Bound by Forever (True Immortality 3)

“You were set to fight the biggest fight Tokyo has ever seen. Oji-chan put a lot of money on you … and you reneged. Kiyo, you owe us that money.”

“I don’t think I do. But if it’ll settle our score, I’ll pay you the money. I’m good for it.”

Sakura laughed prettily and then pressed her body against his.

Yup, Niamh was going to kill her.

Kiyo’s hands came to rest on Sakura’s hips and she slid her arms around his neck, settling deeper into him.

Any urge to kill Sakura transferred to him. He might as well have taken his katana to Niamh’s chest.

She lowered her eyes, hating that she was jealous over this cold, mercurial bastard.

“You know it does not work that way, Kiyo-chan. You have to pay the debt you owe.”

“You want me to fight?”

Niamh looked at them, despite how much it hurt to see their intimate embrace. They looked stunning together.

They looked right.

For a moment it distracted her from what was happening.

“I don’t have time.”

“You will make time.”

Kiyo sighed heavily, his expression softening as he gave her hips an affectionate squeeze. “Sakura, can’t we just put this behind us?”

“Do not try to charm me. You will pay your debt or you do not leave Japan without losing a limb. Do not make me do that. You know how I love every inch of you.”

Trying to slow her speeding pulse, Niamh dared to speak. “What’s going on?”

“Keep the mahoutsukai quiet.” Sakura flicked her a dark look. “Or I will do it for her.”

Before Niamh could break her fecking neck, Kiyo leaned down and brushed his lips over Sakura’s. “Show Niamh some respect … or I walk.”

His words should have made her feel better, but they didn’t.

That lip brush pushed Niamh further from Kiyo.

She felt like an outsider.

She felt alone.

Always alone.

She couldn’t understand why this hurt so much when she barely knew him and she never knew where she stood with him, anyway. Who needed that? If she had a friend and a friend told her about a guy who was nice one second and a cold bastard the next, she’d tell her friend to dump his arse.

Niamh couldn’t dump his arse physically, but emotionally …

The alpha seemed to bristle at Kiyo’s command, but she didn’t respond to it. She slid her hand into his top knot and gripped it, pulling his head toward hers so she could demand against his lips, “You will fight.”

“One fight,” he relented, to Niamh’s surprise. She didn’t know what this fight was they spoke of, but she couldn’t believe Kiyo was giving in. She hadn’t thought anyone mattered to him anymore, not since his mother, but clearly this snooty, stunning wolf had wheedled her way into his affections.

“We will see.”

“One fight.” He pushed her away gently, his expression hardening. “One fight, Sakura.”

She considered this and then sighed. “One fight. But it needs to be a big one. Shinjuku Gyo-en in two weeks’ time. We are closing it to the public for a big international fight. Some of the best wolves are coming from all over. Big money, Kiyo. I want you in that fight so I hope you are not going anywhere anytime soon.”

“We’ll stick around for the fight. We’re staying at the Natsukashii. You can send for me when the time comes.”

“No. You will stay here.”

Niamh’s stomach dropped at the thought of being under the pack’s guard.

“We have reservations elsewhere. I’m not your prisoner, Sakura. You’ll have to trust I’ll be there when you need me.”

The alpha smirked, her eyes drawing licentiously down his body and back up again. “Oh, you will be there when I have need of you. Hai?”

He stared stonily at her as Niamh felt nauseated.

“Kiyo.” Sakura tilted her head and gave him a mock petulant look. “If you want to stay at the Natsukashii, you will be there when I have need of you. Hai?”

“If I’m not busy, then yes.”

Niamh couldn’t look at him now.

“I call, you come.”

Niamh really, really wanted to get out of there. Now.

Finally Kiyo answered, “You know where to find me … speaking of which … how did you find me so quickly?”

“We are tapped into all security cameras. Airport, stations … we have them rigged with facial recognition. You are on our database. As soon as you stepped into Narita, our systems pinged.” Sakura grinned. “I never let a debt lie, Kiyo. I am not Oji-chan.”

“No. Your uncle knew when to let things go.”

Sakura glared at him. “You may leave. But do not think I am not eager to know why you are in my city with a peculiar-smelling mahoutsukai.”

Kiyo didn’t respond. Instead he turned and nodded his head at Niamh to leave. Feeling as if she were somehow separate from the situation, she seemed to float out of the room, barely aware of Kiyo’s hand on her back.