Kiara watched the kind elderwoman, a thousand questions swirling in her mind about Nykyrian. "You were Nykyrian's nurse, weren't you?"
Orinthe bit her bottom lip, then stood and closed the door to the upper room where Nykyrian had taken Jana. She returned to her chair, motioning for Kiara to lean closer to her. "He can hear you, you know."
Kiara smiled, remembering only too well Nykyrian's extraordinary hearing.
"I was his psychoanalyst," Orinthe said, keeping her voice low. "After his adoption, he needed help adjusting into a family."
Kiara frowned. "Why?"
Orinthe sat back in her chair, her eyes glazing over with memories. She took a deep breath and fretfully glanced at the closed door. "When I first met Nykyrian, I had never seen a child in the state he was in. Nor have I seen one since."
Kiara chewed her nail, listening attentively, waiting for the elderwoman to continue.
When it seemed Orinthe was content to let the subject drop, Kiara prompted her. "What kind of state?"
Orinthe's lips trembled. She shook her head, her gray eyes seemed troubled. "You cannot imagine. He had been kept chained to a wall in a child's work hom e, allowed only garbage and water for nourishment. The workers feared giving him m eat. They thought the taste of it might drive his Andarion blood into a feeding frenzy. I suppose they thought it best to keep him under heel and starving." She shook her head. "He had bruises covering his entire body, horrible physical scars from past atrocities I can only guess about."
Orinthe drew a trembling breath and looked into Kiara's eyes. "He was so skinny and hostile to anyone who came near him. It took me weeks just to touch him without him hissing and striking out at me. He just stayed curled up in a ball on the floor, warily watching, refusing to speak."
Tears welled up in Kiara's eyes. "They chained him to the wall?" she asked, unable to comprehend any of Orinthe's words, but most especially that. "Why?"
Orinthe shook her head. "They were afraid he would harm the other children. It was a human work home." Her hands trembled as she fidgeted with the damp cloth. "The scar on his neck that travels along his collarbone is from the chain they used."
Kiara bit her lip, a tear sliding down her cheek. She opened her mouth to ask more, but Nykyrian returned. Quickly, she wiped the moisture from her cheek.
He stood over Orinthe's chair and placed a hand on her shoulder. Orinthe covered it with her own hand. "Jana's taking a nap."
"Good," she said with a tender smile. "I'll let him sleep until dinner."
Nykyrian withdrew his hand. "I'll transfer funds to your account for him."
Orinthe sputtered at his words. "You'll do no such thing! Heaven knows you give me more than enough as it is!"
For a moment, Kiara thought he actually blushed. He swallowed, glanced at her, then looked back at Orinthe. "Thank you for taking Jana in. If he gives you any trouble, call me and I'll talk to him."
Orinthe smiled tenderly, her love for Nykyrian shining in her eyes.
Nykyrian held his hand out to Kiara. Rising, Kiara tucked her hand into his.
A frown covered Orinthe's face. "You're not leaving now?"
He nodded before replacing his glasses. "If you need anything, call me or Rachol."
Orinthe sighed in a way that made Kiara think Nykyrian's words embarrassed her. She looked up at Nykyrian and her friendly, warm smile returned. "You take care of yourself and this pretty lady. The two of you make a handsome couple."
Kiara smiled at the gentle woman. "Thank you."
By Nykyrian's face, Kiara could tell the compliment made him uncomfortable. "I'll check on the two of you in a couple of weeks."
Orinthe nodded and showed them to the door.
Nykyrian led the way back down the street. Kiara watched his rigid spine and knew something was bothering him. "What's wrong now?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I wish Orinthe hadn't told you what she did."
Kiara's stomach twisted. Was there anything that ever got past this man's hearing? "I wish you had told me yourself."
Nykyrian hesitated and looked down at her. Kiara wished he didn't have his glasses on so she could read his mood, his emotions.
After a moment, he shifted. "Why do you want to know about my childhood? I prefer not to think about those days. They're gone and forgotten."
Kiara scoffed. "Forgotten? Were that true, you wouldn't be so distant to me. Why can't you let me inside you?"
His jaw tensed and he glanced around at the thronging crowd. "This isn't the place to be having an intimate discussion. Leave this line of interrogation before I lose any more patience." Kiara sighed, wanting to strangle him.
In awkward silence, she followed him into a large shopping complex at the end of the street. Her aggravation was forgotten as she stared at the gamut of merchandise dazzling her eyes. Everywhere she looked, bright colors greeted her gaze.