Bound by Forever - (True Immortality #3) Page 0,98
is making things difficult consorting with the queen’s consort … please tell me I haven’t lost you too.”
“You never had me.”
Fury blazed in Astra’s eyes, the gold dancing like flame.
And then abruptly they were amber again.
Wearing a mask of tranquility, Astra settled back in her chair and a coffee cup appeared in her hand. So blatant. So uncaring of the humans around them.
She took a casual sip, studying Niamh over the rim of the cup.
“He’s not worth it, you know,” Astra said. “Your distraction from the mission. No dog is worth it.”
If the cow called Kiyo a dog or any other insulting adjective one more time … Holding on to her restraint, trying not to give herself away, Niamh shrugged. “Why does he bother you? Are you afraid of him?”
“Please,” Astra scoffed. “I’m an immortal fae. He’s a furry speck in the landscape of time that no one will remember.”
She didn’t know he was immortal.
Thank goodness.
Niamh relaxed marginally. “Then what’s your problem with him? Other than your glaringly obvious prejudice, of course.”
Astra scowled. “At first, I really had no problem with him. I didn’t mind that someone else was there for you while I couldn’t be, to look out for you while you were so vulnerable after Ronan’s death. But then the dog began to influence you in ways I didn’t like. He guided you off our mission.”
“It wasn’t my mission. You took advantage of me when I was at my weakest.”
“I don’t see it that way.”
“Of course you don’t.”
“But I’m sorry if you feel I did something to betray you. That was never my intention. You’re my sister.”
“We’re not sisters,” Niamh hissed, energy crackling angrily around her.
Astra smirked. “There she is. Buried beneath that placid persona is my furious, raging, powerful sibling.”
Niamh immediately calmed.
Astra laughed. “But there’s that self-control of yours I loathe.”
“You can’t change me,” Niamh warned her. “I am who I am, and I know I’m on the right side. You can’t make me help you open the gate. I will fight you every step of the way. You’ll never get me close to that gate.”
Astra gave her a small, smug, knowing smile. “I thought so too. I mean, I don’t need you willing, but with you so focused on your pet wolf, it would be very hard to get you where I need you to be. However … I had a vision. It turns out Kiyo is going to be very useful to me, after all.”
Worry burned through Niamh. Despite how hurt she was, her first instinct was still to protect the bastard.
“Haven’t you wondered?” Astra leaned forward again, her gaze filled with scorn. “Why you feel such a deep, abiding connection to the dirty lupine? I know you have, Niamh.”
Her pulse raced as suspicions she’d kept buried fluttered to the fore.
Astra nodded, expression smug. “Yes, you have. Because you know the signs. And he wouldn’t be able to share your visions unless you shared an incredible bond. The only reason you’ve discarded the idea is because you can’t sense his feelings nor he yours.”
Her adrenaline kicked into high gear. “How do you know all that?”
“My vision helped me understand quite a bit.”
Before Niamh could respond, the familiar scent of earth and smoke caught her attention.
Astra grinned triumphantly. “Perfect timing.”
No!
Niamh glanced behind her, fear filling her at the sight of Kiyo hurrying toward them, his angry gaze focused on Astra. Niamh knew when he recognized Astra from the vision they’d shared because he began to run.
No! Kiyo, no! She pushed up from her chair to stop him, but a blur moved past her, kicking her hair around her face.
And suddenly Kiyo was struggling as Astra held him in her viselike grip. Niamh flew at them, not caring if any humans witnessed their strange interaction.
“Stop!” Astra shouted, raising a syringe over Kiyo’s chest. Niamh skidded to a halt.
Kiyo’s shoulder jerked, as if he was preparing to fight, but quite abruptly, there was a crack and he went limp in Astra’s arms. It was a strange sight—an elegantly built woman, holding a tall, muscled, unconscious male like he weighed nothing.
Niamh’s palms were slick with sweat as she stared at Kiyo’s broken neck. Rage rushed through her. She moved, ready to rip Astra’s head off, when the fae lifted the syringe.
“Ah, ah,” she warned.
Niamh’s eyes narrowed on the silver liquid inside it.
“Do you know what my vision was about, Niamh?”
She shook her head, baring her teeth at the fae bitch.