Page 26 of The Silent
“Him first,” Leo muttered, unwilling to leave Kyraunprotected.
“You have no purpose here, scribe,” Niran said, still walking slowly toward Leo. “Go back where you came from and tell your watcher you’re notneeded.”
“I’m not here because of my watcher,”Leosaid.
“Will both of you put the weapons down?” Kyra said. “Someone is going to get hurt. Niran, where isIntira?”
“With Sura. Step away from thescribe,Kyra.”
“I don’t take orders from you. Both of you put yourweaponsaway!”
“No.” The answer came inunison.
“For heaven’s sake.” Kyra shoved her way from behind Leo and stepped between the raised guns, which were immediately lowered as soon as she came in theirsights.
“Kyra, what are youdoing?”
Leo dropped his gun. “Are you insane?” He tried to push her back, but shetwistedaway.
“Both of you, listen!” She was angry. “Juststop. Niran, Leo is a friend. He’s from the Istanbul house, which has an alliance with my brother. Leo, I am here as Niran’s guest. Please, do not attack the man who has welcomed me and taken care of me in thiscountry.”
Leo narrowed his eyes at Niran, who was looking equally hostile. Reluctantly he put his arm down as Niran did the same. He slid the 9mm in his holster… as Niran did. Then Leo’s knife was put away. He glared at the Grigori whom Kyra haddefended.
“If it weren’t for her, you’d be on the ground,”Leosaid.
“Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel good.” Niran whistled and three more Grigori stepped from the shadows. “Myat, go tell Sura and Intira to walk back to thetruck.”
“Niran, don’t,” Kyra said. “Don’t spoil her night because of this. Everyone needs to stop and think. There is no fight here. No one wants to hurtanyone.”
Leo was fairly sure he wanted to hurtNiran.
“I’m not leaving her in the market with an Irin scribe around,” the Grigori said. “We’ve all heard the stories of them taking our sisters. Where there is one, there willbemore.”
Leo said, “I’m not here to take anyone who is not in danger.” He glanced at Kyra. That might not be strictly true, but it was none of this Niran’sbusiness.
Kyra seemed to sense his thoughts. “Don’t. We need to talk.Justtalk.”
“As long as you’re not running away from a real conversation, I can agreetothat.”
“How many scribes are in my city?” Niranasked.
“I’m the only scribe who came from Bangkok,” Leo said. They didn’t need to know that Alyah was with him. “And I came for Kyra, not toattackyou.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that before. Right before two scribes tried to grab a sister of mine from a localtemple.”
Leo frowned. “I know nothingaboutthat.”
“Watchers know best, do they not?” Niran said. “We don’t want anything from the Irin. Leave usalone.”
Leo examined the Grigori with new eyes. The man was of medium height and carried a commanding presence. The men who flanked him took orders effortlessly. Clearly these Grigori were disciplined and well organized. Looking again, Leo saw dark lines of tattoos at each of their necks. He glanced at their arms. Tattoostheretoo.
What was goingonhere?
Kyra put a hand on his forearm. Her touch nearly caused him to moan in pleasure. She felt so good. He controlledhimself.
“You have questions,” Kyra said. “I have answers, but I need to confer with Niran first. Allow me to talk with him inprivate.”
She wanted to leave him and go off with the Grigori? Leo’s lipcurled.
