Chapter 33
“Hey, girl.” She flopped down and rolled over, exposing her fluffy belly. I crouched and gave her a little scratch, playing with the fur just below her neck. Her hind leg started kicking in the air, and I laughed to myself, watching her squirm from the ticklish spot.
“Zion hasn't come back yet?” I asked, glancing around. I couldn't catch his scent anywhere. She ignored my question and made room for me to lie down beside her.
“I'm not rolling around on the rug with you today—my back can't handle it,” I complained, gesturing to my aching spine. She looked at me curiously, her sky-blue eyes shining. Then she got up and nudged my butt with her nose, pushing me toward the stairs.
“Yeah, I know I stink—you don't have to tell me,” I joked, heading upstairs. My skin reeked of the hospital.
I climbed the stairs with Kiara in tow. I put on some calm music and, while soaking my sore muscles in the bathtub, started recounting the whole afternoon.
I kept my eyes closed, a thick layer of cucumber mask slathered on for my dark circles, but I knew Kiara was watching me.
She probably didn't understand half of what I was saying about the surgery, but she listened anyway, and that alone was comforting.
“...what I mean is, if it works out, it'll be spectacularly good for my résumé, but if it goes wrong...
I'll be neck-deep in shit,” I told the chimera while stroking her head beside the bathtub.
“Look on the bright side—now you have a friend who not only understands neural surgery but can actually perform it.
That doesn't mean you should go taking risks out there, but if you hit your head during a flight, I can patch you up.”
She rubbed her cold nose against my wrist, and I kept scratching her ear. Then I wiped the cream from my eyes and looked at her. The chimera tilted her head slightly, studying me with curiosity.
“I'm happy,” I told her. Kiara wagged her tail as if she understood.
“Nervous and anxious to find out how the surgery went, but I'm happy.
I did something that'll go down in history—something bigger than anything Ambrose ever achieved.
If it works out, we'll raise the bar for neural surgery!
I swear, if everything goes well, you're getting two bowls of food filled to the brim.”
Her tail started wagging even harder, swinging in every direction. That thing had enough force to knock me across the room. Then she licked my hand and mouthed it gently—a clear sign she was hungry.
“I know, I know... I'm hungry too. We'll go downstairs to eat in a minute.”
She rested her head on the edge of the bathtub, sniffing.
“I'm happy, really happy about the surgery, but I have to admit it's not just because of that. Having you with me all this time is one of the biggest reasons,” I murmured, leaning closer and reaching out with both hands to smooth her leonine whiskers.
She snorted in my face. “I don't think my life would make as much sense if I came back to this house and it was empty. And now... maybe... Zion will stay.”
Her tail stopped moving, as if she'd grown apprehensive too.
“Yeah, I know he's stubborn, but I... like having him around.”
Kiara gave me the same judgmental look she had yesterday when I'd come home reeking of air freshener and arousal.
“No, it's not because of that,” I explained with a laugh, giving her ear a little flick.
She shook her ears playfully. “Stop judging me over that whole thing—you know I can't control this biological attraction.
I like having him around in a way I can't explain.
It's almost like I could feel safe anywhere in the world, as long as he's with me.
I feel good. Maybe it's just the bond making me delude myself, but I don't think so.
I really do like having him around, now that I've started to understand his past.”
Kiara snorted in agreement.
“I saw the real Zion yesterday, and... it wasn't what I expected.”
Kiara snorted again.
“So, getting to know other sides of him is a good thing—maybe I can understand him better. Actually, I need to ask about Kaori. I'm curious to know more about the bastard gorgon who brought the matriarchs to their knees.”
My mind started wandering, imagining all the adventures they must have had together. I still needed to learn Akira's story, but I was certain that would be a difficult topic, which was why I wouldn't ask—I'd let him tell me when he was ready, even though I was curious.
“There's so much I need to ask him—I don't even know where to start.”
My stomach rumbled loudly, echoing through the bathroom and cutting off my thoughts. Kiara stared at my belly from over the edge of the tub as if there were some creature in there, her ears perked up in surprise. I just laughed and ruffled her fur.
“Enough talking—let's go eat.” I stood up and wrapped myself in my bathrobe. Then I heard a growl behind me. Kiara was glaring at me furiously.
“What's wrong, Kiara?” I asked, startled.
“Well, well, your little pet doesn't like me.” Serguei's voice echoed in my head, and I jumped.
