“Lydia would protect me, you know,” I offer.
“Lydia already let Piper slip through her fingertips.”
“And you think Lydia is likely to be fooled twice?”
Kiran shudders at the thought. “She’ll rip out Abra’s throat just for spite if she gets close to her.”
“Exactly,” I say. “She won’t allow anything to happen to me.”
Kiran’s power rumbles, but he keeps his feelings contained, rather than letting them leak into me. “Why are you talking like I wouldn’t be the one to protect you?”
I sigh, slowly pivoting in Kiran’s embrace to face him. “I already told you that I think Fin and I have found a lead. One that might lead to your father.”
Kiran frowns. “Then let Fin search for him.”
“Kiran, it’s your father.”
“I already had one of those. He was disappointing enough. No need to add to the experience.”
“I can see that you miss Fin.”
“What’s there to miss? Fin and I have never been close.”
“Kiran. You killed Ophelia because you were so upset over her ruining your chances of mending your relationship with your brother. Don’t pretend you don’t care. Not to me, but especially not to yourself.”
Kiran sighs. “You’re right, but it can wait. The more pressing matter is making sure we capture Az and Abra. After that’s done, I’ll go with Fin to find our father.”
I frown. “The lead is time sensitive. From what we can tell, the male has moved around. A lot. You might not get another chance like this. Besides, he’s the only other person outside our circle who knows who you truly are. Who knows you’re not the heir to the throne.”
Kiran tenses, acknowledging the risk that puts him in, should that information spread.
“In my dreams, Az doesn’t hurt me through the Rip, Kiran. He does it from the throne.”
“They’re just dreams,” he says, shaking his head.
“I’m not sure they are,” I whisper. “Even if they are, think of what he would do to you if he took the throne. Think of what he would do to me.”
Heat surges from Kiran in a blast, though it only ruffles my hair, his powerful arms protecting me from it.
“The fact is, Az has two avenues by which he could take control. We can’t afford to devote all our energy to both of them.”
“Again, another reason Fin should go after our father,” he says, but I can see in the flare of his molten eyes that he knows it won’t be enough. That if their father is the type to betray their heritage, Kiran will need to convince him he’s fit to rule.
We also both know that if need be, Kiran will be the only one of the two brothers willing to take their father out.
“I don’t like the idea of being separated again,” Kiran says, pressing a warm kiss against my forehead, his stubble scratching against my skin. I didn’t realize until now how terribly I’d ached for that feeling while he was gone.
“Me either. But there is one benefit,” I say.
He quirks a thick brow. “And what is that?”
“It means we’ll have to make up for lost time tonight.”
The room itself heats as Kiran stares down at me. “I’ve not agreed to anything,” he says, stroking my cheek softly with his thumb.
“Are you sure about that? Because I’m pretty sure you did agree.”
A smile, soft and familiar, curves Kiran’s mouth. “You have an annoyingly precise memory, love, but I’m afraid this time you’re just making things up.”
I offer him an exaggerated look of confusion. “Are you sure? Because I’m pretty sure you said, ‘Of course, Asha. Whatever you want, my lovely wife.’”
Kiran’s fingers slip to the tie holding my robe together, playfully twisting it around his fingertips.
When he presses his mouth to mine, a smile still on his lips, warmth envelops me, and I know it has nothing to do with his Flame.
“I’d be more than happy to give you whatever you want, just in a different context,” he whispers, teasing tinging his tone.
“In that case, you playing with the string of my robe like that is killing me,” I say in between long kisses.
“Well, in that case,” says Kiran, pulling on the tie and carrying me to the bed.
CHAPTER 21
KIRAN
“Your Majesty,” says a drawling voice that grates against my very skull. “The vizier reported that your signature on these documents was time-sensitive in nature.”
I look up from my book and decide I miss the days when servants trembled in my presence.
