Born of Fire

Shahara’s breath caught in her throat as she looked inside. Never in her life had she seen anything so beautiful. Gold-veined green marble covered the floors, and the walls were painted a vivid, inviting yellow and the trim was all dark wood.

As she entered the suite, a huge vase of fresh flowers greeted her, scenting the air with a wonderful bouquet. The sitting room had overstuffed cream-striped chairs and two large sofas, one of which was set before a fireplace.

Syn tipped the valet and took their packs before he closed and locked the door. He set the packs down and crossed the room to where she stood. “Are you all right?”

“Fine.” She took a step down to walk toward the massive windows that looked out over the bustling city.

Whoa . . . It was gorgeous.

She felt like some mythical princess in a fairy tale. Did the people who were born to this kind of life really appreciate it? Or was this as mundane to them as plain flatbread to her?

What a pity if they couldn’t understand how lucky they were.

Syn frowned as he followed after her. “I don’t know . . . I’ve never known you to be so quiet. You sure you haven’t swallowed your tongue?”

She gave him a nasty glare before turning back to take in the glorious view. “I suppose you’re used to things like this.”

He joined her at the window. “Not really. When you grow up without anything at all, you never really get used to things like this. It still awes me that I’m able to be on the inside after all the years I spent looking in windows, aching to be in this world.”

“Breaking in windows, don’t you mean?”

He smiled and this time there was no defensiveness or anger. “That, too.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and eyed him curiously. “So how did we get in here, anyway?”

He handed her the ID, which held his face and Darling’s name. “We did this years ago. It allows me to infiltrate areas I’d never be able to access with my own identity.”

“You two have a strange relationship.”

He returned the ID to his pocket. “Not really. He works with me. Remember? We do a lot of screwed up stuff like this.”

“You’re not afraid his family will find out?”

“His brother Ryn wouldn’t care and I’d pay his uncle to come at me. I want a piece of that bastard so bad I can taste it.”

The sincerity in his tone and expression gave her chills. But then she knew why. Darling’s uncle abused him. She’d had to pull Caillen back on more than one occasion when her brother was going to head out and kill the man.

“You really are a lot like my brother. You know that?”

“Gah, I hope he’s not as attracted to you as I am. ’Cause that’s just sick.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “You’re awful.”

He didn’t argue as he pushed open the window so that Vik could join them.

Vik landed on the sill, turned into his bot form and slammed the window closed. “I hate this planet. How long we got to stay?”

“Hopefully not long.”

“Good, ’cause I’m missing my toaster and need to get out of here.”

Syn held his hands up. “I’m not even going to go there.”

Scanning the room, she saw the bar. “You want something to drink?”

“Sure, I’d love a glass of wine.” He picked up the hotel’s link. “I’m also starving. You want anything?”

“I’ll take whatever you order.”

“When did you get so trusting?” Before she could answer, he laughed evilly.

“What?” she asked, her trust taking a back seat to his humor. Something told her that she was the brunt of his joke.

The smile he gave her was brilliant and gorgeous. “I forgot that you have to eat your own cooking. I guess anything else is nirvana.”

“Ha, ha,” she said, wishing she had something to throw at him.

He sobered as someone came on the line and he ordered food for them. She listened to the sound of his deep voice speaking in his native tongue. It was simply amazing how he could adapt to all these different environments. He could run with outlaws, skim sewers, and quell snotty royalty and unruly clerks.

Most of all, he’d taught a tracer how to trust even when she’d thought herself immune from any man’s charms.

How did he do it?

Pouring their drinks, she felt him draw close after he’d finished ordering their food. The heat from his body singed her as he reached around her and picked up his glass. He stood so close his breath tickled her neck, raising a chill the length of her body.

His warm masculine scent wrapped around her like an old comfortable blanket. And her body answered the call with a readiness that astounded her.

How could she still burn for him when she’d just had him only a short time ago?

What was it about this man that made her wanton?

But then she knew. It was everything about him. His humor, his intelligence. That wonderful dimple that peeked at her every time he smiled.

He set his glass aside and turned her around in his arms. “I know an even better way to kill time,” he said, his voice deep with need.

Trying to retain her nonchalance, she cocked her brow. “You do?”