“And that’s supposed to be a surprise after you threatened to torture her?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“I merely put her to sleep, and don’t speak so openly about torture—she doesn’t need to know those details,” he replied with feigned offense.
I huffed indignantly.
“What do you want here, Serguei?”
“I came to collect on the favor.”
A shiver ran up my spine. I wasn’t prepared to have the favor called in so soon, and now that I thought about it properly, I was afraid of what he might ask.
“And what would that be?”
“I want you to come have dinner with me,” he said without preamble.
I frowned, wondering if I’d heard him right.
“You heard me right—I want you to come have dinner with me.”
Serguei and me having dinner together—Zion wouldn’t think that was a good idea.
“Are you sure that’s what you want? Isn’t there a second option?” Kiara continued to glare at me furiously.
“The second option is being my training partner for a month. I haven’t had anyone to practice with—they’re all afraid of me.”
No way would I train with him—Zion flaying my hide was more than enough. I shuddered just thinking about it.
“That’s what I thought,” he replied smugly. “Next weekend is my birthday, and I’d like you to come.”
“I need to talk to Zion. He doesn’t even know we’ve met,” I explained, heading toward the closet.
“Zion should come too—it’ll be a family celebration.”
“Zion?” I asked, surprised.
“Do you have some kind of reading comprehension problem, child? Zion should come. Him, me, and you. The three of us,” he mocked.
“No way. That’ll be a total disaster if what you said about you two not getting along is true.”
“A deal’s a deal, Kyller. Besides, what better time for you two to talk than with me there? I probably know more than both of you combined. And you can bring the book—I’ll unlock it before you leave.”
The offer about the book was tempting.
“Zion hasn’t arrived yet—I don’t know where he is.” It was the only excuse I had left to stall.
“Zion’s been in his room for twenty minutes—you just don’t pay attention,” he mocked.
Once again, I was surprised. If he’d been here for twenty minutes, then he must have heard everything I’d been saying to Kiara...
“He probably heard—I can’t say for sure. It’s been almost two hundred years since I’ve dared to enter his mental barriers, but I was listening. Your thoughts about him are so adorable.”
Embarrassment flooded me instantly. I wanted to scream at him for being so invasive, but that would only make things worse.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t monitor my thoughts like that. It makes me uncomfortable,” I said, containing my annoyance.
“It’s impossible not to hear when you’re shouting all of them.
My mental barrier protects you from other telepaths, but it doesn’t protect you from me.
I’m looking forward to seeing what your barriers will be like,” he explained excitedly.
I had the feeling Serguei was perpetually ecstatic about everything—was he on some kind of drug?
“Life is the only drug I insist on using, Kyller. So heavy there’s no room for other intoxicants.”
I avoided thinking anything else that might insult him. Having Serguei listening to my every thought was a problem, and these mental conversations only made me realize my mind wasn’t as kind as I’d imagined.
“Could you at least not embarrass me with my own thoughts? It’s fine that you read them, but could you just pretend you don’t?”
Serguei was quiet for a moment.
“Is that another deal?”
I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath.
“No! Enough with the deals. This is a simple request.”
“Then nothing doing. I’ll be expecting you next Saturday at 8 p.m. at the royal palace. Don’t be late, Kyller!”
The presence disappeared.
I begged all the gods—any who could hear me—that Zion wouldn’t be angry about this. I didn’t know what kind of relationship he had with his father, but Serguei had mentioned it was a bit complicated—I just hoped it wasn’t too bad.
I put on the lingerie and wrapped myself in a long silver satin robe.
My stomach rumbled again, and Kiara scratched at the floor.
I opened the vanity drawer to grab a brush and spotted the two vouchers for Lemon’s that I’d gotten from Adele.
My belly rumbled once more. Could I order delivery?
I grabbed both vouchers and left the room to look for my phone, but Kiara shot ahead of me, weaving between my feet and making me stumble, then bounded downstairs and stopped near her food bowl, which was already full—practically overflowing—on the coffee table.
Downstairs, I found Zion standing near the stairs. His hair was loose, styled in a way that accentuated his square jaw. He was well-dressed—a turtleneck underneath and an elegant gray overcoat on top. His eyes shone intensely.
“Hello, doctor,” he said, his voice eager.
I didn’t know whether to worry or melt at the playful, sexy tone of his voice. My toes curled.