39. Kiron
By the time we pulled up in front of Ash Harbor Apartments, Sina was struggling to keep her eyes open.
On the ride here I’d kept her in front of me, her legs wrapped around my waist, her head on my chest. Her arms were snuggled up around my middle under my shirt, skin against skin.
I killed the engine and rested a foot on the ground, smoothing slow circles on her back.
“Sina, baby. Let’s get you upstairs.”
“Hmm?” She opened her eyes and looked around. “You brought me home? I thought it might not be safe to be here,” she asked, her arms tightening around me.
I didn’t think she realized she was doing it, that she was seeking comfort from me. My dragon stretched lazily beneath my ribs, pleased and smug.
‘Mine.’
I ignored him. Or tried to. He’d been unbearable since the diner this morning.
I kissed the top of her head. “You’re probably right about that, princess.
But you need a change of clothes at the very least. Plus your place was a lot closer than the island, and driving that far with you asleep, especially without a helmet, isn’t something I wanted to risk. ”
“Wait, where is your helmet?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get it later.” I’d forgotten it at the bluff when my focus shifted entirely to Sina, and I hadn’t cared enough to go back for it. “Let’s just get you inside. I think we should stay here for the night.”
She lifted her head enough to meet my gaze, eyes soft and heavy with exhaustion. “Thank you. I really do need to shower and change.”
I brushed my thumb over her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin, the steady rhythm of her breathing now that the panic from earlier had faded.
I hated that she had been so terrified to learn about the rogue.
My dragon puffed smoke in frustration. He’d urged me to tell her about him, even now he was agitated.
He didn't understand that she might be afraid and I wasn’t willing to risk it. Not yet anyways.
“Come on Sina, I’ve got you.” I slid off the bike first, keeping one arm around her as I helped her down.
She swayed the second her feet hit the pavement, and I caught her easily, pulling her against my chest. Her hands fisted in my shirt without thinking, like letting go wasn’t an option.
“Easy, little spitfire. You can sleep soon.”
She nodded against me, already half asleep again.
I guided her toward the entrance, every sense on high alert, scanning the shadows, the windows, the parked cars. The rogue might be out there somewhere, but right now all I cared about was getting her inside and safe.
A streak of white darted across the parking lot and launched itself straight at my face.
“What the fuck?!” Razor-sharp teeth sank into my forearm. I shook him like a ragdoll, and when he went flying, I hissed in irritation. A chunk of skin and leather went with him. “Fucking furball,” I spat, staring at the torn sleeve of my jacket. “Why the hell are you attacking me?”
Harlow hit the pavement growling, back arched like an angry ferret.
Was he pissed that I brought her here? Did he think I wasn’t capable of protecting her?
A pulse of heat rolled through my ribs and tightened my jaw. I growled right back. My dragon simmered just below the surface, reminding him exactly how much bigger I was than his scrappy little ass.
Did that deter him?
Not even a little bit. The little shit didn’t back down. Either he had a death wish, or he was really pissed at me.
I'm going with the latter .
“You're picking a fight you can't win!” I barked, wiping blood on my jeans with a scowl as the bite sealed itself shut almost immediately. “You ripped my favorite jacket, you little rabbit. I should turn you into a scarf.”
He snarled louder.
“Ghost, no !” Sina rushed forward and scooped him up before I could lunge again, cradling him against her chest like I was the threat here. I snapped my teeth at him anyway, a warning rumble building in my chest.
“Leave him alone, you big lug!” she scolded me, shoving my chest.
“He flew at my face like a furry missile!” I shot back. “I didn’t do shit.”
Harlow growled low in his chest, hackles rising.
No way was I telling Sina that the fluffy menace she was holding was actually a vampire with a violence problem, and he was just as obsessed with her as I was. I’d told her about the rogue. The rest of our mess was going to have to be someone else’s confession.
I glared at the tiny cotton ball. I got why he was pissed. Bringing her anywhere the rogue could potentially track wasn’t ideal. But she needed clothes, and I wasn’t dragging her somewhere she didn’t want to be. And I damn sure wasn’t leaving her unprotected either. I wasn’t an idiot.
“You probably scared him,” she pouted.
“Scared him?!” I stared at her incredulously. I was yelling now, but when did I become the fucking bad guy here?
Ghost immediately chirped and tucked himself under her chin. I had the sudden urge to strangle the little rodent, but this time not over my ruined jacket—this time because he made me look bad in front of Sina after all the hard work I did today to get her to trust me.
“ Unbelievable !” I pointed at him. “I'll get you back for this you little shit.”
She hugged him closer, glaring at me like I’d just kicked a puppy. “He’s just a baby, Kiron. Leave him alone! ”
She started cooing and rocking him like women do when soothing animals and babies. I fought the urge to roll my fucking eyes. This shit was ridiculous.
“He's a menace with a death wish. A ‘ baby ’ does not launch itself at someone’s throat from thirty feet away.”
“I’m so sorry,” she went on, completely ignoring me while she cradled him to her chest. “Did the mean ol’ vampire scare you? I know, I know.” She cooed. “I left you alone for two days! You thought I abandoned you.”
I stared at the fox and wished death upon my best friend. Harlow made a soft little huff and tucked his nose into her sweater like he was deeply traumatized. My eye twitched. Even in fox form, I recognized his smug-as-fuck smile as he peeked at me over her arm.
Fucker.
He was absolutely going to pay for making her mad at me.
Sina shifted the ball of fur in her arms and started toward the entrance, still murmuring soft nonsense to him while I followed. This time I didn’t fight the eye roll as we reached the front door of her building.
“Wow, Tim finally changed the locks.”
“What?” I asked.
“My landlord’s been saying he’d replace it for forever. I never thought he actually would.”
I glanced down at the fox in her arms. That hairball looked pleased with himself. Either he changed it himself or had Eli’s help. Either way I wasn’t going to let an opportunity to sabotage Harlow slip by me.
I grinned. “Sounds like something Nik would do.”
Sina nodded, pushing the door open. “Well I'm glad. It makes me feel safer. Think we could stay here tonight?”
Ghost let out a low, offended snarl.
Didn’t like that, did you ?
Nik getting the credit for what you did. I had the urge to stick my tongue out at him but barely refrained.
Sina immediately shushed him, stroking his head. “It’s okay, baby.”
A slow, petty kind of satisfaction curled through my chest. I hid my smirk behind my hand so Sina wouldn’t see it.
Served him right for ruining my jacket. If he thought that was his only punishment for being a fluffy menace he was mistaken though.