Page 14 of Kobalt

“Nia, you know that I value my privacy, and I needed one place in the world where no one could invade upon that, and you’ve taken it from me.”

“I’m sorry. Look, I don’t know what happened between you two, but I’m sure that it’s a misunderstanding that we can work out. I hope you weren’t being an asshole like you can be, Kobe.”

“That’s beside the point.”

She scoffed. “I should whup your ass, Kobe! You know that I don’t play ’bout that girl. You need to get your act together and tell her how you feel.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You think I haven’t seen how you moon over her? How you were in your feelings when she dated Kevin? It’s obvious that you have feelings for her. Tell her.”

“Mind your business and don’t send anyone up here again.”

“Hell, I wouldn’t have sent her up there if it weren’t absolutely necessary.”

I laughed dryly. “Since when has escaping become absolutely necessary?”

“When you’re trying to save your life.”

I sucked my teeth. “Stop with the drama, Niagara. You ain’t gotta do all that.”

“I’m not being dramatic. She literally is there hiding out.”

“What? From who?”

“She didn’t tell you?”

“You’d better tell me now, Niagara, or I’ma know something.”

I’d always been as protective of Kaimera as I was of Niagara, but for different reasons; my sister just didn’t know it.

Niagara launched into a story about someone breaking into Kaimera’s house, the damage that occurred, and everything that happened after Kevin’s trial, and then she linked it with Norrell’s upcoming trial. She said everyone thought the incidents were related, and they needed to get her out of town.

Tension ran down the back of my neck and across my shoulders as I listened. Fury coiled in my chest as anger, concern, and an unnatural protectiveness grew within me.

I wanted to head back to the city and beat the shit out of someone.

I headed back to her room and banged on the door. When she didn’t answer, I called out, “I know you’re in there, Kai. We need to talk, and I’m not going anywhere until we do. You’ve got some answers that I need. Open the fucking door, Kai!” I yelled, banging on it again.

When I heard sniffles on the other side and no movement, I felt like an obnoxious asshole.

“Kai, baby, please let me in. I was an ass, okay? I’m sorry for the way that I’ve been handling you. You mean the world to me, and I just want to protect you.”

“Go away. I don’t want to talk to you right now,” she whimpered.

With slumped shoulders, I returned downstairs to finish cooking the meal that I had prepared for the two of us, hoping she wouldn’t go on a date with Royal. My pride hadn’t let me confess that at the time, but I was sure neither of us felt like eating now.

Last night, I cried myself to sleep without eating. I woke up super early this morning, since I’d gone to bed shortly after seven in the evening. With a growling and aching tummy, I rushed out early to head into town and had breakfast at a quaint little café. I hadn’t wanted to be caught in the kitchen by Kobalt.

After I returned from town, rather than heading back to the house, I stopped at the apple orchard that was on the property and took a look around. I walked through carefully tended rows of green trees. Overhead, the branches hung low with the weight of the golden yellow, bright green, and shiny red apples.

Wooden crates were full of freshly harvested apples. There were workers on the grounds, picking the apples. It was interesting how Kobalt thought he could be up here alone with all the activity the orchard garnered. Maybe the workers didn’t bother him. I recalled there was a caretaker I’d seen around who took care of the grounds.

I stopped to inhale the earthy scent mixed with the sweet, sun-soaked aroma of the fruit. Over the sweet aroma, there was the scent of dried grass and a sharper, heavier odor of fescue, which I knew originated from the bales of hay all around.

Thick brown, green, and gold leaves warmed underneath the Georgia, sun emitting a tangy, earthy aroma. I took in the colorful landscape, and I marveled at how beautiful it was. The trees sat against a beautiful backdrop of blue-hued mountains in the distance. This was definitely a place worth escaping to.

A few workers nodded and smiled curiously at me as I made my way to the end of the row.