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I raised my head, unable to stop the tears. “Why is he struggling then? He could barely look at me when he returned, and tonight being unable to transform must have killed him.” My heart splintered at what he’d given up.
Kahlo lifted me into his arms, cradling me against his chest, and yet I kept telling myself I didn’t deserve his affection. Or anyone’s. I was a nobody who’d burst into their world and brought chaos to torture them.
Luck has never been your friend.
The tears flowed because what did I offer anyone aside from danger and agony?
In Kahlo’s arms, I melted against his chest, his warmth engulfing me, and I closed my eyes. I never should have accepted Reed’s help to visit Tritonia. This was all on me... I destroyed everything I encountered. So how was I supposed to face Reed when he couldn’t stand being in my company?
I jostled in Kahlo’s arms as we walked, but I didn’t want to resurface or face the world when my stomach grew hard as stone.
“Is this the place?” he asked softly, his breath washing across my face.
Opening my eyes, I stared at a wooden studded door with a sign reading, “Old Reindeer Hunt” painted in yellow across a wooden plaque. “Yes.” I untangled us and released myself from his hold. Maybe it was better for everyone if I put distance between us before I brought hell upon them. What if Faye and the psycho albino shifter turned up and took down all three men to retrieve me?
Smart idea. Staying means putting them in death’s path.
Kahlo opened the door to the tavern, and I stepped into a room with only half a dozen patrons at the bar in a room glowing from the fireplace. But I turned away and swung left toward the wooden staircase leading upstairs. Gage and I had booked the last two rooms available. Who would have thought this place sold out, but apparently many people traveled through the woods on their way into Tritonia and used Crosswind as their last stop before hiking into the next realm.
Upstairs, I dragged myself down the shadowy corridor dotted with paintings of horses and retrieved the bronze key from my pocket. Kahlo’s footsteps echoed close behind. Our room spread out before us with a large bed against the back wall taking up the majority of the space. To the left stood a writing desk and the bathroom, and in the opposite end stood a couch. This was the extravagant room, so I’d hate to see the cheap version.
Where was Gingernuts hiding?
“I’m going back downstairs for a moment.” Kahlo retreated to the door. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.”
Before I could respond, he left and shut the door behind him.
Now silence permeated the air. Yet my mind boomed with the harrowing dread of what Reed had done. My chest might as well have been splitting in half because everything hurt, and I hugged myself as I staggered to the window. I pulled back the curtain and found Gingernuts fast asleep on the windowsill. Outside, torches illuminated the streets, and I searched them for movement… for Reed. Had Gage found him? What were they talking about? Or did everyone blame me?
I scratched Gingernuts’ head and lowered the curtain to let him sleep. I took off my bag and released my hair, letting it tumble across the wooden flooring.
Kahlo had insisted Reed’s decision was a blessing from him, but I couldn’t live with myself knowing he’d no longer rule his pride. He’d lost the side of him he cherished. I didn’t remember pacing until Kahlo returned carrying a tray with a teapot, cups, and a plate of tiny cakes.
“I’ve got something for you.” His cheery voice was a saw cutting through my heart. He went out of his way to brighten my mood when I’d caused his friend to give up his shifter side.
I slumped onto the corner of the bed, slouching forward. “Why are you being so nice?”
He set the platter on the coffee table in front of the couch and patted the seat next to him. With no hesitation, I joined him because I longed to hear that everything would be all right, that somehow the mess I’d created could be fixed.
Kahlo gave me a cup of milk tea, and I selected a shortbread cookie while he reclined on the couch across from me with a creamy slice of tiered sponge cake.
“I have no idea how to make things right.” I dunked my cookie into the drink and ate it two bites, then washed the buttery sweetness down with tea. Setting the cup on the table, I toed my boots off and curled up on the sofa, facing Kahlo.
“Do you know what your name means?” He took several bites of his cake and swallowed without chewing.
“No idea.”
“It means ‘shining light,’ and you attract a lot of attention because people want to be near you. Reed knew exactly what he was doing, and for him to give up something so important says a lot. The man adores everything about you. I’ve known him for years and never seen him smitten this way with anyone.”
That earlier heaviness sunk deeper, and I hiccupped, my tears falling free. “That makes me feel worse.”
Kahlo shuffled closer and collected me into his arms, our bodies pressed side to side, my knees bent and leaning over his thighs.
“Knowing someone cherishes you makes you cry? Guess I better not share how I feel about you.” He clasped my waist, and I shivered, fully aware of how firm he gripped me. I wasn’t going anywhere because Kahlo’s presence eased the dread drowning me.
“You’ve got me curious,” I said, well aware what I was doing and didn’t care. Like with Reed and Gage, Kahlo had me floating through the air, promising me ecstasy if I let down my guard. And right now I yearned to escape.
Flirt.
