Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,52

striking. “I thought I’d find you here.” She went straight to Spear, leaned down, and kissed him. Even crazier, he kissed her back, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck to keep her there.

Had he entered an alternate reality? Maybe he was still unconscious. That was the only way to explain his brother openly showing affection to a woman. When they separated, Ivar cleared his throat. “I take it I missed something.”

All softness evaporated from the woman’s gaze. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “So this is Ivar.”

“And you are?”

“Sass.”

This was Delphi’s sister? The two women looked nothing alike. But then they weren’t actually related by blood, but by circumstance. “Delphi mentioned you.”

“Did she?”

Why was Sass angry with him? He glanced at Spear but got nothing but a blank stare. Great, his brother had clearly used up his quota of emotion for the next solar month.

There was obviously a lot he needed to catch up on, but this woman was close to Delphi. Pride urged him to keep his mouth shut. After all, she’d walked away from him. But his gut was telling him something was wrong. There was something he was missing, wasn’t seeing.

It was usually his strength—to see beneath the surface of what people said and did. It was what made him such an excellent long-range scout. He’d never admit it, but his head was still a bit addled.

He swallowed hard. “Would you check on her? Please?”

Sass slowly unwound her arms. “Why?”

“She wasn’t herself when she was here.” The more he thought about what she’d said, thought about her actions, the more certain he became. “Something isn’t right with her.”

The hell with sending someone else. He had to see for himself. If she tried to walk away again, he’d follow her until she talked to him. He tossed back the sheet and eased his legs over the side of the bed. He was barefoot and only wore a pair of loose pants. It was good enough.

“Where are you going?” Spear stood in front of him, blocking the exit.

“To find Delphi. Now get the fuck out of my way.” He tried to go around his brother but found his way blocked.

“You don’t know where she is.”

“I’ll find her.” He’d tear the ship apart if he had to, but it wouldn’t come to that. “Computer, where is Delphi?” Being a prince had its perks. His voice print would bypass all security.

“Delphi is on Deck two, cabin “D,” the computer replied.

“Don’t hurt her.” It was a plea and a threat from Sass.

Ivar held on to his patience, but only just. He needed to get to Delphi. “That’s the last thing I want to do.”

“Whatever happened between the two of you on Tortuga, it changed her. She’s withdrawn. I stopped in to see her before I came here. Her door is locked and she won’t answer.” Sass’s worry heightened his.

“She won’t keep me out,” he promised.

“Think carefully before you do anything,” Spear warned. He wrapped his arm around Sass and pulled her close. “There are consequences for actions. Be sure you’re ready for them.”

This was his brother—the man he’d idolized as a kid, the one who’d taught him much of what he knew about defending himself—and Delphi’s sister. They deserved the truth.

“I want to be with her, if she’ll have me. If that means I never step foot on Gravas again, so be it.” His world had strict rules about outsiders, but Delphi was his heart. He’d miss his family if he was banished from his world, but his brothers would visit wherever he ended up. And in truth, he was used to being gone more than he was being there, his missions taking him away for months at a time.

Spear stepped aside, drawing Sass with him. Ivar stalked out of the room and headed where the computer had directed him, ignoring the startled looks he received from everyone he passed.

When he was outside her chamber, he hit the call button. “Delphi, open up.” Silence. He tried again. “We need to talk.”

He placed his hand on the door. She was trying to keep him out.

Consequences.

He pressed his forehead against the panel. She was still trying to protect him, even now. “I won’t let you do it. Not this time. Computer, override security, open door, and secure it behind me.”

“Overriding security.”

The room was dark. He stepped inside and the computer followed instructions. “Lights on low,” he ordered.

There was no movement from the lump under the bedcovers. “Go away.”