Page 38 of The Silent
Niran lookedatLeo.
“He is here for his own reasons,”Alyahsaid.
“I can guess what they are,” Sura said. “She is leading meditation with Intira this morning. That is why Kyra isn’twithus.”
Niran’s eyes were sharp; Leo felt them likeblades.
“I would like the opportunity to speak with her when she finishes teaching,”hesaid.
“What would an Irin scribe have to say to akareshta?” Niranasked.
“That is for Kyra to hear,” Leo said. “Notyou.”
Alyah was right. Niran wanted Kyra, but that was too damn bad in Leo’sopinion.
He’d fallen for herfirst.
* * *
Sura walkedwith Leo through the bamboo forest, deeper into the trees where deep shadows sheltered them from the sweltering heat of the afternoon sun. The houses in the forest were raised on bamboo platforms, simple structures open to the trees around them. He saw one set of eyes in a window he passed. They looked young and curious. Leosmiled.
“Our sisters have been practicing with Kyra,” Sura said, “but they are still new. I hope you are keeping your thoughts as peaceful aspossible.”
“I’m trying,” Leo said. “I do have some practice with it. My watcher’s mate is Grigori, and she has also struggled. I have a tune I hum when she’s stressed.” Leo smiled. “It’s a Latvian lullaby. She claims it drives her crazy, but I know she likes it because she sings it to herbabies.”
Sura smiled. “I sing ‘When You Wish upon a Star’ inmyhead.”
“That could getannoyingtoo.”
“It does.” The voice spoke in English from the steps of the house they’d justpassed.
Leo turned. Ah, there were the young eyes that’d been watching. He smiled at the cocky jut of thegirl’schin.
“I’mLeo.”
“I’mIntira.”
The youngkareshtagirl Kyra said was so gifted. “I hear you are an excellentstudent.”
“I am.” She kicked her foot idly against the steps. “Only so I don’t have to listen to Sura’s bad singingthough.”
Leo burst into laughter and heard a door open in the distance. He turned in the direction of thesound.
Kyra.
“Intira, who…?” She fell silent when shesawLeo.
Kyra stood on the porch of her small cottage, her hair falling around her, wearing a flowing dress in a deep blue that matched the ocean. She looked like she’d just bathed. Her hair was damp and her faceglowed.
Leo walked toward her, forgetting about Sura and Intira. Forgetting about Niran, Alyah, and Ginny. He forgot about his responsibilities, Max’s warnings, and Kyra’s many viciousbrothers.
He saw Kyra and a door. And beyond that door, he sawprivacy.
Leo strode up the steps and grabbed her hand. “We needtotalk.”
ChapterNine
Before Kyra could object,Leo had spun her around, tugged her into the dim interior of her cottage, and slammed the door. She stood still, her mouth gaping, wondering what exactly hadhappened.
