They were standing in the kitchen drinking coffee and eating cereal when Kay’s phone rang on the counter where she’d left it to charge. She pushed her bowl away and answered, “Hi, James.”
Ethan’s shoulders bunched and he had to fight to keep his jaw from clenching as he reminded himself that this was nothing like those other calls. The ones that Amanda took, hiding away and lowering her voice.
Kay ran her eyes over his achingly tight jaw and quietly turned the phone to speaker.
A male voice came through clearly. “Oh good, Kay, I’ve been worrying about you. Why didn’t you sleep at home?”
She looked across at him, one eyebrow raised as if asking permission and Ethan nodded slowly. “I’m—"
The male voice cut her off. “And where is Zach?”
“I—”
The voice lowered. “This isn’t like you, Kay.”
She stiffened, folding her arms over her chest. “What’s going on, James?”
“David’s here and he’s on the rampage. Apparently, he had a meeting last night with someone who never turned up. Elizabeth was trying to reach him and couldn’t get through. She left several messages for him, but now she won’t speak to him until she comes to see him next week. He’s pissed, and he wants us all in the dojo for a Guardian meeting at nine. I can’t find Zach…. He also didn’t come home last night.”
“Fine.” Her shoulders slumped. “I’ll be there soon.”
Kay said goodbye and ended the call before looking up at Ethan. “Sorry about that, I guess I’m going to have to head off.”
She dumped her bowl in the sink and gave it a quick rinse as Ethan’s gut churned. He knew the call had been innocuous, but it had triggered so many bad memories that it was difficult to control the adrenaline surging through him. This thing with Kay was so new. What did they truly know of each other?
Kay turned, took one look at him, and then walked over to wrap her arms around him, holding him tight. The world slowly righted. “It’s okay,” he murmured against her hair.
“Do you want to come with me?” she asked, her voice tentative. “I know you were waiting, but you can meet everyone today if you like?”
Her words settled him a little. “I’m sorry, I can’t. I’ve got a shift now. Every day this week.”
She nodded against his chest. “Tomorrow night then. You can come and meet James and—” She pushed herself back, her eyes wide and horrified. “Zach! He was out all night, and he was in Oxford Street the night of the first attack. He said he had to get a book for David, but then David said he’d never asked him to—”
He could feel her hands clenching on his back as she continued in a rough voice. “I can’t…. He’s my friend. He wouldn’t do this, would he?”
Ethan pressed a kiss to the top of her head, wishing he could protect her from this, but knowing how badly the truth could hurt. “I don’t know.”
“God.” She shook her head against his chest. “I hope it’s not what it looks like.”
She leaned back to look at him. “I’m sorry about that call. You really are welcome to come and meet everyone if you want. I’ve been trying not to pressure you about the whole Order thing.”
Her eyes were clear and open, and he found himself nodding slowly. “I can’t this week, my shifts are insane. But it’s okay. Really.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
It was. She wasn’t hiding him; she was giving him the time he’d asked for. He could trust Kay. He just had to get used to the idea.
ChapterFifteen
Kay letherself into the dojo to find James and Zach already there, both pairs of blue eyes watching her. Zach’s forehead was drawn into a deep scowl as usual, while James was uncharacteristically stern-looking. Clearly David’s rampage had rubbed off on everyone. Not that she wanted to be there either, leaving Ethan when he looked so unsettled was the last thing she’d wanted to do.
“Hey—” she started and then paused. She couldn’t tell them about Ethan, her gran had asked her not to mention her visions, David had told her not to talk about the dark Shadows, and she was still trying to decide whether Zach—a man who was like a brother to her—might be involved.
David stepped through the door, saving her from having to say anything. The head of their Circle looked exhausted. His hair was spiking up and his jaw was ticking. And it occurred to her that not only had he sworn her to secrecy, but he’d also been missing during both attacks.
Bloody hell. This was the problem with secrets and lies—everyone started to look suspicious.
