“Fionn sent you because he feels bad for setting them on me?”
“I don’t know. All I know is he’s paying me a lot of money to protect you until the heat is off.”
Although it took effort, Niamh grinned.
Kiyo’s eyes narrowed on her mouth and he glowered.
Ignoring his apparently perpetual bad mood, Niamh said, “Fionn does realize that the heat is never off? Not even for him and Rose.”
“Yeah, but they’re good at hiding. You seem to have made it your mission in life to bring our world to the attention of humans. You’re not only pissing off the Blackwoods and The Garm but you’re going to piss off the councils and the Consortium. Never mind every supernatural on the planet who enjoys anonymity from the humans, or the human governments who don’t want their human citizens to know what they know.”
Ignoring that—because Niamh couldn’t really argue when he was right—she contemplated him a moment. “Fionn hired you to protect me … so you decided to break my neck, kidnap me, break my neck again, and handcuff me in a room lined with pure iron. Yeah, that sounds like someone whose word I can trust.”
“If I’d approached you, you’d have traveled before I could explain myself.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re telling me you wouldn’t have suspected I was The Garm?”
“To be honest, I’m still not convinced you aren’t. It’s probably that neck breakage and iron cage thing I mentioned earlier.”
“I’m not The Garm. For a start, I work for no one but myself.”
“You just said you work for Fionn.”
“He hired me. There’s a difference.”
“Is there? Okay, then. Why you? What makes you so special? Not to be a bitch, but when there isn’t a plethora of pure iron in the vicinity, I can pretty much kick the arse of any supernatural who comes at me.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen that.” He pulled out his smartphone and began scrolling. “Bran has been keeping me posted on your exploits these past few months.”
“Whose Bran?”
“Fionn’s friend. A vampire. The information guy.”
Niamh’s head lolled to the side. Her eyelids were beginning to feel heavy. “What makes you so special?”
“I’m stronger than the average wolf. Smarter too.”
And more handsome.
Seriously, he was so bloody gorgeous, it was almost like staring at the sun. You couldn’t look at him without him blinding you with his attractiveness. But Niamh was never one to fall victim to a pretty face.
“Well, obviously, I’m going to need confirmation from Fionn and Rose that you are who you say you are.”
“That I can do.”
“And then they’re going to have to un-hire you.”
“I doubt they’ll do that.”
“Call them.”
Without a word, Kiyo hit a button on his mobile and then another, and a loud ringing filled the room. Loudspeaker. Niamh forced her eyes to remain open, trying to stay alert.
“I’m about to talk a very attractive blond and her equally, sexy-as-fuck boyfriend into coming back to my apartment, so this better be good,” a man with a thick Dublin accent answered.
“Bran, I have Farren, but she refuses to believe me until she speaks to Fionn.”
“You don’t have Fionn’s number?” she asked.
He cut her a dark look as Bran chuckled, having overheard.
“Let me patch you through. Say hello to my fellow countrywoman for me.”
Niamh smirked because it was obvious Kiyo had no intention of doing anything so congenial. A click sounded and there was silence, followed by a ringing.
The phone rang several times before finally someone picked up.
“What is it, Bran?”
“It’s Kiyo. Bran patched me through.”
“Have you found Niamh?”
Niamh’s eyes narrowed. Fionn had been stalking her for years, intending to use her to open the gate. Then her visions changed suddenly, and she realized Rose, one of her fae siblings (of a sort), could change the path Fionn was on. They were true mates. Niamh couldn’t tell Rose that for fear of changing her destiny, but she’d tracked Rose down to try to convince her that it was important she give her time and trust to Fionn to save the entire world—and Niamh herself.
Still, Niamh had only heard Fionn speak once, and it was during a time she’d rather forget.
“I have her,” Kiyo confirmed. “But she refuses to believe I’m here because you sent me.”
“Is she there? Can she hear me?”
“Yes,” Niamh spoke up. “I’m handcuffed with leather-covered pure iron, in a room filled with iron, while your dog sits guard.”
Kiyo bared his teeth at her.
“What’s this?” Fionn’s voice lowered, a dangerous edge to his tone. “That’s not what we discussed, Kiyo.”
“There wasn’t a better way to keep her in one place while I got her to trust me.”
“I doubt this is inspiring trust,” he drawled.
“Amen to that,” Niamh agreed. “Also, I can’t remember talking to this Fionn character,” she lied, “so how the bloody hell am I supposed to know if you’re really him?”
Fionn grunted. There was a rustling sound and then, “Hello, Niamh?”