Born of Fire

She let out a low, appreciative breath. He was nicely formed all over.

Stop that! What was wrong with her? She had no interest in male anatomy and most especially not that.

Reaching for her sheet, she quickly covered him and moved on to safer areas of his body.

Running her cloth over the tiny hairs of his leg, she couldn’t help noticing the corded muscles. Even prone, they held the promise of agility and speed. Like a marathon runner.

He was such a strong man and yet she sensed a deep vulnerability in him that she was sure would embarrass him if he knew what he’d told her, his enemy. That was the role she’d cast for herself and yet some part of her rejected the part.

What do you care?

Yet she did. For reasons she couldn’t even guess, she didn’t want him to hate her.

I’m insane . . .

Returning the bowl and cloth to her kitchen, she opened up the envelope the warden’s assistant had given her that contained his personal effects. Inside was a silver religious medallion that was used to protect children.

Wondering if it was his or his son’s, she returned to the bed and fastened it around his neck.

As she pulled away, Syn grabbed her wrist. Shahara panicked at his fierce grip, amazed that he could find such strength after his beating. “What are you doing here? Come to gloat?”

She trembled at the raw hatred in his voice. “I would never gloat.”

She watched the anger drain from him. “Why did you betray me?” he asked, his voice searching, pleading.

“I needed the money for my sister.”

His glare darkening, his grip turned brutal. “I gave you everything you ever wanted, everything you asked for and this is how you repay me? You fucking bitch . . . What did I ever do to hurt you or Paden? Tell me!”

Shahara realized he wasn’t talking to her. He was still caught up in the demons that tortured him.

His grip tightened on her arm until she cried out in pain. “Syn, please. You’re going to hurt yourself. Please lie back and sleep.”

Somehow, her plea reached him and he lay back.

“Why did you take my son from me?” he whispered weakly. “He’s all I ever had. The only one whoever loved me and you made him hate me. Why would you do that to me after all I gave you? I’m not my father. I would never have hurt him. I never hurt you. I’m not my father . . .”

He kicked back the covers and tried to rise.

“Syn! You need to lie down.”

He shook his head. “I have to get to Nykyrian. I have to warn him.”

Nykyrian . . . he was the other person listed on the Gourish contract for raping and murdering Kiara Zamir. “Warn him about what?”

“Kiara’s using him. She’s going to get him killed. Stupid idiot. She doesn’t love him. She’s lying. Why won’t he listen to me?”

“You killed her to protect him?”

He looked at her. “Who are you?”

“Did you kill Kiara Zamir?”

He didn’t answer as he tried to push past her.

Shahara held tight. “You can’t get up. You need to stay here.”

He looked around her condo. “Where am I?”

“Where do you think you are?”

“I want my sister.” The anguish in his voice brought a lump to her chest. “Why did she have to leave me?” A tic worked in his jaw. “Because I’m not worthy,” his tone was deep as if he were quoting someone. “She couldn’t stand looking at me anymore.”

Finally, he closed his eyes.

Shahara sighed in relief, hoping he didn’t have anymore of these episodes.

Thanks for the drug, Traysen . . .

She stayed awake all night, bathing him in serin gel, trying to get his fever down. While she maintained her lonely vigil, she kept thinking over his words.

Who was this man? He had so many secrets, so many demons that they made hers appear weak in comparison. Why had his wife taken his son?

That explained why Syn wasn’t in the more recent photos. He must be keeping up with his family from a distance. Which meant he still loved them.

I can’t believe how badly I’ve screwed all this up . . . Closing her eyes, she wished she could take away the pain she’d caused him. It was obvious he had enough to bear without the misery she’d added to his life.

She stretched to ease the aching muscles of her back. In the end, she’d done what she had to and there was no going back. All she could do for now was see to it that he suffered no more than he had to.

As a seax, she owed him that much.

Just before dawn, his fever broke. Shahara drew a thick blanket over him, before finding her way to the sofa.

As soon as she closed her eyes, she drifted off to sleep.

Shahara awoke with a start. She glanced around her home, trying to figure out what had startled her. When her gaze fell to the empty bed, she had a moment of severe panic.

Where was Syn?