But there was more than desire in her eyes. Every time a noise sounded downstairs her attention flickered, as if she needed a moment to focus on it and determine if it was a threat. She seemed to war with wanting to be close, as if she was forcibly restraining herself.
‘What’s wrong,mo ghrá?’ he asked, then bit down, not realising he’d said it out loud.
‘Nothing.’
He took her wrist. ‘Don’t pretend with me.’
‘If you two are done,’ called a familiar voice.Callum. The bastard must have arrived early. ‘I want to hear the news.’
Nicole’s lips curled up, her eyes still shielded.
‘Let’s go,’ she said.
Kyan’s jaw flickered as he considered asking again, but let it go. For now. ‘Before we go to the Muse,’ he said, ‘there’s something else you’re going to want to know about.’
‘What is it?’
‘It’s downstairs.’
He grabbed a fresh shirt as she descended warily ahead of him.
‘If it’s bad news, just tell me now.’
He smiled as they reached the ground floor and the door beneath the stairs opened.
Kyan stepped out of the way to reveal the two people who’d come through. A gasp tore through Nicole’s throat.
‘Oh my god!’ Nicole cried, her baffled eyes darting up to Kyan.
Her shout brought her family from the next room.
‘Did you miss me?’ Remi asked, amused joy in her voice.
‘Yes!’ Nicole laughed, then threw herself into her friend’s arms.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Nicole
‘WHAT’S DIFFERENT?’NICOLE ASKED, HOLDINGREMI AT ARM’Slength to take her in while her father hugged Lawna.
She looked as quietly glamorous as ever, wearing a delicate shirt of amber and cream that tied over her chest. Her hair was in long box braids that she’d finished with matching beads. She had the same warm violet and honey scent, even the same sparkle in her dark eyes.
But there was something … new.
Remi laughed. ‘Your heightened senses, maybe?’
Nicole nodded. ‘Okay, yeah, you got me there. I’m just so happy you’re here.’
‘Come in,’ said Biróg from behind them, excitedly nudging them inside. ‘The tea is hot and I’ve fresh barmbrack from the oven. I’ll get more cups.’
Dylan threw his arm around Remi as they came into a shadowed dining room with a long, glossy table – showing his first grin in a while. It was a lovely space with sconces on the walls, a forest-green palette, and antique touches. Nicole almost expected the room to be bare, but it had taper candles in shades of amber on the mantel of a small fireplace, and a brass fire-guard with supernatural creatures embossed into it.
Her family had been in various states of sitting around the table so resumed their seats.
‘How have you been?’ Bells asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
Callum was leaning against the wall with a cup of tea. Nicole didn’tmiss the glance Dylan gave him and the silent tension of an unspoken challenge.
