“I doubt anyone would dare come after you, your mate will probably turn them into cinders,” Shae said with a smile.
Echo nodded. “You should have seen him when you were abducted. We thought he’d tear down this castle with his hands. And with all that powerful blood in him, imagine what he’ll do now.”
Yes, Týr would be merciless if anyone thought to harm her. “And then there’s me,” she said, determination firing her up. “I will never let anyone instill fear in me the way they had with my mother. Besides, I can defend myself.”
The door opened, and Nik stepped inside and halted, dressed in his patrolling gear even this early in the afternoon. Here was another formidable warrior. Tall as the other Guardians, and equally good-looking, with icy green eyes, buzzed hair, and…man! That serpent on his neck made her really uneasy. It looked so real. Kira was dead sure the ink watched everyone in the room.
“Uh, I wouldn’t let Týr catch you eye-balling our newest houseguest,” Echo teased softly as more grunts resounded. Nik walked out again.
Kira set her glass on the counter and shrugged off her morbid thought. “I don’t understand his penchant for snakes. In spite of his looks, it makes him appear really menacing, don’t you think?”
“Menacing or not,” Echo said, “out there at the cabin, the way he iced all those dead fighters Narfi summoned, it was quite something to see.”
Kira frowned, she hadn’t been aware of that.
A grunt sounded, and the slamming of rods distracted her. Kira shifted so she could see past Shae to Týr. He thumped a palm on the edge of the foosball table. “And that, my man, is how you do it. Pity we didn’t have a bigger bet going, I would have whipped your ass. But—” On the whiteboard behind them, he marked the number one beneath his name and a huge zero next to Aethan’s, and then he grinned.
Aethan snorted, dropping a dollar on the table. Týr pocketed it with a smirk. “And the chateau in France? Mine for a decade!”
Kira couldn’t believe how fast Týr’s self-healing had kicked in once the spell had worn off, but he was still off patrol much to his annoyance.
“Are they always like this?” she asked. “I mean, I know they’re competitive.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” Darci informed her dryly. “Týr and Blaéz turn everything into a competition, and they go on for hours trying to outdo each other.”
“And you, my dearest friend, mated the worst of the lot,” Echo added. “Be grateful I unintentionally set up the one-dollar-max rule a year ago for bets. But the properties are all on them.”
Týr strolled across to them. “I would protest that,” he told Echo, apparently hearing her comment. “But I’m in too good a mood to bother. Besides, I ain’t that bad.”
“No, you just like taking Aethan down,” Kira said, shaking her head wryly.
He grinned, revealing those slashing dimples. “Can’t argue there.”
“Speaking of which,” Blaéz called out from the pool table. “Don’t forget what we discussed. And the favor you owe me.”
“What is he talking about?” Kira whispered.
Týr shrugged. “Inactivity the past two weeks has addled his gray matter.”
“He insisted you and him would never happen,” Blaéz cheerfully informed Kira, flinging a taunting grin at Týr, who scowled. “I mean, not only did you save his ass, you did it by keeping him in a pretty rainbow bubble.” Blaéz looked like the cat that snatched the canary.
Týr growled. “You ain’t gonna let this shit go, are you?” He got out his M&M’s from the pocket of his black hoodie.
“Indeed, no.” Blaéz smirked. “Not until I’m paid my dues.”
“Yeah, gratitude, a favor, and appreciation,” Týr muttered. “You expect me to do three things separately? They all mean the same damn thing—” He narrowed his eyes at Blaéz. “And, yeah, I’m damn grateful Kira and I were destined, but you really are a screw short if you’re expecting a grand gesture—”
“Chicken.”
Týr stilled, eyes flinted.
Blaéz grinned and lined up his shot.
Oh, crap. This couldn’t be good. Before Kira could stop him, Týr pushed the sweets packet into her hand. “Don’t change the colors,” he ordered and then strode across the huge rec room. Startling everyone, he yanked the Celt up by his biceps and laid a hard kiss on him.
Kira’s mouth dropped open, as did Darci’s. She didn’t know who was more stunned, she, Darci, or Blaéz.
Týr wanted to laugh at the warrior’s astonished expression. He hadn’t even thought about what he would do, but it sure worked. Bastard needed to learn that he couldn’t mess with him.
“There. You better fucking appreciate that, cause I ain’t doing that shit again.” He headed for his mate. At Kira’s shocked expression, he winked. As if he’d ever want anyone else.
Blaéz chuckled. “Not what I expected. Hell, just baiting you was enough.”
“Whatever,” Týr groused. “Now quit with the fucking baiting. Are we out on patrol tonight or what?”
