“I was coming to find you,” he said, his green eyes brighter than usual. “Wanted to talk to you about … the … um … the training facility.”
Training facility? Her? Really? Then why did she get the feeling he was avoiding a specific topic?
She peered up at him. “What about it? I didn’t think it was completed yet.”
“It’s not. According to Obsidian, it’s well underway and moving quickly. I’ve yet to see it, though.”
“And you wanted what? For me to pitch in?” She chuckled. “Throw up a few walls? Slap on some paint?”
Her father’s smile was blinding. “No, sweet female. Not with the building of it. But I was thinking perhaps you’d be interested in training the new recruits.”
How in Heaven’s name did he think she was qualified to train fighters?
“Weapons,” he said, obviously reading her mind. “Namely firearms. You’re quite good with a gun. Thought perhaps you could share some of that knowledge, teach safety as well as accuracy.”
Fine, she would accept that because it was the truth. She’d learned to shoot at an early age, one of her mother’s friends having run a human gun range near their house. Bijou had spent quite a bit of time in those lanes, trying out various weapons, learning their abilities as well as her own. It was one of the few hobbies she had, probably the only one she still enjoyed.
Needless to say, her father’s suggestion didn’t sound like a terrible idea. In fact, she’d been hoping to find something to spend her spare time on. She had far too much of it as it was.
“You don’t have to answer right now,” Kaj said, nodding toward the stairs. “Now what did you want to talk to me about?”
She smiled, then tucked her arm in his and continued down the hall toward the back stairs. “I was curious as to how you’re settling in at the Lair. I heard Blaz got the shutter problem fixed and they got some furniture moved over.”
“True and true. It’s slow going, but we’re getting there. Hoping to get all the security set up soon.” He peered down at her. “Why?”
Okay. Go time. Taking a deep breath, Bijou blurted out her request.
“I was wondering …ifitwouldbepossibleformetomoveinoverthere.” She exhaled sharply. There. She did it.
“What was that?”
Of course he would make her repeat it. “Move in. Me. Over there. I was … just, you know, wondering.”
As expected, Kaj stopped, turning to face her fully. “I thought you enjoyed being here?” He nodded toward the bedroom door they’d just passed. “You and Elizabeth seem to be getting along well.”
“Yes, of course we are.” She and Orianna’s mother had become fast friends, sure. “But I don’t have to live here to spend time with her.”
His head tilted to the side as though he was attempting to read her mind. Then again, he probably was.
Crap.
“Look, I’m grateful they’ve allowed me to stay here, but I think I’d be better off…”away from Oliver“…with other vampires. And with you.”
“You don’t feel welcome here?”
Bijou frowned. “I didn’t say that.” But it wasn’t like she would tell him that she would do well with more space between her and the human male who currently resided in the room adjacent to hers.
“What’s going on, Bijou?”
I unintentionally hurt Oliver.“Nothing.” She took a step back, feeling a bit defensive. “It’s just … I…” This was not how she’d hoped this conversation would go. It was, of course, exactly how she’d seen it playing out, but still.
“Bijou.”
“You know what?” She backed up another step, then one more, holding her hands up in surrender. “Never mind. It’s fine.”
Kaj stepped closer. “It’s not that I don’t want you with me. I just think you’re safer here. At least right now.”
How he could think that considering the mansion had endured a devastating attack not too long ago, Bijou wasn’t sure. However, her father was a male who always had a reason, and right now, she wasn’t interested in hearing it.
