a few teeth.
The females hastily got to their feet, and as they glided past, Darci smiled at him. “You do have pretty eyes.”
Nik watched them go.
Kira glanced back. “Your tatts are awesome, by the way. But not the serpent. I hate snakes.”
The door shut behind them, and their laughter reached him again. He never understood females or had much to do with them. His mind slipped back to Shadow. Hell, he shouldn’t think about her. A mate wasn’t in the cards for him, unlike his fellow warriors.
He rubbed the snake tatt on his neck.Nothing to say?he drawled.
As if stretching from a long repose, his usually silent companion hissed,She knowsss nothing. I isss bessssst.
Nik snorted.
The side door next to the pantry opened. “Shall I take a tray up to Shadow?” Hedori asked.
“No!” Nik’s focus shot to the male. Dammit. Calm the fuck down, idiot.“I’ll take the juice for now. Wait ‘til she’s up.”
