Because of the nice weather, Devon invited Kianna to go with him. He also invited Selina and Calvin, who didn’t blink at the opportunity to escape schoolwork and their chores.
“What about the field,” Kianna said, eyeing her mother and Giles already working.
“I’ll make it up when we get back,” he promised. “You know I can.”
Finally, she agreed and they went into the village.
The first thing Devon did when they arrived was to take them to the sweets shop. Devon told them to get whatever they wanted.
Kianna tugged his arm. “You don’t need to spend your money on us.”
Devon offered her a small smile, his heart happy to see she was worried about that, but even happier knowing he could give her so much more. “I want to.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek and her face warmed. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
He saw the question in the knot of her brow, but once again, he was glad she didn’t ask.
Devon hurried out of the shop and went directly to the alley where he usually met the warriors. This time, Ryder waited for him.
“We found out who the man and his demons are,” he said as soon as he saw the warrior approaching.
Devon halted before him, bracing himself. “Who?”
“They are members of the D’Ingur Order,” Ryder said. “As we suspected.”
Devon cursed under his breath. This wasn’t good. If the D’Ingur Order was after Kianna, then it meant the gods were right. Maybe not about her being evil, but about the darkness inside of her. About evil people using her darkness for evil things.
Ryder promised to look more into it and to search for the D’Ingur Order, while Devon kept Kianna safe. Or kept the world safe from Kianna.
Frustration laced the warrior’s muscles and even though he saw Kianna, Selina, and Calvin laughing when he came back to them at the shop, he was still apprehensive. It was only a matter of time before the D’Ingur Order came after Kianna again. He couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t. He would protect her and her family, and kill every one of those evil men and demons.
If Kianna noticed how tense Devon was on their way home, she hid it well. Instead, she hooked her arm with his and batted her long lashes at him, making her blue eyes shine even brighter. An urge to stop right in the middle of the road and kiss her hit him hard, and he only didn’t because the kids were running and playing as they walked.
Devon glanced at Kianna, then Selina and Calvin, and his chest filled with affection … with love. Even though he was a warrior, even though he knew he shouldn’t have human feelings, he couldn’t help it.
He loved them, plain and simple.
Back at the farm, Devon handed a bag of candy to Selina and Calvin. The kids snatched it from his hands and raced into the manor.
Kianna blinked at Devon. “That’s a lot of sugar. If they don’t sleep tonight, you’re the one taking care of them.”
Devon slipped his hands on hers. “I wouldn’t mind.” He glanced past her shoulder, to the field in the back. He had to make up the time lost while out with Kianna and the kids, but he wanted a few more seconds with her. “Come on.”
He tugged her to the cherry tree and the bench beside the lake. He sat down, but Kianna didn’t. She pulled her shoes and socks off and lifted her dress to her knees, then she stepped into the lake.
“Ah,” she said with a sigh. “This is refreshing.”
The sun shone on the lake’s surface. Kianna’s hair looked as if it was made of fire, and her smile was contagious. Devon’s heart squeezed. And once more, he wondered how such a beautiful and kind person could have so much darkness inside of her. Why was it her? Why not someone else, with a rotten heart and soul?
Devon felt the tug around his middle, pulling him to her.
His eyes fixed on her, he followed it.
“Devon?” she asked, seeing as he was coming right for her.
He didn’t stop. He wrapped his arms around her waist, brought his lips to hers, and took them into the lake.
Kianna let out a yelp against his lips, but that was her only protest. Half a second later, her arms were around his neck and she kissed him back. Her lips were soft and her cherry scent was like a drug. Devon would never tire