Bound by Forever - (True Immortality #3) Page 0,113
in like she was seeing it for the first time. Did she know what a gift her sense of wonder was? “You keep saying it like that, you might bruise my ego.”
“Oh, please.” Niamh threw him a wry look. “You know if it weren’t for the mission, I’d have tied you to the bed myself.” Worry darkened her eyes. She spoke in his mind now. It’s been days and days without a vision. And Astra is out there and probably now knows you’re immortal.
Niamh had since told him what Astra said in the garden. She’d known he and Niamh were true mates before they did. Had a vision about it. And she believed the only way to turn Niamh dark was to break the bond between her and Kiyo, i.e., kill him.
Grabbing hold of Niamh’s wrist, his thumb caressed her scar as he pulled her out of the crowd and guided her up against the wall of a shop. He braced his hands on the building, cocooning her. “Nothing is going to happen to me. It can’t.”
“I’ve told you before. No one on earth is impervious to death.”
Not wanting to argue when she was so certain, Kiyo shrugged. “Fine. Okay. Say something happened to me … I know you. You won’t turn dark.”
He felt a wave of shame emanate from her and his jaw tightened with anger.
Not at Niamh. At Astra, for planting thoughts in her head.
“She had a vision that I do,” Niamh reminded him.
“She said she had a vision. There’s no evidence she actually had a vision of you going to her side and opening the gate. You know what there is evidence of? Her trying to manipulate you. Or do you not remember she planted visions in your head?”
That feeling of shame he sensed disintegrated and an intense flood of tenderness hit him. “You’re so bloody wise,” she said and leaned up to brush her lips across his. “You always make me feel better, Kiyo-chan.”
He grinned at her endearment and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before pulling back. If he lingered any longer, they’d end up back at the hotel. They walked again, heading north toward Meiji Jingu. Niamh wanted to see the Shinto shrine and gardens, and without any current direction, Kiyo saw no reason they shouldn’t enjoy the city and each other’s company while they could.
Niamh had put up a barrier spell around their room that stopped anyone from entering. Something like that might have drained her years ago, but every day she seemed to grow stronger in her abilities.
Now that they were outside, Kiyo was in guard mode, alert to the fact that their enemies could show at any moment.
When Niamh reached for his hand while they strolled, his first instinct was to drop it. He’d never been the hand-holding type. Yet, when Niamh sensed this and relaxed her hand to release him, Kiyo found himself gripping it tight.
She gave him an understanding smile. “It’s okay. I get it.” She tugged on his hand.
He didn’t let go. If his mate wanted to hold his hand, he’d get over himself and hold her hand. His expression seemed to translate his feelings because Niamh grinned happily.
Her happiness made it worth it.
Fionn was right.
He was mate-whipped.
Fifteen minutes later, they were only around five minutes from Yoyogi Park when Niamh suddenly jerked his hand as she halted. Her features looked strained. And he knew without her having to say the words.
“Vision?” He grabbed and pulled her against the stone wall that ran along the sidewalk. Foot traffic was quiet, but the roads weren’t. He covered her with his body, trying to hide her—
Niamh convulsed hard in his arms and he gritted his teeth as he clasped her nape to stop her head from smacking against the stone. Her eyelids fluttered rapidly and powerlessness overwhelmed him.
He hated seeing her like this.
Pain, like being smacked in the forehead with a rock, sent bright lights flashing across his eyes. Images flooded his head. Niamh. Him. Rose. Astra. Elijah. Standing stones. Four. Gardens. Tokyo. Gardens. Jade pendant. They hit him one after the other on repeat.
Then just as abruptly as they’d come, they disappeared.
Kiyo’s eyes flew open.
He and Niamh were huddled on the ground. She was tucked into his chest like a child.
“Niamh?”
She lifted her head, her eyes flying up behind him.
He followed her gaze and saw two young men staring curiously at them as they walked by.