The Silent: Irin Chronicles Book Five(20)

He opened his mouth. “I’m—”

“Other than kissing me,” Kyra said. “I think I understand that part.”

Oh. Hmm. How to explain? “I was called to Bangkok by the watcher there.”

“The Irin watcher?” Her eyes went blank. “But why are you in Chiang Mai?”

Leo hated the blank expression. He automatically knew she was hiding something. “There were pictures of you.”

“What? Where?”

“In Bangkok. Surveillance pictures.”

“They’ve been watching the Grigori here,” she said quietly.

He smoothed a hand over her mussed hair. “That’s what we do.”

“They are not your enemies,” she said. “No one here—”

A slight sound caused Leo to turn a second before the knife would have sunk into his shoulder. He batted it away and pushed Kyra behind him, putting himself in the path of his assailant.

“Leo, no!”

“Stay back.” He drew a silver dagger in one hand and a silenced 9mm in the other. In a place like the market, he didn’t want to have to use the gun, but he would if necessary. His aim was steady.

Leo’s attacker didn’t hide. He walked out of the alleyway with his own gun pointed in Leo’s direction. Leo brushed a thumb over his talesm prim and felt his spells come alive. With that brush, he was effectively wearing a suit of living armor. His hearing sharpened. His vision became hyperaware. His skin would be hotter if Kyra touched him.

“Who are you?” the Grigori asked. “Let her go.”

Kyra said, “Niran, he’s a friend.”

Ah yes, it was the Grigori from the picture, Leo realized. The one walking with her and making her laugh. He had a gun pointed at Leo’s head.

“Please,” Kyra said. “Both of you, put the weapons down.”

“Him first,” Leo muttered, unwilling to leave Kyra unprotected.

“You have no purpose here, scribe,” Niran said, still walking slowly toward Leo. “Go back where you came from and tell your watcher you’re not needed.”

“I’m not here because of my watcher,” Leo said.

“Will both of you put the weapons down?” Kyra said. “Someone is going to get hurt. Niran, where is Intira?”

“With Sura. Step away from the scribe, Kyra.”

“I don’t take orders from you. Both of you put your weapons away!”

“No.” The answer came in unison.

“For heaven’s sake.” Kyra shoved her way from behind Leo and stepped between the raised guns, which were immediately lowered as soon as she came in their sights.

“Kyra, what are you doing?”

Leo dropped his gun. “Are you insane?” He tried to push her back, but she twisted away.

“Both of you, listen!” She was angry. “Just stop. Niran, Leo is a friend. He’s from the Istanbul house, which has an alliance with my brother. Leo, I am here as Niran’s guest. Please, do not attack the man who has welcomed me and taken care of me in this country.”

Leo narrowed his eyes at Niran, who was looking equally hostile. Reluctantly he put his arm down as Niran did the same. He slid the 9mm in his holster… as Niran did. Then Leo’s knife was put away. He glared at the Grigori whom Kyra had defended.

“If it weren’t for her, you’d be on the ground,” Leo said.

“Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel good.” Niran whistled and three more Grigori stepped from the shadows. “Myat, go tell Sura and Intira to walk back to the truck.”

“Niran, don’t,” Kyra said. “Don’t spoil her night because of this. Everyone needs to stop and think. There is no fight here. No one wants to hurt anyone.”

Leo was fairly sure he wanted to hurt Niran.

“I’m not leaving her in the market with an Irin scribe around,” the Grigori said. “We’ve all heard the stories of them taking our sisters. Where there is one, there will be more.”

Leo said, “I’m not here to take anyone who is not in danger.” He glanced at Kyra. That might not be strictly true, but it was none of this Niran’s business.

Kyra seemed to sense his thoughts. “Don’t. We need to talk. Just talk.”

“As long as you’re not running away from a real conversation, I can agree to that.”

“How many scribes are in my city?” Niran asked.

“I’m the only scribe who came from Bangkok,” Leo said. They didn’t need to know that Alyah was with him. “And I came for Kyra, not to attack you.”

“Yes, I’ve heard that before. Right before two scribes tried to grab a sister of mine from a local temple.”

Leo frowned. “I know nothing about that.”

“Watchers know best, do they not?” Niran said. “We don’t want anything from the Irin. Leave us alone.”

Leo examined the Grigori with new eyes. The man was of medium height and carried a commanding presence. The men who flanked him took orders effortlessly. Clearly these Grigori were disciplined and well organized. Looking again, Leo saw dark lines of tattoos at each of their necks. He glanced at their arms. Tattoos there too.

What was going on here?

Kyra put a hand on his forearm. Her touch nearly caused him to moan in pleasure. She felt so good. He controlled himself.