Born of Night (The League #1)(17)
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

The moment the woman saw him, fear darkened her eyes and she literally recoiled.

“Should we ask him to leave?” one of the cashiers asked her.

Hortense gulped. “Are you going to ask him? ’Cause I don’t want to die.”

“Maybe he’ll leave on his own.”

“I hate Andarions. They smell funny.”

Hortense nodded. “I don’t like them either, but I don’t want to anger him. He might eat one of us if we do.”

Kiara froze as she saw and heard Hortense’s reaction and that of the other shoppers who mumbled similar comments. She’d grown so used to Nykyrian that, while she knew he looked lethal, she wasn’t afraid of him anymore. Even before she’d really known him, she hadn’t been that afraid.

And she’d never criticized his race.

What was wrong with people?

Nykyrian took it in stride. “I’ll wait by the door,” he told Jayne. He went to stand post so that he could watch the store and the street.

Kiara saw the anger on Jayne’s face as she took the donated clothes to the counter and all but threw them at Hortense and her staff. “Chratna po kah.”

Kiara had no idea what Jayne had said to them. The tone, however, told her it wasn’t complimentary.

Hortense scowled at her. “That was rude.”

Kiara lifted her chin. “But not nearly as rude as what you just did to my escort. In the future, I’ll take my charity work to someone a little less close-minded.”

“Princess, wait.”

Kiara didn’t. She walked back outside without even waiting for Jayne.

Nykyrian brushed past her to open the transport door and then waited until she was in before he joined her. “Sorry.”

Kiara scowled. “Why are you apologizing?”

“I should have sent Syn with you.”

Jayne got in and started the engine. “Never thought I’d have respect for an aristo, but good girl, Kiara. I think I could learn to like you.”

Kiara ignored her praise. “Why do people act like that?”

Nykyrian shrugged. “People judge. It’s what they do. You get used to it.”

Do you? She couldn’t imagine ever getting used to people reacting that way to her. Judging her for something she couldn’t help. How offensive. “I’m sure not everyone is like that.”

“Want to see the playback of the look on your face the first time you met me?”

Her stomach hit the floor at his question. She had recoiled from him. The horror of that memory made her ill. “I’m sorry I was stupid.”

Nykyrian was shocked by her apology. Most of all, he was shocked by her sincerity. It was completely unexpected. Unsure of how to deal with it, he turned his attention to the street outside.

They remained silent until they reached the small shopping complex.

Nykyrian hung back. “You two go on ahead. I’ll be scoping the back.”

Kiara wasn’t sure about that, but she did as he said. Jayne, who was unbelievably tall for a woman, cut through the crowd in a way Kiara envied.

“Wow, you’re good,” Kiara said with a hint of laughter in her voice.

Jayne smiled. “I hate crowds. I hate shopping and I think shoppers know that so they give me space lest I break out into a killing spree.”

“I think it’s because you’re really tall.” She had to be at least six foot four.

“That might have something to do with it, too.”

Kiara paused outside of a gift store to window-shop for her gift.

“Cannibal!”

“Killer.”

“What’s he doing here?”

“Should we notify the authorities?”

“C’mon. Let’s leave.”

Kiara glanced through the crowd to see them eyeing Nykyrian. Mothers literally picked up their children and fled.

One woman even spat at his feet as he walked by. “Filthy animal. Andarions sicken me.”

He ignored the other shoppers as he kept his attention on them and any threat to Kiara.

The hostility appalled her.

“We should go,” she said to Jayne.

She saw the sympathy and pain in Jayne’s eyes as she watched his stoic acceptance of people’s behavior. “Honestly, princess, he’s used to it. Believe me, he’s not thinking anything about it right now. You and I are the only ones feeling the pain.”

Kiara didn’t believe that for a nanosecond. “There’s no way this doesn’t affect him.” And yet as she watched him, she realized that Jayne might be right. He didn’t react to any of the insults or actions.

Just like in The Sentella headquarters, he appeared immune. But how could he be?

Grab a present and get out of here.

Trying her best to ignore the imbeciles and their prejudice, she made her way to the women’s store next door and found a jacket that was on a display right up front.

Nykyrian hung back in the crowd, but not quite enough to keep her from hearing and seeing how he was mistreated. She felt so bad for him, and yet, true to Jayne’s words, he seemed completely oblivious to it all.

It took several minutes before Kiara could find a clerk who would wait on her. “Excuse me,” she finally said, cornering one before the woman could escape to another department. “Do you have this in a size thirty?”

The clerk’s eyes drifted over her shoulder to where Nykyrian was eyeing the crowd and Kiara wanted to shake the woman for the unwarranted fear. The clerk’s gaze returned to Kiara and the jacket. “I think so.”

She took it from Kiara’s hand and disappeared into the back. Kiara’s eyes narrowed in anger.

After a minute, the clerk returned with the right size. “Will this be all, ma’am?”

Kiara nodded, her teeth clenched. Jayne said nothing as she remained by her side.

After ringing the order, the clerk leaned over the counter and whispered, “Where did you find an Andarion? I’ve never seen one on Gouran before. Aren’t you afraid to be with him?”

Kiara tossed a strand of hair over her shoulder as if she were completely vacuous. “Why no, I’m not afraid. He’s already had his daily feeding.”

“What do you feed him?” the clerk asked with an audible gulp.

Kiara narrowed her gaze on the idiot. “Babies. Lots and lots of babies.”

The clerk shrank back.

Jayne laughed.

