Page 26 of Klaus

Her eyes were wide, tear-filled, searching mine. She’d carried this all alone for so long and had believed herself to be utterly alone. On the outside of her clan, the only kin she’d ever known.

I knew that sort of separation. I longed to tell her of my past, of how I understood, but she didn’t need to hear about that while so unhappy. Another time, if ever.

“Why is it so important that you keep this a secret from the others?” I asked, willing myself to pay no mind to the sun’s late rays as they turned her hair to blazing copper, or to the firm smoothness of her skin and the muscles beneath. So much power, so much beauty, wrapped up together.

She nearly sneered, as though this was the stupidest thing ever suggested. “What will they think of me?”

“They’ll think you were sorely taken advantage of, as were the rest of you. There’s no telling the sort of tests they put you through, keeping you separate as they did. I’m certain there was a reason for it, too. The less the lot of you compared notes on the tests being performed, the better.”

I looked down at my hands, realizing they still gripped her arms, and released her. What was I doing? “I’m sorry if I came on too strong or went too far. I have no right.”

“It’s all right.”

“I only wanted you to feel better.”

“I said it was all right,” she chuckled. “And you have made me feel better. I’m not so alone. Even though I still have no idea of the best course to take now, I know I have someone on my side. That means a great deal.”

“I’m glad I could give you that, anyway.”

Her eyes softened, her full lips curved in a smile. “You’ve given me much more than that.”

“Ainsley? Klaus?”

I turned toward the cave, heart leaping into my throat. There was nothing wrong with speaking to her outside the cave, I reminded myself. She was no prisoner. We weren’t up to anything which might make Alan or any of the others suspicious.

“Yes?” she called out, not waiting for me before heading back to the cave. “We’re out here.”

“Are you all right?” Leslie spotted us and waved, then rested her hands on her hips. Even from a distance, the distrust in her was plain. I had to wonder if she was even trying to hide it.

“Just fine,” Ainsley called out, injecting much more life into her voice than I’d heard when it was just the two of us. As though she’d flipped a switch and become another person, the façade she worked hard at maintaining for the sake of those around her. I wondered who she was trying to fool.

They’d known her a millennium longer than I had, and I had sensed trouble in her. How could any of them miss it?

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