Scowling at him, Effie crossed her arms. “And what is it exactly that you want me to see?”
“I’m not your enemy, Effie.”
Insults built inside her mind, ready for her to unleash them. Instead, she bit the inside of her cheek and stared at him in silence. Kieran had always shown a knack for manipulating her responses. He knew what would shock her into laughter, or force her temper to rise. She was tired of being his puppet, even if she’d always been an unwilling one.
When the silence stretched, his eyes hardened, looking like two foggy pieces of green glass. A vein pulsed in his temple. Leaning closer, he dropped his voice. “Why are you so determined to believe the worst of me?”
“For one who insists they care for me, you certainly have an odd way of showing it.”
“How can you say that? I’ve done nothing but come to your defense and support your decisions since you got here.”
Effie would have laughed if it wasn’t so obvious he believed what he was saying. “I must have missed that between the times you were busy sulking when you didn’t get your way or besmirching my name in front of others,” she said dryly.
“I already apologized for that,” he insisted, taking a step closer to her.
Effie took a hurried step back. “Did you?”
Kieran nodded, golden strands of his hair lifting in the wind. “This morning.”
“Funny, I don’t remember that part.”
“I told you it wasn’t my finest moment—”
“You consider that an apology?”
Kieran’s mouth snapped shut. Hurt and frustration were at war in his eyes. He looked away from her. “Effie . . .”
“I’m not sure this is the time or place for you to finish that sentence, Kieran. Just give me some space.”
Kieran’s hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white.
“Let’s get a move on,” Lucian called, waving them over.
Letting out a breath she wasn’t aware she’d been holding, Effie brushed past Kieran and quickly walked back to the others.
There was no missing the banked anger in her Guardian’s eyes as she approached. Lucian had clearly witnessed her and Kieran’s exchange. Idly she wondered why he hadn’t interjected sooner. Especially after the threat he’d issued that morning.
Maybe he wanted to give you a chance to fight your own battle.
Effie peeked up at her Guardian, startled to find him returning her stare. Tentatively, she stretched out her fingers, letting the back of them rub against the side of his arm. His muscles jumped in response to her light touch.
“I’m fine,” she whispered.
Lucian grunted, stepping past her to speak with their Sylvanese guides.
Effie’s shoulders started to droop, thinking perhaps she’d misread the reason he’d been staring at her so intently, when Lucian discretely brushed his fingers along her arm. He didn’t look at her, didn’t acknowledge the action in any way, but the fact that he echoed her own brief touch must have meant something. Effie just wasn’t sure what it was.
“Is he the one keeping you up at night?” Reyna asked in her low husky voice.
Effie groaned. That was the last thing she needed. People speculating about her relationship with Lucian.
“Or maybe it’s that one?” Reyna asked, her eyes landing purposefully on Kieran, who had walked down the hill to speak with Kael.
Cheeks burning, Effie shook her head. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Reyna’s eyes were glittering with merriment. “Of course it is. Once we’re finished with today’s hunt, you and I have lots of catching up to do.”
“I don’t think it’s fair how much you’re enjoying my misery,” Effie muttered.
“Oh, sweetheart. That’s not misery. What you’re feeling is the thrill of the chase.” Leaning closer, she whispered, “The real question is which one are you chasing?”
“Neither!” Effie sputtered.
Reyna’s grin grew, and she leaned over to bump Effie with her shoulder. “The only person you’re fooling with those lies is yourself.”
Effie shook her head, which only caused Reyna to laugh.
Even in a moment of unguarded glee, the Night Stalker looked formidable. She’d found time to paint black whorls on her face before they’d left the citadel. Her people always used such markings when they were about to step into battle. The bold stripes and curls around her already intense green eyes only made them look fiercer, reminding Effie of a large jungle cat peering out at its prey just before pouncing. Reyna may be beautiful, but she was also deadly.
Thank the Mother she was fighting on their side.
“Come on,” Reyna said, linking her arm through Effie’s. “The sooner we finish up here, the sooner you can fill me in.”
Effie sighed, knowing nothing she could say would save her now.
Kieran watched the two women stride toward the small copse of trees at the bottom of their landing site. Anger simmered within, causing his eye to twitch.
The morning had not gone according to plan. Not at all.
Somehow they’d ended up fighting when all he’d meant to do was smooth things over between them with a few soft words. The next thing he knew, Lucian had him dangling by the neck like he was some sort of naughty puppy.
Eyes narrowing to slits, he glared at the Guardian. Let the smug bastard think he’d won for now. By the time Kieran was finished with him, he’d be begging for help with his mortality problem. Help Kieran would more than willingly provide.
Teeth clenched, Kieran turned once more to the problem at hand.
Never had he thought things would end with the girl from his dreams fleeing from him. It was rare for a woman to look at him with anything less than adoration in her eyes, but the last few times Effie’s wide, cornflower blues were aimed at him, they were filled with mistrust and perhaps even a bit of disdain.
How did I manage to fuck things up so royally?
Kieran had yet to meet a woman he couldn’t turn to putty with a flirtatious wink or a few seductive words. Effie was proving a harder conquest than anticipated. He couldn’t rely on just his charm to win her over. Not that she was completely immune to him; the way she’d melted into his body when he’d kissed her had proven that. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem likely he’d get close enough for her to willingly submit to more of his kisses anytime soon.
He needed to change her perception of him, and fast. One heroic act was all he needed for her to see him in a new light. A single moment to prove that he was a man of worth and upstanding moral character.
Kieran smirked. He had just the opportunity in mind. So what if he was going to create the chaos she needed rescuing from? No one ever said he had to fight fair. A smart man knew that the odds always needed to be stacked in his favor if he was playing for keeps.
Just a few more pieces needed to fall into place, and then he could repair the damage between them. His Effie was a sweet girl with a kind heart. She would forgive him, and then she would come to him willingly. For good.
Lips curling in a dark smile, Kieran watched Effie nod in response to whatever the Night Stalker said. Soon, little one.
Let the games begin.