Staring at men that good-looking, Darci felt as if she’d stepped into an alternate world. A castle, handsome men in leathers—
Echo walked in then, so normal and everything, despite her mismatched eyes, and stunned Darci speechless when she sat beside the blue-haired guy. His hand dropped to stroke her back, possession in his every gesture. Right, so they were a couple.
“Darci, welcome to our humble abode.” Týr pushed to his feet. He sent Aethan then Blaéz a look of complete disbelief. “I cannot understand how you lot meet the most incredible females?”
“Maybe if you gave Anarchy a miss, you would, too,” Aethan drawled.
“Yeah, there is that...” Týr smirked, displaying slashing masculine dimples. He took his plate to the sink. “Right, I’m outta here.”
“Darci?” At Blaéz’s low tone, she turned and had to remember to breathe when she met his intense stare. Sure, the other men were just as good-looking, but Blaéz made them fade into the background.
“Coming, Celt?” Týr drawled.
“In a minute.”
Darci hastily stepped back and widened the space between them, heat scorching her face. For that brief second, she’d forgotten they weren’t alone.
“You’ll be safe here. I’ll take you back in the morning,” Blaéz told her. “Sleep if you can. I’ll be gone for the rest of the night. You need me, call. Where’s your cell?”
Without a word, since her throat was dry and she couldn’t speak anyway, Darci pulled the phone from her tunic pocket and passed it to him. His fingers flew over the keypad. His cell rang. Then he handed hers back and saved her number on his.
A chair scraped on the floor. Aethan rose and brushed the shallow dimple in Echo’s chin with his knuckle. “I’ll see you later. Don’t push it, Echo, I don’t care what Lore says.”
She rolled her eyes at his curt order. “I’ll be fine. Lore’s a dry old ang—man… He’s not really bothering you, is he?”
He gave Echo a narrowed look before following Blaéz out. Smiling, she met Darci’s gaze and shook her head.
Suddenly, the kitchen was too enormous, too silent. Darci crossed to the table and sat down beside Echo. A man, dressed in black pants and a gray shirt, came toward her carrying a tray. He appeared a little older than the others. His gray—no, his hair wasn’t the color of old age but a steel-tone, she realized—hung down his back in a ponytail.
“Darci, this is our butler, Hedori,” Echo said. “He deserves a medal for putting up with us. Hedori, Darci Callahan.”
His unusual orange-green eyes gleamed in amusement. “It has its…moments.”
Butler? The man looked as if he should be out hunting terrorists or something.
Hedori set the tray of steaming creamy chicken and pasta in front of her, along with juice, salad, and rolls. At the sight and scent of the mouth-watering feast, her stomach whimpered in hunger.
“Ms. Callahan, my pleasure.”
“Please, call me Darci.”
Hedori gave her a small bow and headed back for the kitchen.
She picked up her fork, twisted a tine full oftagliatelleand ate it. Chewing the delicious pasta, she glanced up to find Echo watching her with that same look of confusion again. Darci swiped at her chin. “There’s sauce on my face, right?”
“Oh, no.” Echo hurried to reassure her, her expression sheepish. “I’m glad the clothes fit. They belong to my friend.”
“Just about,” Darci said with wry grimace. “As long as I don’t perform squats, I’m safe.”
Echo laughed. Her cell beeped, distracting her. She drew it from her jeans pocket and sighed. “My tutor’s early. I was going to show you around.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Darci waved her fork, “go. I’ll be fine.” Then curiosity got the better of her. “What are you studying?”
Echo rose and pocketed her cell. “Ancient history. Hedori can show you to the library. There’s also a great theatre if you want to watch a movie. I’ll join you later—” A low disgruntled growl interrupted them. “There you are.” Echo laughed. She scooped up a chubby feline the color of chimney smoke with a very distinct ginger ruff. His bushy tail flicked her arm. “Did Aethan send you to keep watch over me during my lesson, hmmm? Come, meet a new friend.” She brought the cat over. “Bob, this is Darci.”
Darci reached out and stroked the animal. Amber eyes gave her the once over then she was rewarded with a rumbling purr. “He’s beautiful.”
“My guardian gave him to me.” Sorrow tinged Echo’s words.
