Page 3 of The Silent
While Kyra was delighted for her brothers, she felt out of place at the compound in Sofia where they lived. Added to that, seeing his men content with wives seemed to have an adverse effect on Kostas, whose simmering anger bled into Kyra’s mind, sending her anxiety throughtheroof.
No, Sofia was not anoption.
“If you don’t want to visit Sofia”—Sirius sat up and crossed his legs, grabbing Kyra’s hands and holding them between his own—“then I want you to listentome.”
She could feel his excitement. “I always listen toyou,bata.”
“And you have to keep anopenmind.”
“What are you talkingabout?”
“There is a theory among some of the free Grigori. Others like us. About how to better control ourmagic.”
Kyra frowned. “What kind oftheory?”
“Have you heard of Yantra tattooing?” Sirius asked. “Sak Yant, to beprecise?”
* * *
Leo puthis hands on his hips and squared off against his opponent. She was small, but Leo knew not tounderestimateher.
“No.”
“Yes!”
Two-year-old Matti mirrored Leo’s stance, tiny fists on her hips and her rosy-pink cheeks covered in chocolate. They stared at each other. The tall, blond warrior had faced off against his small rival on many occasions. This wasn’t the first time. It wouldn’t be the last. Ava and Malachi's children were tiny forces to bereckonedwith.
His watcher's children were the first in history—that anyone knew of—to carry the mingled blood of Fallen and Forgiven angels. Their powers were unknown and potentiallydangerous.
They were alsoperilouslycute.
“You’ve already had two cupcakes. You were only supposed to have one.” Leo lifted the plate from the counter and set it in the bread cupboard. “Your mother will be angry with me if I give you more,Matti.”
“Mad?” sheasked.
“Yes, mad.Angry.”
“I’m not mad,” Matti said. “Hungry. Needmo’cake.”
Leo narrowed his eyes at the tiny terror. Her dark curls and sweet face were only a front for a master manipulator. “If you were hungry, you would have eaten yourapples.”
Matti’s twin brother Geron sighed deeply and put his chin on his hands. His face was also covered in chocolate. His liquid grey eyes were pools of pleading, but Leo refused to bemoved.
“No cake,” Leo said morefirmly.
This did not suit Matti well. She raised her voice and shouted, “Baba! I wantmo’cake.”
Leo pointed at her. “That won’t work this time. Your father is inVienna.”
Leo’s Irin brother Rhys walked into the kitchen and scooped Matti up in his arms. “What are you doing to the child, Leo? She’shungry.”
“She doesn’t need more cupcakes. She barely touched herlunch.”
Rhys kissed the top of Matti’s head. “Poor darling. Why would she eat lunch when there are cupcakes? I wholly agree with you on this, Matti. Hold out for thesweets.”
Sensing an ally, Matti giggled. “Reez, morecake.Peez.”
Rhys turned to Leo. “She saidplease.”