Kiara glared, unable to believe the nerve. Snatching up her package, she left the store with Jayne, who was still laughing, in tow.

“Babies,” Jayne repeated. “I have got to remember that one. Oh, I definitely like you, princess.”

Kiara was glad someone was amused. She, on the other hand, wasn’t. “I’m ready to go home now.”

Nykyrian inclined his head to her as Jayne led the way back to the transport. What amazed her most was the fact that he didn’t make a single comment about what had happened.

“Do people always act this way around you?” She got into the transport first.

Joining her, he shrugged as if it were just a normal occurrence to be overlooked. “You should have seen the reactions when I wore a League uniform. Those were actually comical. Except for the ones who lost control of their bowels. Then it was just messy.”

She ignored his sarcasm, even though a part of her wondered if he was being honest. “Do Andarions react the same way to you?”

He paused before he answered. “I should live long enough to see them be so kind.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Humans fear me because they think I’m going to feed on them at any minute, Andarions look at me like a pitiful, weak giakon.”

“Which means what?”

Jayne answered as she pulled away from the curb. “A castrated coward.”

Her mouth formed a small o. No wonder he’d closed himself off from people. He was caught in the middle of all the hatred and fear of both races. “Has anyone ever attacked you for your mixed blood?”

“You can deduce that without my help.”

She sighed at his emotionless tone. “I just don’t understand why people behave this way.”

Nykyrian folded his arms over his chest. “They fear for themselves. I’m a reminder humans and Andarions aren’t two separate species, as they like to pretend they are, but derived from the same genetic makeup. Unfortunately, neither race wants to admit it could possibly be anything like the other, so they see me and I’m an easy target to attack. I quit blaming them for it years ago. As Syn would say, it is what it is.”

Coldness consumed her as she thought about what it would have been like for him growing up anathema to everyone. “What about your parents?” she asked. “How did they cope?”

He took a deep breath. “They didn’t. My mother abandoned me when I was five.”

“And the commander?”

“I wasn’t his natural son.”

Kiara smiled as she considered Huwin’s kindness in adopting him. She remembered Nykyrian’s father from a few of the political trips he’d made to Gouran when she was a child to meet with her father. Though stern, he’d always brought her presents and had been very cordial and kind. “He must have loved you dearly.”

“Never assume anything.”

This time, there was no mistaking the emotion in his voice. Hatred, cold and simple.

Kiara wanted to reach out and soothe away Nykyrian’s pain. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for him. Her parents would have torn apart anyone who looked at her the way people did Nykyrian. She couldn’t believe a mother would give up her child for any reason.

She sat in silence the rest of the way home, her mind mulling over her lessons for the day.

Jayne left them outside her building and went home.

When they returned to her flat, Syn looked up from where he lay on the couch watching the viewer, shock etched on his face. “That didn’t take long. I’ve never known a woman not to take at least half a day to shop for anything.”

“I can’t imagine why the trip was so short,” Nykyrian said in a sarcastic voice that made Kiara take a second look at him.

Laughing, Syn switched off the viewer and sat up. “You should try smiling. I think it would take the edge off people.”

Nykyrian doffed his long, black coat and draped it over her chair. “Actually, they mistake it for an attempt to bite and then it only gets worse.”

Syn laughed even harder.

Kiara didn’t find it amusing in the least. She set her bag by her chair and moved to the closet to get wrapping paper and tape.

As she listened to them talk, all the stories of C.I. Syn and his legendary skills went through her. The man who seemed, well, normal was a bit of stretch, but not too extreme, was hard to reconcile in her mind with the notorious outlaw.

She would have never guessed his reputation by his almost playful demeanor.

“Do you want me to relieve you tonight?”

Kiara paused at Syn’s question. Biting her lip, she looked at Nykyrian.

He continued to face Syn. “No,” he said to her immediate relief. “I got it.”

Syn looked suspicious. “How long has it been since you last slept?”

“I’m not tired.” There was a warning in Nykyrian’s tone that Syn seemed to pick up on.

What a strange conversation.

“Fine.” Syn glanced at her. “By the way, if he ever looks like he’s sleeping, don’t touch him or make any sudden moves. He’s been known to bite.”

She pulled the tape off the top shelf. “I’m not worried.”

Syn lifted a questioning brow. “What, no fear?”

She shrugged and plopped her bundle of wrapping supplies on the floor. “I’m the daughter of a soldier. My father comes awake with a blaster aimed at your head if you disturb him from his sleep.”

Syn gave Nykyrian a knowing smile. “And I thought it was just you and your idiosyncracies.”

Nykyrian shrugged and sat in the other chair across from the couch. “I’ve told you not to think. It’s just a waste of your time.”

Kiara was startled by the barb. There was a tiny lifting of the corners of Nykyrian’s mouth that might actually have been a smile. She glanced at Syn who took the words in stride.

“Well, I guess I should be going. I’ve got a shipment to take care of.” Syn hesitated for a moment, casting her a sheepish glance before looking back at Nykyrian. “Are we still planning on tomorrow?”

“We can’t. Everyone’s scheduled tomorrow.”

Syn crossed his arms over his chest. “Then when are we going to do it?”

Kiara glanced up, wishing she knew what they were talking about.

“Hauk’s free the next day. He can watch Kiara.”

Syn nodded. “I’ll have Hauk come over first thing.” He gave Kiara an encouraging smile. “You two be careful and don’t let the diras get you.”

Kiara waited until Syn had left before questioning Nykyrian. “What are you two planning?”