Daimon (Guardians of Hades #6) - Felicity Heaton Page 0,106

on the back of his head, was deeply aware of the others as they stared at him. Was he meant to say something? About Aiko? About Esher? About the daemon?

He was too tired.

Keras sank to his backside in an open spot at the long table and stared at the empty plate and bowl set before him. Ares was kind enough to fill them for him.

Although load them up might have been a more appropriate choice of words.

When his plate was overflowing with meat and vegetables, and his bowl held a mound of rice so high that it was in danger of toppling over, he looked at his brother.

Ares eased into the seat opposite him and hefted his broad shoulders in a shrug. “You need to eat.”

Keras stared at the food. None of it appealed to him. He was hungry for answers, not sustenance.

He picked at the food though, eating small mouthfuls to appease Ares and get his brother off his back. If he didn’t eat, Ares would dog him until he gave up. The others would make a fuss.

He wanted them all gone, busy with other things, their eyes no longer on him.

Megan swayed to her right and leaned against Ares’s shoulder, a sigh escaping her as she rubbed her belly. “I’m so full but she wants more.”

Ares chuckled and covered her hand with his. “She has my appetite.”

They had recently discovered the baby was a female, not a male as they had been expecting.

That news had been enough to place several of his brothers on edge.

It had placed him on edge too.

None of them wanted what had happened to Calindria to happen to another female in their family.

He cursed the Moirai for making the child female.

Females were vulnerable, weaker than males.

An image of Enyo flashed across his mind, sword a silver arc as she gracefully cut through a horde of enemies, her moves more like a well-choreographed dance than a fight. She spun and dropped, the black leather pieces of her skirt lifting upwards as she hit the ground and rolled. Her onyx hair flowed behind her as she came onto her feet in a lightning fast move, the silver plates on her armour flashing as they caught the bright sunlight.

She decapitated the warrior she faced and twisted, soft green eyes bright with the high of battle.

Perhaps not all females were weaker and more vulnerable than males.

Keras dropped his head and rubbed his temples, harder and harder, trying to purge thoughts of her. Emotions tangled inside him, had him shaking with a need to reach into his pocket and seek the calm oblivion of another pill.

It was getting harder to stop the feelings from coming.

“Keras,” Megan murmured, concern in her tone.

He shook his head, hoping to stop her before she could ask him what was wrong, before she could show more feelings for him that would only stir emotions in response.

“I am just tired.” He pushed to his feet and didn’t miss the way Ares looked at the food he had barely touched. Hoping to fend off his brother before he could make a fuss, he smiled tightly. “I will eat more later once I have slept and am feeling better.”

Ares continued to stare at him, a calculating edge to his sharp gaze, and then he gave a slight nod. “Fine. But I’m holding you to that.”

Keras drifted away from them, the sound of the conversation that surged to life the moment he was out of sight drifting into the background as he trod the well-worn boards of the walkway.

Thankfully, Cassandra had vacated his room, moving into Daimon’s one instead.

He eased the panel that acted as a door open and then slid it closed behind him.

Turned towards it.

Kneeled.

He rested his palms on his thighs, closed his eyes and waited.

It wasn’t long before the house fell silent and still.

He focused his senses, sharpening his internal radar until he could pinpoint everyone. They were all in their rooms.

All except Daimon and Cassandra.

Keras pushed to his feet, shook it off when he wobbled a little, fatigue rolling over him, and opened the door of his room. Cool air kissed his skin as he stepped out onto the walkway and cloaked himself in shadows, moving stealthily past the other bedrooms in the south wing of the house.

When he reached the separate building that contained Esher’s cage and the daemon, he let the shadows dissipate and pushed the wooden door open.

“You look like shit,” Daimon muttered as he glanced at him, lifting his gaze