Blood Trial Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #1) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,122

at them. Holy shit, were they pressed against the back wall? Someone needed to invent a Geiger counter for Kyros’s rage.

Readjusting my grip on the top of my dress, I scanned everyone. “Well?”

Kyros sighed, moving to the desk and flicking back a panel. His fingers blurred as he entered a combination that rivalled Mary Poppins’ Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. I wrenched to look left as the middle third of the stone wall parted in two, the sections swinging inward like—

“Batman’s hidden lair,” I breathed.

One of the vampires choked. He was one of the men from the first night when Kyros tortured me. When he paled, I didn’t have to guess why.

I stood, wincing as my hip screamed. “Seriously, Kyros. A lair?”

My lips twitched. His didn’t.

Maybe I’d make fun of him in the morning.

“What’s up there?” I asked.

“That’s where you’ll wait,” Kyros answered. He swung me up into his arms.

“I can walk, dammit.”

“No, you can’t. You’re limping.”

Semantics.

“Is it your dungeon?” I asked, shifting higher in his arms.

“It’s a solution,” Kyros replied, not looking at me.

Fuck. That wasn’t reassuring whatsoever.

I met Angelica’s gaze over his shoulder, eyes narrowing at the sight of her broad grin.

27

A hand stroked my cheek. “Basilia.”

Mmm, rumbling. “Volcano,” I murmured, not shifting.

The hand on my head stilled. “Volcano what?”

The person should never stop stroking or talking. “Throat lozenges.”

“I sound like a volcano and I need throat lozenges?”

Duh.

I complained as the man moved away, but he returned and slipped his arms underneath my back and thighs, lifting me.

The slight jolt of his footsteps helped me to throw off delirium, and I squinted up at Kyros in the dark. Only his shadowed outline was visible, but lawd knew I’d studied his jawline enough to recognise it blindfolded. Which made about as much sense as me studying it in the first place.

“What you here?” I slurred.

“This is my room,” he answered after a beat. “Why were you sleeping on the sofa chair when the bed is right there?”

His grip tightened.

Sofa chair wasn’t a kind enough term for the cotton-candy happiness I fell asleep on. It was one of those big circle numbers that young couples wearing fluffy socks watched movies on—at least they did in the adverts.

“Comfy,” I mumbled in reply.

“You did look comfortable,” he said, depositing me on the bed. “Like a kitten.”

I sank into the bed, sighing as I rolled onto my side and pulled a pillow in to hug. Maybe the bed wasn’t so bad either. “Panther.”

“No,” Kyros said low, standing over me. “I meant a kitten.”

Whatevs.

“Time?” I said around a yawn, my eyes fluttering shut.

“2:00 a.m.” His voice moved away with his footsteps.

And he’d woken me? I hadn’t expected to sleep until Kyros returned from Level 66, actually. Guess I was wiped after being attacked and all.

I opened my eyes a crack.

He’d taken my spot on the sofa.

“Is that the best spot to sleep?” I wouldn’t put it past the guy to move me and claim it.

His teeth gleamed. “I sit for a while before sleeping.”

I adjusted the pillow I was hugging and nuzzled into it—it smelt like him. This whole fucking place did. “You’re back from work early.” He didn’t finish until 3:30 a.m.

“Yes.”

Yes, what?

My heart sank. “Are things really messed up?”

He lifted a shoulder. “We got a late start today. Not ideal circumstances for our turn, but we’ve handled similar situations in the past. The whole clan will work overtime to ensure things come together.”

Yep, things were screwed up. It wasn’t my fault the other clan attacked Rhys and me, but it sure felt that way. I’d been on a my life is still in my control bender. People got hurt because of it. Rhys might not be alive because of my actions. I opened my mouth to ask about him but snapped my mouth shut. That subject would push Kyros’s buttons, and I was too tired for that shit.

“What was the roll today?” I said instead, trying to keep my eyes open.

“Blue,” he answered shortly. “I see you found my clothes drawer.”

I lifted the pillow to glance down at the black tee I’d pilfered. “Going to sleep in a torn gown didn’t appeal.” And stealing his clothes to see what his reaction would be did.

“I should have offered you clothing. I was caught up by other things.”

No kidding. “You hoped I’d still be half-naked if you didn’t.”

His teeth gleamed in the dark, and I propped up on my elbow, jaw dropping. “Oh my god! You did.”

His grin grew. The only bit of him I could clearly see.