Tyrant (Scars of the Wraiths #2)(55)

“Oh.” Okay, I was getting the vibe that he was a bitter subject. Delara obviously had a history with this guy, and it wasn’t a good history. Or was it? Damn, that kiss was more than just a kiss; it was magnetic.

Delara sighed. “He’s a good guy. I mean, he can be when he wants, and he’d protect you with his life. He’s just indifferent to love. He’ll do everything and anything to protect the Scars.”

No man kissed a woman like that and wouldn’t do anything for her.

I still had the dress I was going to try in my hand, so I hung it up in the empty stall next to Delara. “So, do you like him?”

“I loved him. Notice the past tense,” Delara said. “Like rip your heart out and put it on a silver platter kind of love. He ate it and then spat it back in my face.”

I didn’t know much about love. I hadn’t loved anyone, except maybe my parents and Serafina. “I’m sorry. That must…” ‘Say what you mean,’ Rebecca’s voice echoed. “That’s horrible! What an *.”

Delara burst out laughing. “Wow, Rayne. I didn’t see that coming. I like this new you emerging. I liked the old one, too, but I had a feeling you were holding back.”

I smiled. It felt good to say what I wanted without worrying about the consequences.

She eyed the emerald dress I’d picked out and nodded to it. “Oh, my God, that will look stunning on you. Try it on. And tonight, we’re having a girls’ slumber party.”

I didn’t know what a slumber party was, but it sounded fun, and I needed fun. No, I wanted fun in my life.

The dress was perfect according to Delara. I thought it was too tight and the color was overly dramatic. I’d always walked in the shadows, and drawing attention to myself wasn’t my thing.

But I bought the dress, because it made my eyes stand out and my skin glow and I liked that. Delara bought the sexy silver dress, and then we walked back to the gallery.

Delara called Anstice and Danni to invite them to the slumber party, but Anstice couldn’t come as she and Keir were going out for dinner. But Danni could and she brought four bottles of Balen’s prized red wine.

We lounged in our pajamas on the living room floor watching movies while the red wine flowed freely as did the giggling.

“Thor has the hottest ass,” Delara said, pointing at the screen.

“Oh, my God, yeah,” Danni said. “It was Balen’s eyes that captured me, but his ass is what kept me.”

Delara hooted with laughter. “Oh, please. Nothing can compare to Tac’s.” She turned to me. “Nickname for Waleron. I swear that guy must work out twenty hours a day.”

I blurted out, “Kilter’s is nice.”

Delara choked on her wine and it sprayed from her mouth. “Kilter? Haven’t really looked at his ass, considering I’m always watching for his fists coming my way.”

Danni giggled then proceeded to refill her wineglass. “Off-Kilter threw me in the shower with my pajamas on to get me to snap out of a bad funk. I was so pissed, but he helped me through a really rough time. He’s just a little—overwhelming.”

“A little?” Delara snorted. “The guy is a runaway train. And he doesn’t trust anyone.”

“He saved my life, and well, he was nice to me,” I said. Both women had their eyes on me. “We got along in an odd sort of way. I don’t know. I trusted him. Kind of. He just helped, I guess.” God, I was babbling and stumbling over my words. Maybe because every time I thought of him my emotions were all screwed up.

Danni raised her glass. “Cheers to hot asses.”

We clinked glasses. No one mentioned what I’d tried to say about Kilter, which was a good thing.

He was a Scar and he hadn’t once tried to contact me or see me.

But that hadn’t stopped me from missing him every single day for six months.





I PACED THE WORN-OUT hardwood floor, waiting for him to arrive. Every so often, I looked over at the bed, thanking every single high-and-mighty spirit that she slept.

I shouldn’t have slept with her. If she hadn’t been pregnant, then maybe she’d have survived this. And now Waleron may have to kill her.

I was so f*cked up thinking about the possibility of her death that I didn’t even hear, see, or scent Waleron enter the cottage until he was in the room standing behind me.

“How long has it been?” Waleron demanded as he walked past me and went directly to the bed.

I stopped pacing. “I don’t know. Six months. Eternity. Too f*ckin’ long,” I said, taking a step toward the door.

Waleron didn’t turn as he said, “Don’t even think about it, Damien. Explain why I am hearing about this six months after the fact.” He leaned over the bed, his hand on Abby’s forehead.

“We thought—”

“We?”

Fuck. There was no way around this. “Jedrik, Delara, and I. Well, Balen knows about it, too, and Danni.” I swallowed. “And Anstice and Keir.”

“So everyone.”

“Yeah.” I started for the door. “I need to get some air.”

“Not until I have answers.” Waleron still had his hand on her forehead, probably trying to put her in DS—deep sleep. It would allow her peace from any pain—for a few hours. But her bloodthirst would overtake the DS soon enough.