Marked by Death (The Godhunter, Book 4) (24 page)

But still… what was this all about?

I stepped forward quietly, placing each foot cautiously on the old floorboards and hoping they wouldn’t creak. Two steps and I was standing on the dark blue area rug in the center of the room. Five more steps and I’d be right next to him. A little crease appeared between his eyes but he remained focused on the book, turning the page after a few moments. One more step and he raised his head. I stopped short, holding my breath.

He scented the air, fast little intakes of breath as he stared around the room suspiciously. Busted! He could smell me and he knew something was up. If I was going to do something, the time was at hand. I leapt onto the bed, sending the book flying and causing Kirill to flop to the side. In the next instant, he was on me and I was giggling.

The ruse was up and the magic gone, wafting away with my concentration.

“You made yourself invisible!” He sounded so proud and the eyes that stared down at me were filled with it until he took a deep breath, taking in my scent, and then they started to darken to indigo.

“
Kirill?” I felt my heart pounding in my throat. What the hell was it doing there? Someone needed to tell my heart to get back where it belonged… mainly away from Kirill.

“
Tima,” his face lowered till his lips were just a breath above mine and I suddenly realized that he was pressed down the full length of me and there was a part of him that was overjoyed to be there. Shit, I’d wanted his laughter not his passion, right? Right?

“
I feel…” speaking moved my lips against his and the spark it made set off a fire I had no idea, had been just waiting to ignite.

I caught his shoulders in my hands, my fingers clenching with the effort to push him away. I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t betray Trevor just weeks after returning to him. I could be faithful. I
was
faithful… until Anubis screwed with my free will. I wasn’t going to kiss Kirill. I wasn’t going to kiss Kirill.

He rolled away, to lie in a violently shaking heap next to me. I immediately got off the bed and backed away. I wanted nothing more than to comfort him but I didn’t trust myself. I couldn’t touch him. I couldn't be near him.

“Tima,” Kirill reached a hand out to me and I nearly lost control. My sweet black lion, what had I done to him? Hadn't he suffered enough?

“
I’m so sorry, Kirill,” I felt my eyes filling with tears. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Maybe being with Anubis has tainted something inside me.”

“
You’re not tainted,” Kirill looked like he was in pain. “I have to tell you somezing.”

“
Minn Elska,” Trevor’s voice came down the hallway, along with the sound of the front door closing.

I jumped guiltily but called out automatically, “In here.”

I moved closer to the door as he came down the hall, and plastered on a happy face. He gave me a quick kiss and smiled over at Kirill.

“
You guys want to go out for some dinner?”

“
Sure,” I nodded and looked over to Kirill hopefully.

He nodded but his smile looked forced. For once, I was glad his smiles normally looked that way. How horrible was that? I ignored the thought and let Trevor pull me down the hallway.

“Hey, I just learned how to make myself invisible,” I latched on to my earlier victory, even though the feel of success had melted in the heat of Kirill’s passion.

“
That’s great,” Trevor stopped to give me a congratulatory hug. “Soon you’ll be better than all the other gods, my sweet witch goddess.”

“
Thanks, babe,” I settled into his side as he resumed walking but I couldn’t resist a glance at Kirill over my shoulder. His eyes were dark and full of a need that echoed somewhere low in my body. “Where you wanna go for dinner?”

I stared back at Trevor and tried desperately to let his appeal consume me. It did, he was one hell of an appealing man, but I still felt the pull of Kirill, almost as if it were a tangible thing. I made a decision that the next spell I’d look up would be something to neuter these excess lusts of mine.

“I was thinking Haliewa Joe’s,” Trevor locked the door behind us.

Haliewa Joe’s was not in Haliewa. Well, there was one in Haliewa but they’d also opened a second one in Kaneohe, back in Haiku Gardens near the Ko’olau mountain range. It was situated on a cliff overlooking a beautiful garden, complete with a pond and a gazebo. They held a lot of weddings there.

The hostess seated us at one of the prime tables near the edge of the railing, so we could enjoy the view. The tiki torches hanging outwards over the rail were already fired up even though the sun had yet to set. Sunset came quickly on this side of the island, once the sun got past the mountain, that was it, so it wasn’t surprising that they were prepared early. We still had some daylight left though so we were able to look out and enjoy the view.

The gardens were filled with tropical flowers. The bird-of-paradise was my favorite, with its long beak-like stalk crested with spikes of orange and blue petals. They looked as if they could start squawking at any second. Then there were all the orchids and lush, big-leafed ferns, overflowing the flower beds like they were trying to make a break for it. It was fabulous.

“So what spell are you going to try next?” Trevor broke through my floral distraction.

I looked around to make sure we didn’t have any eavesdroppers to our strange conversation before answering. “I don’t know, maybe levitating.”

“I thought you were afraid of heights?” He smiled and it was his teasing look, the one that made my chest feel tight.

“
I am,” I grinned back. “That’s the whole point. It’s not really the heights part that bothers me, it’s the potential fall and subsequent splatting that’s scary. Levitation would prevent said splat.”

“
My Tima fears nozing,” Kirill scoffed and his Russian accent became slightly more pronounced with it. I found it terribly tempting, erotically enticing, and other alliterate longings that made me want to smack myself hard across the face with an ice pack.

“
I fear lots of things,” I looked away from his masculine beauty.

We were already getting stares from women sitting around the restaurant. I was used to having my man appraised by other women. Usually it made me feel a little proud to be with him. But that was Trevor. Watching the ladies ogle Kirill and seeing the assumption that Trevor was with me, so maybe the hottie with the buff bod and hair down to his ass was single, made me want to jump up and bitch slap every woman in the joint… or kiss the hell out of Kirill and show them he was taken, which of course he wasn’t. Both options were way over the sanity line for me. So instead, I decided to sing.

