Bound by Forever - (True Immortality #3) Page 0,97

her. To Niamh.

She hadn’t realized he just wanted to scratch a fecking itch.

Tears burned in her eyes and she pushed them back, her lips twitching into a sardonic smirk. She was one of the most powerful beings on the planet and she’d been reduced to the mentality of a broken-hearted teenager by an emotionally constipated arsehole.

You’re Niamh Farren, she heard Ronan’s biting tone in her mind. You can kick his arse until the end of time. You are a fecking goddess, Nee. And don’t you forget it. He’s lucky you allowed him to touch you.

Determination thrummed through her and she found herself throwing her shoulders back. That inner voice was right. Who was Kiyo to treat her like this? And who was she to take it?

Well, she wouldn’t.

She had a mission in life, and she wasn’t going to be distracted by that wolf any longer.

Pushing off the bench, she ignored the persistent knot in her gut, the sadness deep within the pits of her soul, and focused on a purpose beyond herself. And she couldn’t very well do anything to save the world if she didn’t fuel up.

Following her heightened senses south, she discovered a casual eatery facing onto the park. She ordered some food and found a bistro table outside to watch the world pass as she ate. They’d been lucky with their weather since arriving in the city. Every day had been crisp and sunny.

“It’s a beautiful spot, isn’t it?”

Too busy looking at the park to her left, Niamh started, almost choking on her soba noodles.

Seated at her small table, having appeared as if out of nowhere, was a stunning redhead with amber-gold eyes. With her tip-turned nose, full mouth, and the sprinkle of golden freckles across her cheeks, she was hard to forget.

Niamh swallowed, dropping her chopsticks while she tried to remain cool and calm. “Astra.”

Astra’s smile was beatific but if someone looked closely enough, they’d see that smile didn’t reach her eyes. At all. “Sister.”

Niamh bristled at the designation, especially as they weren’t entirely unalike in physical appearance. “We’re not sisters.”

Manufactured hurt brimmed in the Norwegian fae’s eyes. “We’re all family. But you and I are closer than the others. I know you feel it. Two sides of the same coin. We even look the same. More so now that you’ve dyed your hair.” She cocked her head to study Niamh. “I like it, sis.”

“What do you want?” Niamh decided it was best to get straight to the point; otherwise she’d end up strangling the psychopath.

“I wanted to talk with you.” Astra shrugged. “That filthy wolf was always in the way, but I see you finally rid yourself of him.”

It was hard not to react to her snooty, nasty tone. But Niamh kept it together. “You don’t like werewolves?”

“They’re a dilution. So, no. And I particularly don’t like that one.” She leaned forward and Niamh tried not to flinch as Astra stroked her fingers over her temple. “He shut the door.”

Anger coursed through her at the reminder of what she’d done to her. Niamh grabbed her wrist and threw it away from her. “You’ll never get inside my head again.”

“You’re angry?” Astra seemed surprised.

How the hell could she be surprised that Niamh was furious with her for planting visions in her mind? She said as much.

“I was giving you purpose, Nee.” Astra’s wide-eyed innocence didn’t work on Niamh.

“Don’t call me that.”

She held up her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I won’t.”

“And you weren’t giving me purpose. You were trying to turn me dark like you.”

Sadness flickered over Astra’s features. “Not dark, Niamh. I was trying to help you right the wrongs of this world while we’re stuck here. Does that make me dark? I never thought of it like that. I just wanted to make bad people pay for the evil things they’ve done. Vampires who kill. Humans who abuse. I thought you and I had that in common.”

“It’s not our job. We aren’t judge, jury, and executioner,” Niamh repeated Kiyo’s words. “And it’s not what you want. You want to open the gate. To destroy humanity.”

“No.” Astra leaned forward. “I want to return home to where we belong. Aine said the gate will close behind us.”

“If you’ve seen what I’ve seen, you know it won’t.”

Astra shrugged. “That’s merely a possibility. And a risk I’m willing to take to go home. I want my brother and my sisters with me.” Tears filled her eyes. “Thea is already lost now that she’s a filthy dog … Rose