mind the picture of the woman she was supposed to be, compared to the one he had seen during his pursuit. The two images didn’t mesh. Could there be any truth to her assertion that Illiana had possessed her? Was he denying the real Nikia a chance at a normal life by not taking her to Belarus, as she had begged him to do? Was he taking an innocent woman back to the Protector to face life imprisonment or death?
Nikia’s body relaxed completely when she slipped into a deep sleep, causing her to curl closer. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on her. His body had decided he couldn’t let her go, even as his mind wrestled with indecision.
She twitched in his embrace and he called her name. Concern filled him when another tremor ran through her and he barely bit back a gasp when her eyes snapped open. They weren’t the green he was accustomed to. Instead, dark pools of matte coal burned from her pale face. Her lips twisted into a grotesque parody of a smile. “Hunter to prey, die today.” The voice was haggard and raw but rich with malevolence.
Immediately, her eyes closed again and her body relaxed. Sweat poured down Atar’s body as he tried to convince himself it hadn’t happened. It must have been a trick of the light. No, that didn’t explain the strange voice or words.
What if it had happened? What did it prove? Was Nikia truly under the possession of another or had she picked up on his confusion and used it to further her charade? Was any of it real or was she deceiving him?
How could he trust Nikia, knowing what he did about her? His heart might be weak but his mind was not. Everything she had revealed might be true or it might be trickery. How could he follow his heart’s urgings and possibly allow a killer to walk free?
With gentle but efficient, movements, Atar returned Nikia to her seat. Mulling it over, he watched her sleep—or pretend to, if she was acting for his benefit. In the end, he could come to no decision, save one. He must maintain a distance between them during the rest of their journey together. When he brought her back to Corsova, he would relate what he knew to the queen and let her make the decision about Nikia’s fate.
Chapter 6
The pain in Nikia’s head had eased somewhat when she awakened. It took a moment to realize the catalyst for propelling her from deep sleep was Atar shaking her arm. He wasn’t doing so roughly but there was a marked lack of tenderness in the motion too. She gazed up with heavy eyes and her heart acquired the same heaviness when she saw his closed expression. Whatever had happened between them earlier hadn’t dropped any of the barriers between them. In fact, he seemed more distant than ever.
She got to her feet, rubbing her eyes. “Where are we?”
“The plane has landed at Ruzyne. The next flight to Constanta is tomorrow morning, so I’ve booked us into a room at the St. George in the Old Town.” Atar removed their carryon bags from the compartment above the seat as he spoke in a crisp tone.
Her eyes followed the bulging muscles of his arms when he lifted the bags. She automatically accepted her bag when he held it out to her. She tore her gaze from his body and took a step around him, heading for the exit of the plane. They were the last two onboard.
She froze when he put his hand on her arm. Turning her head with what she hoped was cool poise, she asked, “What?”
“Don’t get so far ahead.” He pulled her against him, anchoring his arm around her waist.
Her insides melted at the contact and she licked her lips. Her chin tilted of its own accord, seeking out his mouth. As his head lowered to meet hers, she saw the resistance in his eyes. It bothered her but his lips on hers blotted out all thought. Nikia snuggled closer, threading her free hand through his long locks to anchor him against her. Boldly, she parted his lips and slipped her tongue inside. He tasted of peanuts and whiskey. The combination was pleasant, with a tangy
Nikia’s body relaxed completely when she slipped into a deep sleep, causing her to curl closer. Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on her. His body had decided he couldn’t let her go, even as his mind wrestled with indecision.
She twitched in his embrace and he called her name. Concern filled him when another tremor ran through her and he barely bit back a gasp when her eyes snapped open. They weren’t the green he was accustomed to. Instead, dark pools of matte coal burned from her pale face. Her lips twisted into a grotesque parody of a smile. “Hunter to prey, die today.” The voice was haggard and raw but rich with malevolence.
Immediately, her eyes closed again and her body relaxed. Sweat poured down Atar’s body as he tried to convince himself it hadn’t happened. It must have been a trick of the light. No, that didn’t explain the strange voice or words.
What if it had happened? What did it prove? Was Nikia truly under the possession of another or had she picked up on his confusion and used it to further her charade? Was any of it real or was she deceiving him?
How could he trust Nikia, knowing what he did about her? His heart might be weak but his mind was not. Everything she had revealed might be true or it might be trickery. How could he follow his heart’s urgings and possibly allow a killer to walk free?
With gentle but efficient, movements, Atar returned Nikia to her seat. Mulling it over, he watched her sleep—or pretend to, if she was acting for his benefit. In the end, he could come to no decision, save one. He must maintain a distance between them during the rest of their journey together. When he brought her back to Corsova, he would relate what he knew to the queen and let her make the decision about Nikia’s fate.
Chapter 6
The pain in Nikia’s head had eased somewhat when she awakened. It took a moment to realize the catalyst for propelling her from deep sleep was Atar shaking her arm. He wasn’t doing so roughly but there was a marked lack of tenderness in the motion too. She gazed up with heavy eyes and her heart acquired the same heaviness when she saw his closed expression. Whatever had happened between them earlier hadn’t dropped any of the barriers between them. In fact, he seemed more distant than ever.
She got to her feet, rubbing her eyes. “Where are we?”
“The plane has landed at Ruzyne. The next flight to Constanta is tomorrow morning, so I’ve booked us into a room at the St. George in the Old Town.” Atar removed their carryon bags from the compartment above the seat as he spoke in a crisp tone.
Her eyes followed the bulging muscles of his arms when he lifted the bags. She automatically accepted her bag when he held it out to her. She tore her gaze from his body and took a step around him, heading for the exit of the plane. They were the last two onboard.
She froze when he put his hand on her arm. Turning her head with what she hoped was cool poise, she asked, “What?”
“Don’t get so far ahead.” He pulled her against him, anchoring his arm around her waist.
Her insides melted at the contact and she licked her lips. Her chin tilted of its own accord, seeking out his mouth. As his head lowered to meet hers, she saw the resistance in his eyes. It bothered her but his lips on hers blotted out all thought. Nikia snuggled closer, threading her free hand through his long locks to anchor him against her. Boldly, she parted his lips and slipped her tongue inside. He tasted of peanuts and whiskey. The combination was pleasant, with a tangy
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