Aeromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 3)

“No. You should go. I’m fine.”

The security chain rattled. The door squeaked as it opened.

Diana’s voice carried from the foyer. “You have some nerve showing up here.”

Kat sat up straighter.

“I need to speak to Katherine.”

Lann.

The throbbing of Kat’s heart echoed painfully in her chest. She couldn’t face him. Not now. Not ever.

“You should go,” Diana said.

“I’m not leaving until I’ve seen her.”

Her friend’s tone was clipped. “Haven’t you upset her enough?”

“This is between Katherine and me.” His voice rose in anger. “Step out of the way, Diana.”

During the time they’d been together, he’d never raised his voice, not even the time when he’d almost strangled a man who’d dared to dance with her.

Getting to her feet, she hurried to the door and laid a hand on Diana’s shoulder. “I’ve got this.”

Diana still had her hand on the door, looking like she was ready to slam it in Lann’s face. “If you don’t want to talk to him—”

“It’s fine,” Kat said. If Lann suddenly decided he had something to say, sooner was better than later. “Do you mind giving us a moment?”

She felt bad for all but throwing Diana out of her own home, but this was a discussion she should be having with Lann in private.

After a moment, Diana gave a tight nod. “I’ll go out for a while. I’ve got my mobile.” She glared at Lann. “Call if you need me, Kat.”

When the door slammed behind Diana, Kat and Lann faced each other in an awkward silence. His gaze homed in on her face before slipping to her stomach, much like he’d done earlier in his study.

Turning from his piercing stare, Kat led the way to the lounge. “Can I offer you a drink? I suppose this calls for something strong.”

“No, thank you.” He crossed his arms. His yellow eyes seemed haunted. “I came to ask you two things, and I want honest answers.”

She gaped at him. He wanted honest answers?

“My first question,” he continued, “is why you broke our thirty-day exclusivity agreement.” His eyes turned colder. Calculation made his beautiful Russian accent sound harsh. “My second is who is he?”

Was he for real? “I can’t do this. I won’t play this game with you.” Too tired to fight this battle, she said, “You have to go.”

He took a step toward her. “I’m going nowhere until you tell me.”

“Why? So that you can kill him?”

He didn’t bat an eyelash.

She gave an internal start. She was only half-joking, but he was dead serious. A part of her knew what he was capable of. She’d witnessed it in the tango bar. She’d seen the inhuman scars on his body.

Uttering a strained laugh, she said, “You’re crazy.”

His eyes crinkled in the corners, but the gesture wasn’t friendly. “You better believe it. Tell me his name.”

She hugged herself. “There was no one but you.”

“Don’t lie to me, Katherine.” His yellow eyes shimmered with pent-up rage. “Not about this.”

“I didn’t break our agreement.” Not able to stand the disbelief in his eyes, she launched into her own attack. “Why don’t you rather tell me why you lied? Why did you tell me you’re infertile?”

Indecision played over his face as he considered her question. Instead of answering, he walked to the window and stared outside. He didn’t look back at her when he said, “I didn’t lie.”

“Then it doesn’t make sense.”

“It’s plain old science,” he said, his voice hard and cold. “Someone other than me fucked you.”

She swallowed a gasp. “That was cruel.”

“Alas, the truth often is.”

“How can you even think that?” she exclaimed.

He spun around. “That time I was away, when I had to leave for business, you conceived during that week.”

“Oh, no.” Shaking her head, she backed up a step. “Don’t you dare.” She was close to tears again, fighting to contain them. “I did what I believed was right. I told you the truth. If you’re not man enough to handle it, get out of my house.”

For the first time, he appeared uncertain.

“Why would I have told you if you’re not the father?” she asked. “I didn’t ask you for anything. I don’t need your money and I sure as hell don’t need you in my baby’s life.”

He regarded her with a pained expression. “You’re right. It doesn’t make sense.”

“I’ve had enough. Please see yourself out.” She turned. “Have a nice life.”

He grabbed her arm. “I want to believe you, but I’ve never lied to you either. Whatever is happening,” his throat moved as he swallowed, “you need to have an abortion.”

His words were like a knife jammed into her heart. She jerked her arm free and stepped outside his reach. Her voice was tremulous. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

Moving fast, he gripped her shoulders. “I want tests done.”

Tests? It was clear he didn’t trust her. It was even clearer he didn’t want to be a father. This was a road she’d have to walk alone. What had she expected? Had she believed he was going to give her an explanation and confess his love? He’d only promised her thirty days. Nothing more.