Page 51 of The Silent
She drew in a long breath. “Leo, what were you askingGinny?”
“To give you the spells you need to save your life.” He paused, kept himself from looking at her. If he looked at her, he’d want to hold her, and he didn’t think she wanted to be touched. “It seemed like a reasonable request atthetime.”
“Irina were targeted for centuries,” Kyra said. “Hunted down. Forced into hiding. They have reasons for theirsecrets.”
He let out a rueful laugh. “Trust you to be understanding about someone withholding magic that could saveyourlife.”
“It’s notaboutme.”
“It should be!” He couldn’t help himself. Leo turned toward Kyra and cupped her cheeks in his big hands. She was so small. Sodelicate.
Like a fairy princess,Ava hadoncesaid.
“It should be about you,” Leo whispered. “Because you’re kind and wise and beautiful, inside and out. You deserve more than to have your life taken away just as you’re beginning toreallylive.”
Tears fell down her cheeks, and Leo’s heart went to his throat as he brushed them away with histhumbs.
“It should be about you,” he whispered. “Hasn’t anyone told you that before? You deserve that. You deserveeverything.”
“Leo.” She closedhereyes.
“Please don’t stop looking at me,” he said. He kissed her cheeks, felt her tears hot on his lips. “Please stay with me.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “Be my mate, Kyra. Let me give you my magic. Let me give youeverything.”
“I can’t,” she said. “Notyet.”
“Because you might be taking advantage of me?” He curled his fingers around her shoulders. “Pleasetake advantage of me. I’mbeggingyou.”
Kyra let out a watery laugh and sniffed. She lifted a hand to Leo’s cheek and let it restthere.
Leo let out a long breath, grateful that she hadn’t pulled away but still frustrated at her stubborn sense ofhonor.
Even though it was one of the things he lovedabouther.
He loved her. Everything about her. It wasn’t just about her being hisreshon, even though he was nearly certain of it. He lovedher. Her goodness and her loyalty. Her quiet determination andpride.
The words were on the tip of his tongue when he heard a child runningtowardthem.
Leo let Kyra go and stood, sweeping his eyes through the trees. There was something about the panicked breath of a child that put every instinct on alert. He brushed a thumb over histalesm primand activated his magic between one breath and the next. His heartbeat slowed and steadied. His eyes became sharper. His hearing keener. Power rippled over his skin likearmor.
“There.” Kyra stood next to him, pointing into the forest. “It’s Intira. She’s terrified. The others are already comingthisway.”
Leo bounded down the stairs and toward the sound of the frightened child crashing through the forest. He saw her stumble over a rock and caught her as she fell. “What’s wrong?” he said, going to his knees. “Intira, what hashappened?”
“It’s Prija.” Her face was dirty and tearstained. “They tookPrija.”
ChapterEleven
Terror torethrough Kyra at the girl’swords.
They tookPrija.
Anselmisgone.
Gina took somepoison.
We don’t know whereSanais.
Barak killedLazlo.