“Sharks in deep water and very high places,” I sang to the tune of “Favorite Things” from
The Sound of Music
. “Gods that attack me with magic and maces. Crowds that push in on all sides like a ring. These are a few of my sca-a-ariest things.”

The boys laughed and applauded. I smiled and did a slight head bow, simply pleased to have diverted my mood.

“You know,” our waitress had come up on the end of my performance. “I heard once that you should never trust anyone over the age of ten who sang songs from
The Sound of Music
.”

“
Not exactly the quote but close enough for me,” I laughed. “Ellen Degeneres in
Goodbye Lover
. Great flick.”

“
That’s right,” the waitress laughed, took our order, and left but was back in a few minutes with our drinks.

“
I zink ve need to talk about somezing,” Kirill started after she left a second time and I looked up at him in panic.

I knew what he wanted to talk about. Kirill was an honest man and he wouldn’t like hiding our almost-kiss from Trevor. He’d probably want to move out and I just didn’t want that. I needed him. I needed him? I pushed the thought away and concentrated on pleading with Kirill with my eyes. Something flickered in his gaze and I saw that he caught the message.

“You sound serious, what is it?” Trevor looked worried.

“
I just zink ve need be more careful vith Vervain now,” I sighed inwardly and Kirill gave a small smile. “She’s stronger now but zere’s going to be gods out for blood for simple fact zat Godhunter is now one of zem.”

Good cover Kirill. Wait, he was kind of right. I frowned and thought it over. Was I going to have to give up my little house and move into Pride Palace? I didn’t want to do that but I wanted everyone to be safe… including me. As far as I knew, no one knew the location of my home except for trusted friends but that could go wrong at any time. In the God Realm, I was completely protected, the wards would let only approved visitors through and even if something bad did break in, I think my lions could handle it.

“What do you suggest?” Trevor’s voice brought me out of my musings.

“
I zink ve should start tracing instead of using vehicles as often as possible,” Kirill took a sip of his vodka tonic. “Every time you drive, especially to club, you run risk of being followed home. Ve can’t have our home compromised. Even now, here,” he spread his hand out, “vat if a god is hiding and vaiting to follow us home?”

“
He’d have to have followed us here to begin with,” Trevor frowned, clearly unsettled, “but I get your point. Alright, from now on we trace into the club and we’ll be extra careful if we go someplace we can’t trace to.”

“
I think that’s wise,” I tried to thank Kirill for his discretion silently and he smiled wide at me. “Thank you, Kirill.”

“
I have to say,” Trevor smiled his cocky half grin. “I’m glad you moved in. I’m sorry I drove you away for awhile but I’m happy you’re back.”

“
Zank you,” Kirill clicked his glass to Trevor’s and I joined in. “Ve both vant same zing, after all.”

As I took a sip, my eyes focused on Kirill’s face. He gave me a look that wasn’t entirely innocent and lent a different meaning to his words. I swallowed hard as I studied him. The sun was slanting in just right, so that it hit his eyes and made them sparkle royal blue, like the Pacific on a clear day. My amaretto sour was sweet on my tongue and all I could think about was sharing the taste with him… intimately. I put the glass down and took a deep breath.

“Minn Elska,” Trevor’s hand was on my neck. “Are you feeling okay?”

“
Just a little tired,” I smiled weakly.

“
Yeah, I know,” he pushed a lock of hair behind my ear. “You’ve been through so much but I promise everything’s going to be okay now.”

“
I hope so,” I looked over his gorgeous face, trying to push away my attraction to Kirill. Trevor’s eyes were clear gold in the sun, outlined with black lashes, and they were filled with love for me. Did I deserve it? More and more I was thinking not but I latched on to it. I leaned in and kissed him, really kissed him, and I was relieved to feel that amazing connection between us.

Love sparked passionately, the butterflies racing through my belly in delight, and an overwhelming need for him zipped through my blood. I pulled away but only a of couple inches so I could look up at him, breathe him in, and bask in the strength of our love.

“Wow,” he whispered. “What was that for?”

“
I just really missed you,” I sat back, secure in our connection again, until I looked over at Kirill.

His face was a study in desire, in longing, every line spoke of an ache for something he couldn’t have. He quickly composed it and looked away.

Shit, now I was hurting Kirill. I’d have to be more careful. I’d have to be… he was so beautiful, my Russian black lion. What the hell? Stop. Be calm. Think about Trevor. That’s right, look over at your Wolf Prince. He's amazing, there's no one like him, and there’s a bond between us that could never be severed.

“
I missed you too, Minn Elska.”

Okay, deep breath, everything was fine. I was not a big slut. I could control myself. I’d just take one more look to be sure. Oh, crap, those eyes, that strong jaw, the way his brows tipped up at the outer edges.

Shit.

“
Do you think we could go visit Vidar and Vali today?” Yes, that was it, a distraction, I needed a distraction.

“
Sure,” Trevor sat back as the waitress put our food on the table.

My plate landed in front of me with a solid thud. I stared at the piece of prime rib, no not piece… slab. It must have been two inches thick and at least a foot across. I looked up at the waitress with wide eyes.

“Ahh,” she lifted a brow, “you’ve never had our prime rib before.”

“
How the hell did you carry this all?” I looked around at the matching plates the men had ordered. “You must work out.”

“
Honey, this is my workout,” she laughed as she walked away.