Chapter 88: Lyre: Let’s All Calm Down

LYRE

Jack-Eye steps forward, hands raised. "Let’s all calm down."

I ignore him. "Do you want to send her back to intensive care? Because that’s what will happen if you drain her again. Energy transference isn’t a joke."

Caine’s jaw works as he processes this, his desire to touch Grace warring with his need to keep her safe. It’s almost endearing how much his instincts conflict with each other.

Finally, he moves to a cushion near Grace—close, but not touching—and sits with the stiff posture of someone expecting an attack at any moment.

"Where is Fenris?" Grace asks, leaning forward but keeping her hands to herself.

"Recuperating," Caine answers shortly. His gaze never leaves her face, drinking her in like a man dying of thirst. "He used a lot of energy."

The way his voice darkens tells me there’s more to the story, but now isn’t the time to pry. His brain’s somewhere else, I’m sure, the kind of place it shouldn’t be with children under the same roof. Thankfully, they’re in the other room.

Then his attention shifts to me and Owen.

Huh.

Maybe I’m wrong. The man’s upper brain is still working.

"What is this place?" the overbearing brute demands. "Why is Grace here?"

Grace moves so suddenly I almost don’t catch her in time. One moment she’s sitting there all wide-eyed innocence, the next her hand is reaching toward Caine’s arm with an instinctive need to comfort.

I lunge forward, smacking her hand away before contact.

"No touching!"

chest. Not that I hurt her—I’d

me. A rumbling, guttural sound that would make most creatures soil themselves and beg for mercy. His eyes flash dangerously, muscles tensing

plenty of time to lose patience with this particular brand of

him—a casual gesture, like brushing away a particularly annoying insect—and the air responds instantly, condensing into a wave that slams into Caine’s chest and throws him backward into

satisfying thud. Nothing that would actually hurt him, just enough force to rattle his oversized ego. The cushions scatter around him as he slides down

near the entrance, makes a strangled sound. Poor thing. Probably contemplating

think I’m joking?" I ask, looking between Grace and

in the

"Well—she did say

one of them is

a finger toward the now-seething Lycan King, "—is overwhelming. One touch, even a small one, and he’ll pull from you again.

her hand like it’s suddenly foreign to

intending to...

rational thought. You don’t think, you just act, and suddenly

bristling with barely contained rage. His hands clench

three seconds to explain why I shouldn’t tear your

I roll my eyes. "Because A: you can’t, and B: I’m trying to keep your mate alive, you

me, sounding far too amused for

startle everyone. The brief nudge of arcana to amplify the sound might have helped. "Charming as this display of dominance

opens his mouth, no doubt to say something predictably threatening,

toddler comes tearing around the corner, her face smeared with what appears

girl with braided hair sprints with her

hisses, reaching for the

across the floor with the unstoppable momentum of a tiny, sauce-covered missile. Her destination is clear, and

Olympic gymnasts would admire and lets out a bellow loud enough to shake dust

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255