all of this.”
Annika didn’t answer and lowered her gaze. It was an act that spoke of shame. She sat staring at her hands clasped in her lap. Kieran sighed. His gut was churning with anger and betrayal.
“Claire, go get me the real scepter.” He watched as Claire darted into her bedroom. He looked back at Annika.“You could have told me the truth from the beginning and I would have helped you. I would have helped Claire if you would have asked me to.”
Annika still wouldn’t look at him.
Claire walked back in with The Scepter. She handed it to Kieran and then backed away. She was still clearly frightened of him. Kieran could feel the magical pulse from the object he held in his hand. He knew it was the real deal.
He looked back at Annika one last time.
“I loved you.” It was accusatory and she knew it.
She finally looked up at him and her lovely lavender eyes were brimming with tears. “I know. But I told you I had nothing good to offer you.”
Kieran looked at her for just a moment. “You were right. You have nothing good to offer me.” He turned on his heel and walked out the door.
CHAPTER 23
Kieran immediately returned to Kestevayne. Walking to Carrick and Ava’s apartments, he was still in disbelief over Annika’s treachery. He wanted to wring her neck. No, he wanted to kiss her neck. Fuck. I’m going crazy.
Knocking briefly on their door, Kieran didn’t even wait to hear the invite but walked right in. Just great. He saw Carrick and Ava lying on their couch, making out like a couple of teenage kids. He closed his eyes and cleared his throat.
“Kieran,” Ava said in surprise. “You’re back.”
Kieran opened his eyes to see Ava trying to set up on the couch, but Carrick wasn’t letting her out of his grasp. He still hand his mouth hovering over hers and he heard him say, “Tell him to go away. We don’t want visitors right now.”
“Oh, stop it Carrick and let me up.” Ava gave a great heave and pushed him off of her. Standing from the couch, she looked at Kieran expectantly.
“Here it is.” Kieran handed The Scepter over to Ava. Relief flashed across her face and then she gave him a huge grin.
“You are the most super-duper brother-in-law a girl could have!” She reached out and gave him a hard hug. Looking behind him, she asked, “Where’s Annika? I want to give her a hug too.”
Kieran must have had a look on his face as if someone had died, because Ava cried out in alarm. “Is Annika okay?”
Kieran held up his hands in reassurance. “She’s fine. At least physically fine, the last I saw. I left her in Balvraine.”
Carrick stood up from the sofa. “You left her in Balvraine?”
Kieran ignored him. “I need a drink.”
He walked over to their liquor cabinet and opened it up. Bypassing the honey wine, he pulled out a bottle of Jack Daniels Ava had brought back with her when she and Carrick went on vacation in Wyoming. He didn’t even bother with a glass. He walked over to the sofa and flung himself on it. Opening the bottle, he took a long drink.
“Kieran, you are seriously starting to worry me. Please tell us what is going on,” Ava pleaded.
Carrick didn’t say anything but walked over to the liquor cabinet and grabbed a glass. He walked to the sofa and handed it to Kieran. Kieran took the glass, looked at it briefly, and set it on the table. He took another swig from the bottle and just glared at Carrick, daring him to say something.
Looking at Ava, and waving the bottle he held with flourish, he said, “It appears dear Annika, the woman I thought I loved, was the one that stole The Scepter.”
Kieran looked at Ava and Carrick. He had expected cries of outrage. They looked at him skeptically.
“It’s true. And I swear I’m not drunk…yet.”
Carrick sighed and sat down on the couch. He pulled the bottle from Kieran’s hand, poured a glass and handed the bottle back. He took a swallow from the glass.
“You better tell us everything.” Ava walked over and sat down on Carrick’s lap. She took the glass from him and also took a swallow. Carrick wrapped his hands around Ava’s waist and she settled back against him. Kieran looked at them both and for the first time he felt envy. I almost had that.
“I’ll make the story short,then I’m stealing the rest