Page 67 of The Silent
“When can we do itagain?”
Leo laughed, and it was a very satisfied, very male, laugh. It bordered on smug. “We can do it every night if you want. And during the day when we have the time.” He leaned down and whispered, “It will be even better with yourclothesoff.”
Her heart went galloping. “We may have to work uptothat.”
* * *
The sweet interludein the morning carried Kyra through another day of worry and dread. Scribes from Bangkok arrived around ten in the morning, driven up to the temple by Alyah. Tension blanketed the courtyard as two scribes and two singers greeted Niran. Dara had sent her brother, Rith, to lead the group. Grigori monks ringed the courtyard, watching their leaders welcome the ones who had spent a lifetime learning how tokillthem.
No one lookedpleased.
Alyah stepped forward and bowed to Sura. “Myfriend.”
“Your people are welcome here,” Sura said. “Our sisters have requested that only the Irina singers venture into the forest near the cottages. They would prefer the scribes stay in the more public areas of the templecompound.”
Rith asked, “How are we supposed to guard them effectively if we can’t benearthem?”
Leo stepped forward. “The Irina are more than capable of assisting the guards Niran has already set in place, Rith. The scribes can help covering the temple and the village. There are already numerous fail-safesbuiltin.”
Rith grunted, but he didn’tsaymore.
Niran watched the Irin survey the compound. Unlike Sura, he had not greeted anyone but Alyah. He caught the singer’s eye and strode back to the dining table in the garden where they had continued to plan their trip to retrieve Prija. They were hoping to leave that night and make it to the border town directly north of Chiang Mai where Kyra could do her first reading into the dense forests and remote valleys ofMyanmar.
Like the human government, passage through the remote country had been strictly limited for decades. There was little the Bangkok scribes knew about Myanmar. Most of the Grigori still called it Burma, and they knew more, but not as much as they’d like. Sura had the most knowledge regarding Arindam’s people, but even his knowledge was adecadeold.
They would take a small bus the Irin had rented in Chiang Mai, which should get them north of the border with little problem. The scribes in Bangkok had also assisted with papers for both Leo and Kyra, who would be scrutinized as Westerners. They were fortunate that the professional fight scene in Myanmar was popular and more and more foreigners were going there to train. Leo would be posing as a fighter traveling with a group of Thai professionals and their promoter. Kyra’s papers labeled her as Leo’s wife, which would mean they’d be sharing hotel rooms wherever theytraveled.
After that morning, Kyra found the idea extremelyappealing.
She nodded politely at the Bangkok scribes before she walked to the back garden, trying not to notice their stares. Leo came next to her, draping his arm over hershoulders.
“They’re staring,”shesaid.
“Because you’re sobeautiful.”
“Because you’rewithme.”
“Because they haven’t seenkareshtabefore.” He kissed the top of her head. “But truly, you are stunning thismorning.”
She felt heat touch her cheeks. “I think you’rebiased.”
“Wholly and completely,” he said. “But I’m notwrong.”
“We’re going to be posing as husband and wife,”Kyrasaid.
“Is that aproblem?”
“I’m hoping I can talk to Kostas and Sirius before someone tells them. Or sends them pictures.” Leo tensed, and Kyra paused, putting a hand on his chest. “I just want to tell my brothers first. Tell them we’re together so they know I’m okay. That I’m not being coerced. It’s not Sirius I’m concerned about; it’s Kostas ofcourse.”
“Does he think so little of me?” Leo asked. “After everything we have beenthrough?”
“I’m his sister.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “He has watched over me always. He would be worried no matter who Iamwith.”
“Me,” Leo returned the kiss. “Let him know. It will alwaysbeme.”
She smiled. “Isthatso?”
“Yes.”
