Kiara sobbed, imagining how much pain Darling must be in. She couldn't believe he was still conscious.
Rachol injected painkiller into Darling's arm, then moved to set the break. Kiara stared, wondering why Darling didn't cry out or grimace. He just lay there so quiet and still. He didn't look real. Yet she knew he was still conscious by his open eyes that stared at the ceiling.
Nykyrian looked up at her. He crossed the floor, took her by the elbow, and led her out of the room. "I think it would be best if you went upstairs and waited for me."
Kiara nodded. "Is he going to be all right?"
Nykyrian brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. "He'll be fine," he said before giving her a quick kiss on the lips.
Kiara started up the stairs, then paused. "Nykyrian?" She waited until he turned around to look at her. "I hope you do get revenge on Arturo." And with that, she headed to the bedroom.
Almost an hour later, Nykyrian joined her in the bed. Without a word, he pulled her into his arms and held her close, his face buried in her neck. His warm breath caressed her nape through her hair.
Kiara wished for the words to make him feel better, to ease som e of the tenseness in his muscles which surrounded her.
"How's he doing?" she asked in a small whisper.
Nykyrian sighed and pulled back from her neck. He stroked her bare arm with his hand.
"He's asleep. He'll be fine, all things considered."
Kiara bit her lip, her throat tight. "Do you know what I've been thinking about while I lay here?"
A short laugh rumbled behind her, bringing a tiny thrill to her body despite the seriousness of her mood. "I can't imagine," Nykyrian said, kissing the lobe of her ear.
Kiara caught his hand in hers and brought it to her cheek. "Life," she said, stroking his strong fingers.
She felt him stiffen around her.
Kiara closed her eyes and held his warm hand closer to her. "I've been thinking about how m uch I wanted to leave my father's house growing up, because he never respected me or my privacy." She sighed, her thoughts tripping over each other. "I always thought he was cruel to check up on me and intimidate my friends. He would never let me out of his sight without siccing one of his soldiers on me." She swallowed the clump of tears that gathered in her throat. "I was so stupid. My mother used to tell me my life wasn't so horrible, now I fully understand what she meant. God, I've been so blind, so sheltered."
His hand tightened around hers and he raised it to his lips where he placed a gentle kiss on her fingers. "I'm glad your father protected you. I wouldn't want to have to kill him, too."
Kiara gave a bittersweet laugh. "All I wanted growing up was to be free." She rolled over onto her back and faced him. "Is that what you wanted, to be free of your father?"
His eyes darkened. "Truthfully?"
She nodded.
"All I wanted was to die like a man, without tears or pleading."
Kiara's tears fell from the corners of her eyes, dripping down into her hairline. "And now?" she whispered.
He wiped the tears from her hair and kissed her. His lips trailed over her body with an insistence she couldn't deny. Kiara welcomed him to her as he pulled her gown from her body. He made love to her slowly, with the stars twinkling all around them. Afterwards, he held her tightly in his arms, soothing all the guilt from her in the way only he could do.
It wasn't until later Kiara realized he had never answered her question.
To Kiara's amazement, Darling left his bed the next morning. His movements were slow and studied, but he was able to get about by himself. After seeing him the night before, Kiara had been certain Darling would be bedridden for days.
"I always wondered where you lived," Darling said to Nykyrian. Darling sat at the kitchen table eating muffins with Kiara. "Now that I know how nice it is, I'll be sure to pass the info on to the rest of the group. This will make a nice resting place for us."
Nykyrian looked up from his desk, a smile twitching the edges of his lips. "Finish your food before I finish what Arturo started."
Rachol checked the lorinas' feeder in the kitchen. "Where are the mongrels?"
"They're confused by all the people. Last I saw of them, they were hiding out in the bedroom," Nykyrian answered.
"They don't bite, do they?" Darling asked.
"I'm the only thing that bites in this house," Nykyrian said, scanning his documents.
Kiara had to stifle a laugh at his dry response. Her neck still tingled from the bite he had given her last night after he joined her in bed.
Darling scratched at his plaster cast. "What are we doing today?"
Rachol crossed the room to join Nykyrian. "You are going to rest."
Nykyrian stood up and donned his long black coat. "And since you're here, you can keep Kiara company while we go after a couple of Aksel's men."
Kiara's heart stopped beating. "I wish you wouldn't."
Nykyrian sighed. "I know, but we have to."