Bound by Forever (True Immortality 3)

His whole reason for being had become about Niamh. The passion he felt for her, his need to protect her, his ability to do it, and the fact that the world needed her. Her safety was all that mattered. Whether he revealed that to her wouldn’t change how he felt. So what was the point in fighting her?

Kiyo might have been stubborn and guarded, but he wasn’t stupid.

With stealth of loyalty, affection, of warmth, light, strength, and purity of heart, Niamh had become Kiyo’s reason for being.

He stared at her in wonder, not knowing quite how to tell her but knowing how he wanted to show her.

A loud series of raps on their hotel door, however, interrupted the moment.

A familiar scent hit his nostrils and he pulled back his upper lip in a snarl. “It’s Sakura.”

Niamh’s expression flattened at the mention of his ex-mistress. She gently tugged her hand from his. The cut on her wrist had healed but was still red and inflamed. “I put a privacy spell up so no one could hear you last night, so she can’t be here because of any reports from the hotel.”

There were a few more loud raps and then Sakura spoke in Japanese, at normal volume knowing he’d hear her. “Open the door, Kiyo, or I will break it down.”

“What did she say?”

“To open the door.” He swung out of bed, amazed at how energized he felt by Niamh’s healing. So he wasn’t even aware that he was half-naked as he strode into the living room until he felt a crackle of energy around him, followed by the hiss of material on his skin. He faltered.

He now wore a T-shirt to go with his pajama bottoms.

Then Kiyo realized his hair wasn’t tickling his chin either. It was in a topknot.

Glancing over his shoulder, he found Niamh standing in the doorway, eyebrow raised. “What?”

He smirked and gestured to the T-shirt.

Niamh shrugged nonchalantly. “I was only thinking of your modesty.”

He pointed to his hair.

Niamh flushed and looked away.

“Right.” He grinned at her barely concealed jealousy, feeling far better about it than a gentleman should.

She shrugged, still not meeting his gaze. “I also cleaned my blood off your chin.”

The reminder of what she’d done to save his life made him want to throw her down on the couch so he could thank her sufficiently. With orgasms. Multiple.

“Kiyo!”

Gritting his teeth at Sakura’s impatient snap, he strode to the door and threw it open.

Sakura stood at the head of a small entourage that included Haruto.

“Can I help?”

She pushed past him, sashaying into the room on spiked heels that could be used as a weapon. Kiyo stood back with a sigh as Haruto and four male wolves and one female followed their alpha. They stood to the side of the room in a line, staring straight ahead, as if they had rehearsed this scenario many times.

They probably had.

Kiyo slammed the door shut and crossed the room to stand by Niamh while Sakura skewered Niamh with her dark eyes. Haruto hovered near Sakura’s back, always protecting her.

“Where’s Daiki?” Kiyo asked, crossing his arms over his chest. “Still recovering?”

Sakura’s eyes flashed dangerously. She answered in English. “The full moon took care of what remained of his injuries.”

“Are you finally here to reap revenge for it?” Somehow he doubted it.

“If Daiki wants to make a fool of himself, that is up to him. The consequences are his own.”

Charming attitude for a mate. “Then why are you here?”

“Word reached me today that you had a strange encounter in Kokyo Gardens yesterday morning. I would have known sooner if not for the final phase last night. So …” She took a step toward them and without thinking, Kiyo stepped in front of Niamh. He saw hatred saturate Sakura’s expression before she quickly hid it with an angry smirk. “Who is the redhead and what the hell did she inject you with?”

He stared coolly at Sakura. There was very little chance she had any real evidence except for gossip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You were seen, Kiyo. Do not lie to me.”

“I’m not lying. If someone thought they saw me, they were wrong. Niamh and I have just returned from the mountains. Full moon,” he reminded her. “Plus do I look like something happened to me?” Thanks to Niamh, he’d probably never looked healthier. “What happened in the gardens?” Kiyo prodded.

Sakura was alpha for a reason. Although she’d let her emotion and jealousy slip over Niamh, she usually had a pretty good poker face. She wore it now. “It is of no consequence if you were not involved.”

“I wasn’t.”

Her eyes flicked to Niamh. “Strange. The description fitted both you and your mahoutsukai. Though she has changed her hair. Not that it does much to increase her appeal.”

Kiyo shook his head in mockery. “You’re a wolf, Sakura. Being a catty bitch doesn’t suit you.”