Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109033 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 545(@200wpm)___ 436(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
A snuffle came out of Lily as she stirred in Luka’s arms. Her eyelids fluttered open, and startling blue eyes met his.
Darko groaned and elbowed his brother. “Now look what you did. Idiot.”
“I am, I am a total idiot,” Ghost admitted, sad and defeated.
Luka peered down at Lily. “Hey, there. How was your nap?”
A bright smile of contentment was her response. She aimed her gaze across the room, seeking out her mom.
Ella pushed out of the chair and crossed to him. “Come on, then.”
“She wants you to pick her up?” Luka asked, knowing the little girl could telepathically communicate her wants and feelings with images and impressions.
“Yes,” confirmed Ella, scooping her up. “She also wants her diaper changed.”
Both fallen angels leaned back, shrinking away from her.
Ella thankfully dropped her earlier subject, and they chatted about general things for the next hour. She then stood, announcing, “Time for us to go. Lily, say bye to Uncle Luka.”
An immature psyche lightly touched his.
Luka smiled at them both. “Later.”
Ella patted his arm. “We’ll revisit the subject of Naomi another time.”
No, actually, they wouldn’t.
Luka escorted his visitors to the front door, waved them off, and used the security app on his phone to open the electronic gates for them to exit the estate.
“I don’t like that Draya was asking Ella so many questions about you,” said Mikhail behind him.
Luka closed the door and then turned to face his two guards. “Neither do I. Draya has some front. It pisses me off more that she thought to use my anchor like that.” He stalked back into the house, and the twins followed.
“I’ll bet it also pisses you off that she apparently talked smack about Naomi,” Nikandr hedged, a teasing note to his voice. “Let’s face it, Ella was bang on the mark. You’re protective of the siren. More, you actually like her.”
Luka only cast him a cool look. His phone beeped, signaling that the outdoor gate sensors had detected the vehicle passing through. He pressed the button to close the gates and then pocketed his phone.
“You can at least admit it to us,” Nikandr persisted.
Luka sighed. “You’re as nosy as Ella.”
“He can’t help it,” said Mikhail, sidling up to his brother. “He’s always been determined to know everything.”
“That’s you,” Nikandr told his twin.
“Actually, it’s both of you,” said Luka.
Konstantin’s psyche knocked his. Know you’re busy with your anchor, but I thought you might want to know something.
Luka stilled. Is Naomi all right?
She’s fine, Konstantin quickly assured him. I’ve been tailing her all day, and, well . . .
Well what?
For the past twenty minutes, I haven’t been the only one watching her.
Biting into her burger, Naomi stretched her legs beneath the small table. She’d stopped off at her local fast-food restaurant on the way home from her parents’ place. Though she hadn’t initially felt terribly hungry, that had changed when she walked inside and was hit by the scents of onions, sauces, and hot meat—whether fried, greasy, or grilled.
All kinds of activity surrounded her. Cashiers called out numbers at the stainless-steel counter. Lines of people griped at indecisive customers who were hemming and hawing at the self-ordering kiosks. Workers bustled around wiping dirty tables or mopping up spills. Parents went back and forth from the play area to check on the shrieking kids who were running riot there.
Naomi’s little seating area was packed. Customers walked about carrying trays while searching for tables. A group of teenagers were laughing and snapping pictures at the corner booth. A couple who clearly had a case of puppy love were chatting and chuckling and making kissy faces at each other. A mother handling three overly loud youngsters looked close to planting her face on the table in exasperation.
Konstantin currently stood outside—he rarely followed her into any buildings unless they were so spacious he’d lose sight of her from the windows.
Because your safety is far more important to me than I’d anticipated it would be.
Those telepathic words from Luka clutched her chest tight whenever they drifted to the forefront of her brain, which was far too often in her opinion. When he’d first said them, shock had chased away her agitation and left her floundering. She hadn’t known what to say, so she hadn’t responded.
It was well known that Luka was exceedingly protective of his anchor and his honorary niece—any possible threat to them would be instantly marked for death. That was how he rolled. Naomi just hadn’t expected that side of his nature to ever be directed at her.
Luka evidently hadn’t expected it either.
Neither of them had spoken of it since that day, as if in silent mutual agreement that the matter was best left unaddressed so they could keep things uncomplicated.
Initially, she’d worried that perhaps Konstantin might stick too close to her, presenting a risk of him uncovering her secrets. But he kept a certain distance from her at all times, and he never entered her home.