“Jealous?”
“Absolutely. But only of your ability to not get all sweaty like me,” she grumbled.
“But Eve…” His grin widened. Eyebrows wiggled. “You look very sexy, all damp and wet.”
She laughed. Aerén was an undeniable flirt.
Reynner’s low growl rippled over her. Aerén quickly put distance between them and gave Reynner the peace sign over his shoulder.
She ignored Reynner’s territorial manner and snorted. “You’re no different from human men. Your mind moves in one direction only…” She paused, uneasiness sliding through her again. Something wasn't right. Once more, she glanced over her shoulder to Reynner, her anxiety growing.
He stepped beside her. Rubbed her back as they exited the park and stopped at the curb. Cars swished past. The traffic lights changed. He took her hand and crossed the street in the direction of the enormous monument there.
“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly.
Unable to explain her worry, she showed him her empty Aquafina bottle. “Thirsty.”
His gaze skimmed over her face. “And you're tired. Why didn't you say something?”
“This is important to you.”
“No, Eve, you are more important. Wait here. I’ll get you some water then we can leave for the apartment.”
She watched him go. His gait appeared a little too stiff, not his usual easy stride as he crossed the busy street. Ignoring the irate honking of cars, he headed for the little all-night café down Broadway crowded with people.
Frowning, Eve tossed her bottle into a trash receptacle and rubbed her chest as more pain seeped into her…then it hit her. She felt his pain. Reynner had left out that little detail when he’d explained about his binding to Inanna. But she’d known from the moment in the oracle’s house when gut-wrenching agony had swept through her body what it was. This had the same feel, a burn so intense it felt like she was incinerating from the inside.
That damn bitch goddess was at it again, hurting Reynner because he refused to give into her.
Her teeth clenched in anger. She’d find a way to end the hold the evil witch had on Reynner.
Inhaling a shaky breath, Eve glanced around and stopped, her belly cramping when she realized exactly where she was.No, not here!
Despair crushing her, she sank on the step bordering the Columbus Circle monument and dropped her head in her hands. This was where she’d lost her parents a decade ago. Usually, she avoided this spot if she could.
“Eve?” Aerén sat beside her. “Are you all right?”
She didn’t answer. Closing her eyes, she tried to lock away her sorrow, but all the images came rushing back. The loud explosion. Glass splintering, the tinny sound of metal crunching, fire licking her skin, and pain as she tried to pull her parents out…
A humming sensation slithered beneath her skin.
Her head shot up, her gaze flying to where North stood, a few feet away from her, waiting for Reynner.
Had he brought the scroll with him? Why would he do that? She rubbed her arms, the humming vibrated beneath her skin like a tuning fork on steroids, heating her blood.Dammit!She thrust to her aching feet and paced around the statue, needing to be in motion.
Aerén followed, dodging her heels. “Eve, you can't go wandering off.”
She shot him an irate look over her shoulder. Growled. “Back off.”
Surprised, he widened his eyes. He raised his hands in surrender. “Whoa, take it easy there.”
Reynner returned with the bottles of water and tossed them to Aerén. She shot him a dark scowl and continued her impatient march-a-thon, rubbing at her too tight skin. Frustration and helplessness twisting her tummy.
Christ. So many failures. Stuck here in the place where she’d failed to help her parents. Now, she couldn’t find the Stone. Reynner was in pain, which he’d zipped up about. And the damn scroll was playing havoc with her again.
“Eve?”
Just her name. A soft command. One she couldn’t ignore.
