Sweet Reckoning

“Kaidan!”

He threw his phone on the bed and shoved his hands roughly through his hair. “What have I done?”

I bent down to my book bag and took out my cell, then texted our planned emergency code to each of our allies to let them know the prophecy was starting. My hand trembled and I fumbled a little from the awkwardness of the handcuffs. I couldn’t believe this was finally happening. Kaidan was freaking out enough for the both of us, so I had to keep my cool. Immediately I deleted the messages and tucked the phone in my pocket.

He turned to me, desperate. “Anna—”

“Stop!” I pinned him with a serious look. “No more. Get it out of your head, Kai! We are not running. This is happening whether you like it or not. It’s time to get your game face on and get ready to kick some ass.”

He stared at me, mouth open. I was kind of shocked myself. My dad would probably have beat his chest with pride if he’d heard me say all that.

I waited for Kai to argue again, but instead he swallowed and gave me a single nod.

“You’re right.” He stood there a moment longer, still a little stunned. Then he came forward, took me by the handcuffs, and led me into the bathroom, closing us in.

“It’s more believable if I keep you in my sight,” he explained. Then he began to take off his clothes as he headed to the shower and turned it on.

I backed myself against the cool sink and watched as every piece of cloth shed from his body to the floor. I should have looked away, or pretended not to be interested, but I couldn’t. Kaidan was just . . . wow.

“You’re testing my self-control, luv.” He must have noticed my staring.

I looked away, but said, “You’re passing with flying colors.”

He growled low in his throat, and my body tightened.

“You should really get in the shower,” I said.

At that, he finally slipped in, closing the cloudy glass door. I let out a breath and relaxed against the sink. A text came through to my cell, rocketing my body into high alert, but I relaxed when I saw Veronica’s name. On my way to Spain!!! And check out my view. . . . She took a selfie pic and got the two guys next to her in the background—dark haired Spaniards, easy on the eyes. Hence her devious smile. I grinned, feeling emotional, and wrote back: I hope Spain is ready for you. <3 Big hugs, xoxo.

Delete.

I kept my eyes averted when Kai got out of the shower and dried off, though I could feel his gaze on me. I stayed in the bathroom while he went into the room and dressed, then I joined him.

He looked gorgeous in a pair of black trousers and a crisp button-up shirt, a pale shade of blue that brightened his eyes. The top two buttons were undone, and his hair was still damp.

“You look nice,” I said, which was an understatement, but I was trying to take it easy.

He didn’t respond or look at me as he busied himself tucking his wallet into his back pocket. His anxious, stiff demeanor gave him an angry-looking edge, which would hopefully work in his favor in front of Pharzuph.

Kaidan’s gaze suddenly shot up, above my head, and I spun. Two gaunt, hideous whisperers had flown in. When they saw how close they were to me, they both hissed and moved toward Kai. A look of annoyed disgust crossed his face at their nearness.

“We’re leaving now. I don’t need any damned escorts.”

Orders are orders, one of the spirits gurgled to us telepathically, giving me a suspicious glare.

Kaidan grumbled loudly and stuffed my book bag inside of his duffel bag along with a few travel things of his own. Then he grasped my upper arm and pulled me from the room. I knew I needed to play it up in front of the whisperers. I tried to shrug away from Kai.

“Let me go,” I said.

He yanked me closer and pushed me forward in front of him. The two spirits circled us, watching me warily and seeming to enjoy the fact that I was cuffed and subdued by someone they believed was on their side.

“Seriously. Where are you taking me?”

“Shut it,” Kai said. “Don’t make me gag you.”

I made a show of struggling now and then, glaring at Kaidan, who never looked at me.

The whisperers stayed with us until the doors were sealed shut on Pharzuph’s personal jet, which was smaller than Blake’s, but still over-the-top luxurious. The leather furniture was crimson colored, offset by amber-shaded wood paneling and tables. Two oversized chairs faced the front of the plane, and in the back was a horseshoe-shaped couch with a table in the middle. Pharzuph sat on the couch with his arms spread wide and his feet up on the table. He was dressed similarly to Kaidan, but he wore tan slacks and a white dress shirt, also unbuttoned at the top. He seemed older today in this setting and in that outfit—maybe a year or two older than Kai—not like the young college guy I’d first encountered.

Pharzuph’s eyes flashed bright red when he saw me. He stood, never taking those freaky eyes off me.

“I had to leave the cuffs in the car,” Kaidan explained. He obviously couldn’t escort a handcuffed girl through the airport without getting questioned.

“That won’t do,” Pharzuph said coolly. He lifted a panel in the table and pulled out a thin rope, coming forward. “Hold her arms while I pat her down.”

I hoped Pharzuph couldn’t sense Kaidan’s slight hesitation.

“I took care of that . . . Father.” Yeah, it must’ve been weird for him to call this kid “Father.”

“I said, hold her arms.”