Page 74 of The Silent
The rest of the meal passed in awkward silence. After the dishes had been cleared and others were taking their leave, Leo grabbed Niran bythearm.
“You and I needtotalk.”
Niran wrenched his arm away. “And you need to learnmanners.”
Leo spun on him. “Sodoyou.”
Their interchange had come to the attention of Sura, Alyah, and Kyra. Kyra’s eyes were wide andpleading.
Don’t,theysaid.
Leo shook his head. Niran’s comments were putting Kyra in an awkward place, and it wasn’tacceptable.
“Fine,” Niran said, nodding toward a side door. “Let’s talk,scribe.”
They marched out the side door and into the darkened forest. The full moon had waned, and the forest was grey and black withshadows.
“Do not desire another man’s lover or spouse,” Leo said, turning on Niran. “Isn’t that one of your preciousprecepts?”
The blow to the side of the head came as a surprise. It was a sucker punch. He hadn’t expected that fromNiran.
Leo snarled and came up swinging. He might not have had the light feet of the Grigori, but he had speed and size. He plowed into Niran, bringing the smaller man to the ground. They rolled in the dry leaves, Niran wrestling away from Leo and jumping tohisfeet.
“She does not belong to you,” he spat out, blood athislip.
“She does,” Leo said. “And I belongtoher.”
“Just because she’s known you longer does not mean you can understand her,scribe.”
Leo rolled up. “She is myreshon. I don’t expect a Grigori tounderstandthat.”
“Reshon.” Niran sneered. “Ah yes. The precious Irin soul mates. Did she hear it? Did she hear it comingfrom your own mind? That’s not heaven’s will, scribe. That’s wishfulthinking.”
Leo struck out, only to have Niran parry his blows. Fists and feet flew. The Grigori was clearly a master of muay thai fighting. His speed was more than a match for Leo’s own. But punching Leo was akin to punching a wall. Leo knew it, and Niran knewittoo.
As they fought, Niran aimed for Leo’s knees and elbows, trying to attack the scribe’s weakest points to gain the upper hand. Leo brought his fist down on Niran’s jaw, jolting the Grigori and rattling his brain. It was the only thing that seemed to slowNirandown.
Leo had taken another jolting kick to the knee when he heard a quiet voice say, “Enough.”
A blur of movement, then a punch to the chest that felt like agunshot.
Leo flew back into the brush. When he opened his eyes, he saw Niran on the other side of the clearing. Sura stood between them, his arms extended and his palms facing the twofighters.
“We are facing a common enemy,” Sura said quietly. “This fighting is unacceptable anduseless.”
When Leo could breathe again, he rasped out, “Was that onepunch?”
Niran groaned a little. “I hate it when hedoesthat.”
“You need to teach me,”Leosaid.
“You both need to calm down.” Sura reached out to Niran and helped his brother up. “She loves him. She has loved him for years. This has nothing to do with besting you. Don’t let your resentment ruin a partnership with Leo and a friendshipwithKyra.”
Niran’s face was unreadable. He nodded once at Sura and disappeared into theshadows.
Sura walked to Leo. “I’d offer to help you up, but you don’tneedit.”
“That is a hell of a powerful punch for a small man,” Leo said. “I hope you don’t mind mysayingthat.”
