Kyler's Justice (Assassins of Gravas Book 3) - N.J. Walters Page 0,21
This was the only thing she’d never regret. Being with her sisters, having the chance to save them, was all that mattered.
“Etta?” Sera stepped out from the hallway, her gaze going from her to Maggs and finally to Ky. He was an intimidating sight, one that would frighten most. But like her sister, Sera smiled at him. “You came. Maggs said you would.”
What in the name of all the gods was going on? “Sera, what are you talking about?” Better she ask the questions than him. She didn’t want the girls frightened. They spent enough of their lives afraid.
Older than her sister, but still a child, Sera shrugged. “We both had dreams. Maggs drew him.” She tilted her head to one side, appearing far too adult in her inspection. “I think he’s the same man in the picture, although it’s hard to tell with his hood up.”
He began pushing buttons on the data pad. Maggs gave a cry of anguish and lurched forward, grabbing onto his legs. “Don’t.”
He paused and seemed to slump, but his fingers went back to work. Huge tears rolled down Maggs’s face. Etta wrapped Maggs in her arms. “It’s okay, baby.”
Sera hurried forward and hugged her sister as her precious pictures were deleted from the memory and the backup.
“I’m sorry.” He handed the data pad back. “It’s not safe for you to have those.”
Maggs hugged the screen to her chest and nodded.
To Etta’s utter shock, he hunkered down beside the girl and gently took her face in his hand. “If the wrong people saw them, they might harm you.”
He was protecting Maggs, not trying to hurt her.
Etta’s heart began to race. Maybe she could make a deal with him. Maybe he would help. “Okay, girls, time to go back to bed.” She kept her voice calm but brisk.
The light of hope in Sera’s eyes faded, leaving a bleakness that broke Etta’s heart. “It was only a dream.” She took her sister by the hand and led her away. Maggs waved over her shoulder, and then the door to their room quietly closed.
Taking a deep breath to calm the jitters in her stomach, she faced Ky. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you, but you have to promise you’ll protect the girls. No matter what.” If he didn’t kill her for what she’d done, then Helldrick, her brother, or the Gravasians would.
“What makes you think I’ll keep my word if I make a deal?”
Here was where things got tricky. “Given what I know now, I’m assuming the Gravasians sent you. You’re either one of them or employed by them.”
He neither confirmed nor denied.
She understood why he wore the cloak now. It wasn’t just to hide his identity—although that was likely the main reason—it was intimidating to know he could see her while it hid his expression. There was no way to know what he was thinking.
Her mouth went dry but fear for her sisters made her press on. “I don’t know much about Gravas.” No one did. “But I heard their word is their bond.”
He inclined his head slightly.
Relief flashed over her, a cool breeze against her overheated body. “Um, I guess you can talk to your employer, then. I’ll cooperate, tell them everything I know, do whatever they want. All they have to do is protect my sisters. If I do this, Balthazar might take his anger out on them. And Helldrick won’t do a thing to stop him. I don’t know if they have family on Darkata or not. Their mother never mentioned anyone. But you could find them a good home. A safe one. Please.” She’d never begged in her life, not for herself. But for her sisters, she’d go down on her knees.
She started to do just that, but Ky grabbed her arm and pulled her upright. “Don’t.”
Defeat almost crushed her and she nodded. “Don’t hurt them. That’s all I ask. They’re only children.”
“They’re dangerous. The youngest is a seer. Likely the older one, too.”
She’d heard whispers about their mother, but Yonna had never confirmed or denied. But it made a certain kind of sense. Helldrick was drawn to any kind of power and wouldn’t have hesitated to use her for his own gains.
Neither girl had shown signs of their mother’s talent until tonight. She hadn’t seen it, even though it was there. Maybe she hadn’t wanted to. Secrets. They were all good at keeping them. Even Ky.