“Liars,” Izzy retorted. “You look like something Tartarus spit out. Do you want me to take care of your wounds or what?”
“We’ll be fine,” Remy said. Sykes nodded.
Bran was busy fingering his forehead as though he just realized I had healed him. He caught my gaze and cocked his right brow. Did you…?
Don’t ask, I shot back.
His expression said he intended to discuss it later. “Anyone hungry?” he asked.
Everyone nodded.
“But not the food from here.” Kim exchanged a knowing look with Izzy. “Let’s go to Kieran’s.”
“Again?” Remy asked and scowled.
“It’s the only place you can walk in looking like a road kill and get a hero’s welcome,” Izzy said.
“And waitresses inspecting our battle wounds,” Sykes added with a grin then tried to bump fists with Remy. Remy glared at him. I had no idea where Kieran’s was, but it sounded like a Guardian restaurant, which shouldn’t bother Remy. What was his problem?
“Kieran’s it is,” Bran said then glanced at the assistant manager. “Tell my brother we’re looking for him. We’ll be back.”
- 8 -
A NEW ORDER
We materialized inside a large office, where a Guardian was hunched over a computer while telekinetically pounding on the keyboard. On the screen, two warriors dueled with swords, a Werenephil and the other, going by the halo above his head and the self-righteous smirk on his face, an archangel.
He’s Keiran, Bran telepathed me, then added aloud, “You know the real thing is nothing like that,” Bran said mockingly.
The Guardian lifted his middle finger, then he rotated his chair around and studied us with a lopsided grin. “Cardinals, nice of you to drop by looking so…presentable.”
“Just open the damn door, Keiran,” Bran said testily.
Keiran ignored him. Tall and slender, Keiran had a dimpled chin, chiseled features and wavy brown hair with highlights. Alchemy Gothic earrings looped around his ears and a silver full-finger armor ring gleamed on one of his fingers. But his most striking features were his eyes. They were a deep shade of violet. They twinkled as his gaze swept us and zeroed in on Kim, a slow smile curling his lips.
Kim blushed.
Interesting. I’d never seen Kim blush before.
His smile deepened as though her blush pleased him, then he got to his feet, waved and a door appeared on the wall beside his computer desk. Bran, Remy, and Sykes made a beeline for it. “I’ll start charging.”
“You already do,” Bran said. “Your food is outrageously expensive.”
“That’s because it’s the best in town.” He turned and smiled, his gaze locking with Kim’s again. “What is it going to be? Something heavy or light?”
She smiled. “We had lunch in Bermuda earlier.”
“Light it is. The usual Lil…Izzy?”
Izzy nodded, and so did I, even though I had no idea what my usual was.
“I’ll see to it.” He teleported to the door, opened it and winked at Kim. “You want to sample something new? I know you like variety and I saved something just for you.”
Kim sashayed to where he stood by the door and whispered as she brushed past him, “And here I thought you couldn’t surprise me anymore.”
As the door closed behind them, I turned and faced Izzy. “Is Kim…?”
“Dating him?” Izzy finished. “Oh yeah. I thought it was the excitement of a forbidden love, but I think she might actually be in love. Don’t tell the guys though. It’s supposed to be a secret.”
“Why? They wouldn’t care.”
“Her family would if they found out. He’s a member of the Brotherhood, hardly what her family considers ‘suitable’. Her parents want to choose a mate for her.” Izzy rolled her eyes.
“That’s so archaic and…” my voice trailed off when her glance shifted to the guys as they re-entered the room. They were blood-free, the cuts on their faces and knuckles already healing but still visible.
“Are we eating in here or out there?” Izzy asked.
“Out there,” Sykes said, cutting across the room. “I’m starving.”
Remy and Izzy followed him.
“We’ll catch up,” Bran called out and walked to where I stood. He pushed his hair away from his face.
I touched the bruise on his lower lip. It closed up nicely. Funny, I was used to being awed by Izzy as she healed us, yet because of my new, temporary powers, I could do it too.
Bran touched his lip and smiled. “How’s your head?”
“Not so bad.”
He cupped my face and studied my face as though searching for something.
“Don’t do that, please,” I whispered.
He cocked his right eyebrow. “Do what?”
“Look at me like I’m, you know, different.” Then a thought occurred to me and I reached up to touch my forehead and hair. “I am the same, right? No horns or weird things growing out of my head?”
He chuckled and pressed his forehead against mine. “Of course you are the same…physically. Your psi energy is off the charts. I can take care of the headache if you like.”
Doing it once was enough. “No, I’ll be fine. The writings appeared on my hand when I touched that boy’s knife.”
He checked my hands to see if they were back. “So that’s why it caught fire. Master Haziel was right.”
I made a face. “It’s kind of scary not knowing what they can do.”
Bran gripped them and pressed them against his lips. “We’ll deal with them as they come,” he whispered. “Come on, I’ll escort you to the others.”
We walked down a broad hallway toward double doors. Before we reached them, they swung open and Kieran walked out. He was alone.
“You are at your usual table,” he said. “Cook has his orders, so the food should be there soon.”
Bran stopped. “Are you very busy?”
Keiran gave him a lopsided grin. “That depends on what you want, Llyr. I’m on level eighty-two of a new game.”
You bragged it was faster than the humans’ best system and that you have programs that can get you in and out of places undetected.”
Keiran chuckled. “What I have are mad skills, Llyr. And yes, it will take humans a decade to catch up. What do you want help with?”
“I’ll explain when I come back. Right now, I need to show Lil where the others are seated.” He pushed the double doors but Kieran spoke.
“Just one second.” I thought Keiran would ask why I needed to be shown to our regular table, but all he said was, “Tell your friends to stop hitting on my girls. I’m tired of mediating fights every few weeks because they keep flirting with them.”
Bran laughed. “Sure, but do you really want to get between them and women?”
Keiran’s expression became thoughtful then he made a face. “I guess not. Who am I to kill some girl’s dream of mating with a Guardian? Not that you guys have anything we don’t have.”
“Uh, we travel in style,” Bran said. “We have a license to kill and we make black look good.” Bran stared pointedly at Keiran’s pants, matching shirt, and studded boots.
Keiran rolled his eyes. “I was rocking this look way before you were born, Llyr, so don’t even go there. Your favorite dish is coming up, Lil. Extra cheese?” He touched his brow in a salute and turned.
“Yes. Thanks, Keiran,” I said. Bran groaned. What?
Do you even know what he’s talking about? he asked as we cut through the busy kitchen.
No. What is my favorite dish?
He laughed. You’ll find out soon enough.
“So? What do you want with his computer? You once told me you had no need for modern technology because you keep everything in here.” I tapped his head.