When she got to her room, she threw herself across her bed and sobbed into her pillows.
All she wanted was to go back to their last day together. To touch Nykyrian one more time. Instead, she touched her stomach where the last piece of him flourished. She would give their baby all the love she wanted to give to Nykyrian, all the love Nykyrian had been denied his entire life.
*
"Are you going to return to the theatre?" Kiara stopped mid stride on the busy street of shops and faced Tiyana. "I've told you a thousand times I'm through dancing."
"But why?" she insisted in a voice that made Kiara want to shake her.
Kiara sighed, running her hand over her flat belly, longing for the day when she would see proof of her baby. "There are other things more important to me now."
"Such as?"
She stiffened. "My baby for one."
"You can dance for a few more months, you know." Tiyana grabbed her arm and started walking down the street again. "You really should rethink all this. My God, I'd sell my soul for your fame."
Kiara opened her mouth to reply she would sell her soul to have Nykyrian back, but as she looked up, she saw Darling eating lunch inside the cafe they were passing. Shock riveted her to the sidewalk.
Without another word to Tiyana, she pulled her arm free and doubled back, a strange happy thrill rushing through her. Kiara entered the cafe, and hesitated. She blinked, still not sure her eyes were working.
"Darling?" she asked, nearing his table.
Darling looked up, startled. "Kiara?" he said, a smile spreading across his face as he stood. "I've been wondering what happened to you!"
Kiara wrapped her arms around him, bursting with happiness at finally seeing one of Nykyrian's friends again. "I wanted to see you, but I didn't know how to get in touch with any of you! What are you doing here?"
Darling smiled and gave her a tight squeeze. "Waiting on Caillen."
"Kiara?"
Kiara turned around and beamed a smile at Tiyana. "Tiyana, this is my friend, Darling."
They shook hands and Darling pulled a chair out for her. "It's really good to see you.
After the way Nykyrian's been lately, I had started to think— "
"What?" Kiara gasped, the blood fleeing her face as cold dread crept along her spine. It couldn't be possible. Surely she hadn't heard him correctly.
Darling looked at her and his face turned the shade of his hair.
"Nykyrian's alive?" Kiara asked, half relieved and half enraged.
"I wasn't supposed to let that slip," Darling murmured.
Kiara's heart lurched. She couldn't believe it. No, it wasn't true. If Nykyrian lived, he would have come for her. "I saw him killed," she insisted, remembering the sight of Nykyrian recoiling from the blasts, of his still body lying in blood, the sound of the soldier's voice claiming he was dead.
Darling licked his lips and glanced at Tiyana. "He was severely wounded, but a couple of OMG members helped him get home."
Kiara gripped the edge of the table with trembling hands, her thoughts tumbling through her mind. Nykyrian was alive and he didn't want her. All this time, she had told herself he loved her, yet he hadn't even bothered to tell her he was alive!
She ground her teeth together in rage. "I see," she said at last, her voice as icy as the bitter feeling consuming her.
She stood and extended her hand to Darling. "It was nice seeing you today. I wish I could spend more time with you, but I'm afraid I have to call my manager and accept a job."
Kiara sensed Tiyana's confusion as Kiara rushed out of the cafe and back into the crowded street, Tiyana hot on her heels.
"What gives?" Tiyana asked, glancing back in the direction of the cafe. "Who was that guy?"
Kiara seethed. "He's no one." She stormed off through the crowd, wishing she could see Nykyrian again so she could shoot him herself! "I can't believe I wasted my time and effort! My career!"
"What?"
Kiara glared at Tiyana. "Nothing. I'm fine and I'm coming out of retirement!"
*
Nykyrian stroked Ulf's soft belly while he watched a taped performance of one of Kiara's ballets. His heart was heavy. He knew he should go after her—needed to go after her, he corrected him self— but he couldn't. And if being without Kiara wasn't hell enough, Rachol was missing, too. His flat had been torn apart and no one had any clue who had done it. They had been searching for weeks, but no one could find a trace to Rachol's whereabouts.
Pain gripped him and Nykyrian tossed back another gulp of grenna. He was alone just like he had always wanted to be. But he had never guessed just how painful true solitude was. He sighed in weary frustration. Kiara was performing tonight on Gouran.
A sliver of satisfaction crept over him . His threats had worked. Nemesis had been able to intimidate the Probekeins enough to where they revoked their contract. Kiara had her life back. A life that didn't need or deserve him.
There was so much he wished he could tell Kiara. If he could just touch her body one last time . . .