“If I’d approached you, you’d have traveled before I could explain myself.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re telling me you wouldn’t have suspected I was The Garm?”
“To be honest, I’m still not convinced you aren’t. It’s probably that neck breakage and iron cage thing I mentioned earlier.”
“I’m not The Garm. For a start, I work for no one but myself.”
“You just said you work for Fionn.”
“He hired me. There’s a difference.”
“Is there? Okay, then. Why you? What makes you so special? Not to be a bitch, but when there isn’t a plethora of pure iron in the vicinity, I can pretty much kick the arse of any supernatural who comes at me.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen that.” He pulled out his smartphone and began scrolling. “Bran has been keeping me posted on your exploits these past few months.”
“Whose Bran?”
“Fionn’s friend. A vampire. The information guy.”
Niamh’s head lolled to the side. Her eyelids were beginning to feel heavy. “What makes you so special?”
“I’m stronger than the average wolf. Smarter too.”
And more handsome.
Seriously, he was so bloody gorgeous, it was almost like staring at the sun. You couldn’t look at him without him blinding you with his attractiveness. But Niamh was never one to fall victim to a pretty face.
“Well, obviously, I’m going to need confirmation from Fionn and Rose that you are who you say you are.”
“That I can do.”
“And then they’re going to have to un-hire you.”
“I doubt they’ll do that.”
“Call them.”
Without a word, Kiyo hit a button on his mobile and then another, and a loud ringing filled the room. Loudspeaker. Niamh forced her eyes to remain open, trying to stay alert.
“I’m about to talk a very attractive blond and her equally, sexy-as-fuck boyfriend into coming back to my apartment, so this better be good,” a man with a thick Dublin accent answered.
“Bran, I have Farren, but she refuses to believe me until she speaks to Fionn.”
“You don’t have Fionn’s number?” she asked.
He cut her a dark look as Bran chuckled, having overheard.
“Let me patch you through. Say hello to my fellow countrywoman for me.”
Niamh smirked because it was obvious Kiyo had no intention of doing anything so congenial. A click sounded and there was silence, followed by a ringing.
The phone rang several times before finally someone picked up.
“What is it, Bran?”
“It’s Kiyo. Bran patched me through.”
“Have you found Niamh?”
Niamh’s eyes narrowed. Fionn had been stalking her for years, intending to use her to open the gate. Then her visions changed suddenly, and she realized Rose, one of her fae siblings (of a sort), could change the path Fionn was on. They were true mates. Niamh couldn’t tell Rose that for fear of changing her destiny, but she’d tracked Rose down to try to convince her that it was important she give her time and trust to Fionn to save the entire world—and Niamh herself.
Still, Niamh had only heard Fionn speak once, and it was during a time she’d rather forget.
“I have her,” Kiyo confirmed. “But she refuses to believe I’m here because you sent me.”
“Is she there? Can she hear me?”
“Yes,” Niamh spoke up. “I’m handcuffed with leather-covered pure iron, in a room filled with iron, while your dog sits guard.”
Kiyo bared his teeth at her.
“What’s this?” Fionn’s voice lowered, a dangerous edge to his tone. “That’s not what we discussed, Kiyo.”
“There wasn’t a better way to keep her in one place while I got her to trust me.”
“I doubt this is inspiring trust,” he drawled.
“Amen to that,” Niamh agreed. “Also, I can’t remember talking to this Fionn character,” she lied, “so how the bloody hell am I supposed to know if you’re really him?”
Fionn grunted. There was a rustling sound and then, “Hello, Niamh?”
She stiffened.
The new melodic voice with its American accent was familiar.
Rose.
“It’s me, Rose. I’m sorry if Kiyo has hurt you. That wasn’t in the plan and I’m going to kick his furry ass when I see him next.”
The said furry arsehole remained impassive against the insult, but she noted a muscle ticking in his jaw that gave away his annoyance. Niamh snorted with humor.
She’d know Rose’s voice anywhere, which meant he was telling the truth. He was her new bodyguard.
“There’s no permanent damage,” she assured Rose with a sleepy breeziness. “He broke my neck a few times, but he hasn’t let the iron touch my skin, so I guess that’s something.”
“Kiyo, you’re a dead man,” Rose said, sounding impressively scary. Well, at least Niamh thought so.
Kiyo looked unperturbed.
“So … may I ask why you felt the need to have me kidnapped by a werewolf who proclaims himself my bodyguard?”
“You weren’t supposed to be kidnapped,” Rose insisted. “We sent Kiyo to watch over you. Niamh, the Blackwoods think you killed their son and daughters. I’m so sorry. It’s kind of my fault.”
“Not really.” Niamh meant it too. “Those wicked bastards had it coming, Rose. And I don’t need your help.”
“You do. Niamh, you’re not being safe. You can’t keep using your magic out in the open like this.”
“What else am I to do? I stopped receiving visions about us, about the fae-borne and the gate … so I have nothing else to do but follow the visions I do receive. That’s what I’m doing. They must mean something. They feel different from my other visions. Angrier, insistent. Important.”
“Those visions are going to get you killed. Please. Just … stay with Kiyo for a while. He’ll take you somewhere safe.”
“And if I say no?”
Rose sighed heavily. “I’m sorry but that’s not an option. I can’t leave you unprotected. We’re connected, Niamh. We owe each other. I owe you. But more than that, I can’t let you be the one to open the gate. So please, don’t fight Kiyo. Just lie low for a while.”
Exhaustion was pulling Niamh under. It was a struggle to reply. “It won’t just be for a while. We both know this is our lives forever. On the run. Hiding. This werewolf you’ve hired, he can’t protect me indefinitely.”
“He’ll protect you until he’s sure you’re in the right frame of mind to protect yourself. He’ll protect you until we’ve found a way to deal with the Blackwood Coven permanently.”
“That’s your plan?”
“It wasn’t … but Fionn and I have decided they need to be dealt with. But in a way that’s orchestrated so it doesn’t look like the fae-borne had anything to do with it. That could take awhile. So Kiyo will stay with you. Please, Niamh, tell me you’ll allow this without a fight.”
That burn of irritation swarmed Niamh’s chest. “I will if your dog will take off these damn handcuffs and get me out of this bloody awful apartment.”