"Then how can you doubt him?" Rafael asked. "Damn, you people are stupid. I got to go before it rubs off."
Alexion stiffened. "You know, I take offense to that."
Rafael gave him a menacing glare. "Take offense all you want to, it doesn't change the facts." He looked at Danger. "C'mon, Little French Flower, restore my faith and tell me you don't believe it."
"No, I don't."
"Good girl," he said with a charming wink, "I knew I could depend on you."
Alexion shook his head and laughed.
Rafael leaned down to give Danger a quick peck on her cheek. "Later, Frenchie."
"Au revoir," she said as he headed off for his car.
Turning back to Alexion, who was watching her in a way that made her a bit nervous, she indicated the house with a tilt of her head. "Shall we?"
"Apres toi, ma petite."
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Fine, why?"
"I don't know. I'm getting a weird vibe from you. You're not jealous of Rafe, are you?"
Suddenly, he looked extremely uncomfortable. "We should go inside."
Stunned, Danger pulled him to a stop. "You're jealous?"
Alexion ground his teeth at her question. He knew how stupid his reaction was, but as Acheron would say, emotions didn't have brains. And he shouldn't have them at all. He hadn't had any feelings for a woman since the day his wife had let him die on the floor of their cottage.
Yet there was no denying what he felt at this moment. And what really bothered him the most was the knowledge that when he was gone, Rafael could still see Danger, talk to her, while the best he could hope for would be glimpses of her in the sfora.
It just wasn't right. And it made him angry that he had to leave the something special he'd found with her last night. It might be selfish and greedy, but he wanted more than to just leave her in a few days.
This is stupid and you know it.
He raked his hand through his hair. "Yeah, okay, so I was jealous for a minute. I didn't like the way he was looking at you."
"We're just friends."
It didn't stop it from tweaking a part of him that was unfamiliar to him, a part of him that wanted to keep her to himself. "I know."
Danger stood up on her tiptoes and cupped the back of his neck before she pulled him down for a hug. "You have nothing to fear, Ias."
He treasured those words... the fact that she used his name. It'd been far too long since anyone had talked to him like that. It made him feel human again.
He clenched his fist against her back as his heart pounded and tenderness flooded him. Closing his eyes, he wished he could stay right here in this moment with her forever.
Oh, to have that power. To make this one instant last for eternity.
But all too soon, she released him, and headed for Kyros's house. Alexion ground his teeth as he fought against the urge to call her back and hold her for just a little while longer.
It was stupid. They had a job to do.
He had to save Kyros.
As they neared the steps, Ephani came out the door, across the porch, and down the stairs to meet them. The Amazon was a full twelve inches taller than Danger. Lean and beautiful, she was as hard-boiled and surly as any man could hope to be. Her flaming red hair fell down her back from a silver barrette she had at the crown of her head.