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Killian groaned internally. He wasn’t particularly in the mood to meet anyone new, especially not the woman who had harbored Elyse for two months. He would almost prefer the visitor be a violent burglar.
“Elyse?” called a man’s voice. “Elyse!” the voice came again, this time panicked.
Killian frowned. Why was a man entering the house looking for Elyse?
“In the library!” Elyse called back.
Killian looked to her, assessing her reaction. She didn’t appear alarmed, so she must know whoever was walking down the hallway toward them. Still, the slight purse of her lips meant she was worried about something.
A golden-haired man appeared in the doorframe, his bright blue eyes searching the room and landing on Elyse. “You’re okay,” he breathed, taking a step toward her—but then he must have noticed she wasn’t alone because he froze, his brows furrowing. “Madam Sera? And…” His words trailed off as he beheld Killian.
The two men sized each other up. This man—intruder—whoever he was—was tall and lean, a bit of muscle to him, but not a warrior like Killian. His blond hair was disheveled, as if he’d been tearing his hand through it, but his clothes were elegant and pristine.
“This is Killian,” Elyse said quietly, gesturing to him. “Killian, this is Jaime. He owns the place.”
“Elyse—” Jaime pulled her by the elbow, violently spinning her toward him. Something lurched deep inside Killian. He expected Elyse to snatch her arm from Jaime’s grip, but she did nothing as he began to lecture her.
“You let Killian, of all people, through the wards? Are you mad?” he hissed in a whisper, exasperation vibrating through him, but Killian could hardly pay attention to the conversation.
Jaime was a man.
Killian tried to recall every instance where Elyse or Sera had mentioned Jaime, confident that they had referred to him as a woman, but now that he thought about it, perhaps they had never used any pronouns. Perhaps Killian had merely assumed Jaime was a woman’s name.
He remembered it then. Ages ago, when Elyse was training him on the obstacle course, she’d referred to her former lover. “Jaime and I were close for a while, and it was fun,” she’d said.
Heat seared the back of his neck as he watched them, taking in the way they stood so close to one another. Their chests practically touched as they discussed Elyse’s actions in hushed tones. Something hardened in Killian’s stomach. Had they rekindled their romance? Had Jaime welcomed Elyse into his home—into his bed—taking advantage of her situation? Or worse, had Elyse seduced him?
He told himself that it didn’t matter whose house Elyse lived in, whether it belonged to her handsome ex, an old woman, or a baboon. In fact, Jaime could have her if he wanted her. She was nothing but trouble.
“I know, I’m sorry.” Elyse sounded genuinely apologetic. “I wouldn’t have invited them here if it wasn’t important. Something’s happened—”
“Something has happened,” Jaime interrupted in a dagger-sharp voice. “An entire town was slaughtered and burned down. Nobody knows what happened, and I just—I came here as soon as I heard. I had to make sure you were okay.”
How nice, Killian thought, barely hiding his sneer. Jaime had dropped everything and come running back to his fancy house to check on the witch. It was nice to know Killian wasn’t the only one she had managed to wrap around her little finger.
Jaime seemed more agitated than relieved. His eyes only left Elyse to flit toward Killian, darkening with anger at every glance.
Elyse must have noticed it too. “Killian. Sera,” she whispered. “I think we’re finished for today.”
Twenty minutes ago, Killian had been desperate to leave their company. Now his feet felt heavy, weighed down by the tension in the air. He studied their posture, the way Jaime’s hand touched Elyse’s elbow in a claiming sort of way, and the supplication in Elyse’s shoulders. Something about leaving her alone with the blond man felt wrong.
Sera gave him a look that said it was time to go, so Killian stood and moved slowly toward the door. Elyse met his eyes, and Killian felt he should say something, but not a damn word came to his mind. She was a fighter. If it wasn’t safe here, she could handle herself. Not that it mattered to him anyway.
He nodded at Elyse, and she returned the nod, subtle and slow. He replayed that nod in his mind, as simple and bare as it was, as he walked down the hall and out the door.
Chapter 16
- Elyse -
Jaime waited until Killian’s and Sera’s footsteps retreated down the hallway and the door closed behind them. Then he unloaded on Elyse.
“That was incredibly stupid,” he snapped at her. He looked furious, yet somehow still beautiful, like a god reigning terror. “Sera alone is dangerous enough, but you actually invited the lieutenant?” He spat the word with such disdain. “Was it not his arrow that I tore from your arm when you were bleeding on my doorstep?”
Guilt trickled its way into Elyse’s heart. She had to look away. “Former lieutenant,” she corrected quietly. “And he can’t harm me now. I’m protected.”
“Protected?” Jaime repeated, sounding skeptical. “Staying here, laying low, keeping behind the wards—those are your protections.”
Elyse shook her head. “I know.” She kept her voice low and even, trying her best not to sound resentful. “Please don’t be angry. I’ll explain everything.”
