Silence.
"What?"
"Yeah." I turn to face Octavian fully. "Martin called me. Started rambling about the Phantom King and feathers and how my family destroyed his. Then he shot himself. Right there. On the phone."
My throat tightens. I can still hear the gunshot.
"Jesus Christ, Keira." Declan's voice drops. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." I'm not. "Are you with Callum?"
"Just pulled up."
"The main house?"
"Yes."
"Stay there. I'm coming."
I hang up before he can argue and look at Octavian. "We need to go. I'll fill you in on the way."
He doesn't move. Just watches me with that unreadable expression.
"Keira—"
"Don't." I hold up a hand. "I'm going. You can either come with me or stay here and find more creative places to hide weapons. Your choice."
"You're in a towel."
I blink. Look down. Right.
"And I'm in gym shorts," he continues. "So unless you want to show up to a crime scene looking like we just?—"
"Okay. Yes. We should change."
"Probably."
I head for the stairs, then pause. "For the record, I wasn't going to let you stop me."
"I know." He's already walking toward his room. "Doesn't mean I wasn't going to try."
Upstairs,I take a few deep breaths. Pull myself together.
I throw on black jeans, boots, and a fitted sweater that doesn't screamI just had sex with my bodyguard in my basement gym.
When I come back down, Octavian's waiting by the door. Black long-sleeve shirt, black jeans, tactical boots. Keys already in hand.
He looks unfairly good.
"Ready?" he asks.
"Yeah."
He opens the door and steps out first, scanning the driveway, the street, the trees.
Always looking.
I follow him to the SUV. He opens the passenger door.
