the action. Even if I’d do it all over again to save Tommy… when I decided to enter Fyrlia territory alone, to actively prevent him from following me there, I’d cut the cord between us.
He was adrift.
Be the bigger person.
I whispered, knowing full-well he could hear. “I’m sorry that you feel so shitty after what happened with Clan Fyrlia. I think you need space, so I’m calling Fred to come get me and take me back to the es—”
The door to his room slammed open against the wall. Into the wall.
Kyros stalked out, stopping halfway down the hall. He crossed his arms, and I swallowed hard as my eyes roamed over his bare chest. Sweatpants on this vampire should be illegal. The ridges of his abs disappeared under the dark waistband, and I dragged my gaze back to his arms and the expanse of his pecs.
The current I hadn’t felt since the fourth thrall ended began to vibrate again.
Oh yeah. The blood bond definitely wanted our pelvises on speaking terms.
Having been there once with Kyros, I was in no way adverse to a repeat performance. Especially because it would close the emotional gap between us to some degree. Or was it unwise to use sex for that reason?
“You will not leave this house.” His deep voice rumbled down the hall.
We just needed pistols to make this a stand-off.
“Yes, I am. It’s for the best,” I said calmly.
Kyros stepped forward, meadow-green eyes blazing. “Try it.”
Rolling my eyes, I steadied myself on the wall to turn on my heel.
Reaching my room, I ripped out the bag Fred dropped off last week, throwing my few belongings into it.
The bag was torn from my hands.
I blinked as it crashed against the far wall. Heat flooded my cheeks. “Kyros, you have some fucking nerve trying to stop me when you haven’t uttered a single word in a week.”
His short laugh twisted with bitterness. “The problem in this is me?”
Stay calm.
Kyros was precariously close to losing control. Not only was that bad for the human in close proximity, but he’d feel worse afterward.
“I’ll always do whatever is needed to save Tommy, just as you’d do for your family.” I tipped my head back to meet his gaze. “I’m not sorry for meeting Theodore, I’m not sorry for calling your siblings to stop you coming after me, but I am sorry for how it made you feel. As I’ve said.” Multiple times.
Inwardly and outwardly, I watched him struggle for control over his alpha power. His body shook with the effort. Closing my eyes, I sent him calm, soothing thoughts. We’d managed to send each other cautionary vibes a few times, and his emotions gave me strength two weeks ago. I wasn’t sure if calm thoughts would be any help right now, but it was worth a try.
When I peeked again, his shaking had stopped.
Good. “It’s best if I go—”
His roar shook a painting off the wall.
Not good!
My heart erupted into a flurry, and my legs folded. I sank onto the bed behind me, wide eyes locked on the furious Vissimo.
He took one look at me, cutting off the roar, and his anguish swept through me, leaving a heartsick ache in its path that belonged to both of us.
Why was this so damn hard? Why couldn’t he understand that I didn’t blame him for not saving me? I’d saved myself. He was furious that I’d made him powerless in the equation. I got it.
If the tables were turned, he’d have zero qualms locking me in a room to go save his family.
Kyros strode to the door, gripping the framing. It cracked under his hand, and his shoulders heaved as he said, “Do not leave this house.”
He wanted me here but didn’t want anything to do with me?
Kyros felt inadequate. Welcome to the fucking club. No one but Kyros could make himself feel worthy again, certainly not me. This was his battle.
And yet I hated witnessing such uncertainty in someone who’d walked this earth for so long. This bottomless, falling feeling was horrible. It was like he’d given up the right to our blood bond.
I sighed. “I’ll stay if you sit down and talk to me tomorrow morning instead of waiting until I fall asleep to leave for work. You’re one hundred and fifty years old, not thirty.”
Apparently the thirties were a hard time for Vissimo.
He didn’t turn. “You want to negotiate? Here’s a negotiation for you, Basilia. Stay in the house, and I won’t kill the Indebted who