Acadia was surprised there wasn’t a cloudof arctic air in her wake as she marched through the mansion, down the stairs, and along the wide hallway that bisected the subterranean chambers. She’d spent the past half hour talking herself into this confrontation, and the moment she set her mind to it, she’d felt the shift within her.
“Where is he?” Acadia demanded when she stopped directly in front of the war room entrance.
The enormous male currently commanding those within slowly glanced back over his shoulder.
“You’re up early,” Obsidian said, his tone casual, as though the demand hadn’t actually snapped from her mouth.
“Where is he?” she repeated.
There was enough icy chill that time to have all eyes shifting to her. Expressions ranged from surprise to disbelief.
Good. Her goal had been to get their attention. It wasn’t like her to make demands on the males she serviced, but she’d spent the entire day attempting to sleep while knowing Kaj was somewhere else. The male hadn’t returned to the mansion last night though he’d promised her he would be back before he ventured out on whatever clandestine mission he’d set in motion.
“Acadia?” Obsidian sounded like he was attempting to soothe a wild animal.
“Don’t placate me, Obsidian. Where is Kaj?”
After rumbling something to the others, the male raised a hand, motioning her toward the hall. Lifting her skirts, a move that was second nature, seemed strangely stifling at the moment. Why did she wear these dresses again?
Once Obsidian made his way over, Acadia pivoted, then stormed out of the war room. Probably would’ve had more impact if she had shoes on, but … well, Acadia didn’t like shoes. Never had.
“What’s wrong?” Obsidian’s voice was low and edged with concern.
“Kaj. He’s gone. Where is he?”
“I talked to him early this morning,” he explained, his tone soothing, relaxed. “I called to check on him. He wasn’t able to make it back before the sun came up. But he’s fine. He’ll probably stroll in any minute now.”
She hated that she was worried about the male. It angered her that he’d brought out these feelings, made her actually care about him. Acadia didn’t want to have feelings for him. Of any kind. Least of all … love.
“I expect you to keep me appraised,” she insisted.
Obsidian’s eyebrows rose above the dark shades that covered his eyes.
“I apologize,” she added quickly, lowering her gaze respectfully. “I don’t mean to be … like this.”
“Is there something between you and Kaj?”
She’d known the question would come sooner or later. “Of course not.”
It was a lie, something Acadia had sworn never to do to Obsidian, but she had no desire for him to know what was going on—not that there was anything. But still, she had a strange desire to keep her … whatever it was Kaj invoked in her … from unraveling. The more people who knew, the more chaotic things would get.
“You know I can read you, right?”
Acadia huffed. It was a truly un-Fae-like thing to do, but she couldn’t bring herself to care.
“Fine,” she blurted. “I’ve been feeding him. And I … well, I got the sense he was in trouble. So I wanted to be sure.”
Obsidian stared at her, clearly not believing a word coming out of her mouth, but oh, well. Acadia was in a mood and he would just have to deal. He knew her better than anyone else because she had been with Obsidian since the beginning of their mission, some fifteen hundred years ago. They’d been through everything together, all the ups and downs. Granted, most of her ups and downs were more like gently rolling hills, not this mountain-versus-valley thing she had going on now.
“I’ve known Kaj a long time, Acadia. And I’ve been immersed in the vampire world, so I know what happens when—”
Acadia lifted her hand. “Do not say it.” She shook her head. “Do not tell me he’s bonded with me. It’s just not true and I’m—”
“He’s asked to move into the old place.”
Her eyes widened, her jaw falling open. “What?”
“Kaj wants to reside outside of these walls.”
