Sometimes he had to remind himself this shit was no longer a fairy tale supernaturals scoffed at or the religion that some of them clung to, to explain their existence.
It was real.
Still, Kiyo reckoned it would never feel truly real unless he, one day, saw Faerie. And if that happened, the world was screwed.
Moving with urgency, Kiyo got in the car and tried not to speed out of the parking lot. The heat from the traffic within the city center melted the snow and ice, but Kiyo drove west at an inconspicuous speed. At this hour the traffic wasn’t bad, but it still took thirty-five minutes for them to reach the apartment in the Solntsevo District.
Niamh had been awake for most of that.
She healed with remarkable speed.
Kiyo knew she was awake because only five minutes into the drive, an almost imperceptible whimper had escaped her lips. Glancing in the rearview mirror angled toward her, he found her lying limp, eyes closed.
But her neck no longer lolled at a hideous angle, and her chest rose and fell ever so slightly. His gaze darted down her sweetly curved body to the long legs that he’d had to bend at the knees to make them fit on the bench.
Staring back at the road, Kiyo felt every muscle in his body lock with tension. He had no idea if the pure iron sewn into the seat would work.
Eventually, he relaxed. The fact that she hadn’t attacked him the entire ride or traveled out of the car using fae magic was evidence that his strategy was a success.
Parking the car in a dark neighborhood of dangerous reputation, one chosen specifically so if anyone saw him hauling a woman into his apartment, they might be less likely to do anything about it, Kiyo waited a moment. He had excellent vision and even in the car’s dim light, he could make out Niamh’s every feature. She still pretended to be unconscious.
That strange shiver cascaded down his spine again, and his pulse jumped. He frowned. It was unlike him to be anything but calm in a situation.
Reaching into the glove box, Kiyo removed the handcuffs he’d had specially made. They were pure iron but covered in thick leather so they wouldn’t burn her. He’d seen the burn scars on Rose’s wrists from whoever had held her captive. To press pure iron to Niamh’s skin would be tantamount to torture.
And while he wasn’t in the habit of torturing innocents, Kiyo also wasn’t keen on testing the unbreakable contract with Fionn. If he hurt or abandoned Niamh, Fionn would be able to summon Kiyo to him using magic. Though Kiyo was unkillable, he was pretty certain Fionn would be able to imprison him for all eternity or until he found a way to end Kiyo’s life. Kiyo didn’t mind the ending his life part, but he knew with absolute certainty there was no way to kill him.
Unlike every other being on Earth, Kiyo was a true immortal.
Eternity was a terrifying prospect Kiyo avoided the thought of by working as a mercenary and battling in underground fights.
Eternity in prison … he didn’t dare contemplate the hell it would be.
So, he’d do as Fionn asked, even if Niamh Farren turned out to be the biggest pain in the ass. He was being generously compensated to do so.
Kiyo exited and rounded the car to the passenger side where Niamh’s head rested. He didn’t want to take the chance of opening the other side and her using what strength she had to kick him to Timbuktu. Moving at wolf speed, he fastened the handcuffs around her wrists. She couldn’t hide her flinch.
Frowning, Kiyo double-checked the iron wasn’t burning through the leather.
It wasn’t.
Her reaction had to be the weakening effects of the iron.
“I know you’re awake.”
Her eyes flew open and it was like the breath was knocked from his body.
Her irises were liquid gold.
The gold suddenly melted, and she stared up at him with the most extraordinary aquamarine eyes. Striations of gold remained in them.
He was surprised by the fear he saw in her gaze. He hadn’t imagined a powerful fae capable of fear.
But she didn’t know his intention, and she wasn’t completely invincible.
Plus, he’d gotten the drop on her. Of course she was afraid.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he promised. “I’ll explain everything once we’re inside. But first … apologies for doing this to you again.”
Her lips parted in question, but Kiyo broke her neck before she could speak.