“We are. But you, cupcake, have to clear it with Michael,” Blaéz drawled.
He cut the Celt a dagger-like stare at the endearment. The warrior merely shrugged.
“We’ll see about that.” Mouth clamped tight, he grasped Kira’s hand and headed for the door. She sighed. “Týr—”
“Dammit, Norse! Take the bloody break,” someone groaned.
Ignoring his fellow Guardians, Týr strode out of the room. “Týr…” Kira tightened her fingers around his. “Look, I know being inactive must be chaffing—”
“…just not today.”
“Wait—what?”
He heard the confusion in her voice, didn’t reply. Farther down the corridor, he stopped near the elevator and summoned the thing. The door slid open seconds later. He stalked inside, pulling her with him, and hit the second-floor button.
Casually, he leaned against the metal wall and slide his hands to her hips as the cage shut. “Do you really think I want them to know the truth?” He cocked an eyebrow. “Sure, I want to get back on the streets, but right now, I want you all to myself, without the shit they like to stir with their ribbing.”
Kira blinked those gorgeous eyes at him, her smooth brow furrowing. Hell, he sure enjoyed unsettling her.
“Now, about the melted chocolate and M&M’s on your delectable body? I’m so ready for that—no color changing,” he warned again. “I like my candies just the way they are, in the lovely shades of a rainbow.”
Laughter broke free, she pressed her mouth to his. “I’m so happy I get to spend the rest of my life with you.”
His teasing manner vanished, and his heart bumped hard in his chest as he brushed her spirally strands away from her face. He’d never expected her, or how his life would turn out after the crappy one it had been. She was so much more—more than the formidable daughter of beings with unsurpassed powers, she was his starlight in the dark.
“You’re staring,” she whispered.
“Because you cast a spell on me, my elska, from the moment we met. And, as long as we’re together, I don’t care about anything else.”
As a smile curved her lips and glowed in her beautiful eyes, that tormenting glint he knew so well appeared. “Wow…he does love me.”
He smirked at her taunt, but his mouth came down on hers in a tender kiss. I do, my heart, only you…
THE END…
AFTERWORD
You guys!
If you’re right here at this part of the book, then Thank You for reading Týr and Kira’s story to its conclusion and I do hope you enjoyed their journey to their HEA.
If you have, I would love a review, even one word would do. Yep, I was gonna ask that :) Reviews are so important to authors in getting the books out there.
Next up: Book 2 in the Warlords of Empyrea series. I think I left poor Brenna abducted for far too long.
After that, I’ll tackle Guardian number 5.
But be
fore I bid you adieu, have you read Riley’s story?
If you have, wonderful! And it all makes sense now, doesn’t it? If you haven’t, then go get a copy of Tangled Sin, and enjoy his tale of peril to his HEA. ♥
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To this incredible group of people:
My CPs; Anna, Celia, and Coleen. My beta-readers; Annette, and Tana. And my editor; Chelle!
Thank you ALL for your support and guidance, for pushing me, and making this book sooo much better!
And to my friends and readers who cheered me on when the going got tough, you know who you are.
Love you guys to bits!
To my other Half; I treasure your immense patience and love, and the time you give me to write.
Montana Jade; darling girl. Thank you for this breathless work of art in recreating my Guardian—heck, for creating all my fabulously sexy covers…and for still adoring me no matter how much I pester you—hugs and sloppy kisses!
And Ty; I miss you, baby. The house is far too quiet since you left to uni.
Finally, to my ARC reviewers, reviewers, and readers: That you love my stories, still leaves me in awe. An enormous cyber hug to each and every one of you!
Love, Georgia ♥
Also by Georgia Lyn Hunter
FALLEN GUARDIANS
Absolute Surrender #1
Echo, Mine #1.5
Breaking Fate #2
Tangled Sin (Standalone)
Guardian Unraveled #3
For You, I Will #3.5
Heart’s Inferno #4
WARLORDS OF EMPYREA
Darkness Undone #1
CONTEMPORARY: PLAYERS TO MEN
Breathless
About the Author
Georgia Lyn Hunter loves to create characters who’ll take you to the far and beyond to unforgettable adventures, steamy encounters and heart-stopping love stories...
She grew up in the sultry climate of South Africa and currently lives in the Middle East with her family. An avid reader from a young age, she devoured every book she got her hands on. When she’s not writing or plotting her next novel, she loves trolling flea markets and buying things she’d never use (because they’re so pretty,) traveling, painting, and being with her wonderfully supportive family.
And there you have it, all the boring stuff.
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Heart's Inferno (Fallen Guardians 4) Page 37