Evelyn's smile faded. She had already declared her intention of naming the babe Kiera whether it was a boy or girl. Her days were long but peaceful, wrought with duty and rest. It was a good, perfect little life, so much more than she ever expected, with the exception that her best friend in the universe-- Kiera-- might as well have been dead to her as far as Romas and his clan were concerned.
Evelyn had little regret for her actions in life, even those she probably should have. Bringing Kiera here was her one mistake. Even after a month she couldn't go a night without thinking of her friend. She sighed, ready for bed, and twisted to swing her legs from the bench. A shape in the corner drew her attention, and she gasped.
The man was as huge as any warrior but not fair like Romas's clan members. He was tall and fierce, standing so still she thought herself dreaming up a hero worthy of a nightmare. Dressed in dark clothes with dark hair and olive skin with a dark stare, he was both riveting and frightening.
"You!" she exclaimed as she recognized him.
He strode forward, and she moved to place a table between them. She interacted daily with the warrior members of her husband's family, but she'd never seen one quite like this, with soulful, ancient intelligence in his black gaze and a predatory walk. Her first thought was that he had kidnapped Kiera and was now returning to take her.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, reaching for the communications access pad on the table.
"No." His single word was sharp enough to make her jerk. Her hand wavered. He stopped at the opposite side of the table, within reach if he chose, which she suspected he would if she so much as flinched toward the access pad. Her hand dropped to her side, fingernails digging into the meat of her palms.
"What have you done with Kiera?"
The intruder remained silent for a moment, then said slowly, "Your sister is well."
The simple assertion was a waterfall after a month without a drop of information about her. Evelyn searched his face. "Oh, God ! You've seen her! If you've hurt her, you sick son-- "
"She is well," he repeated. "Nishani is well."
"Nishani?" The word made her do a double-take. "Nishani?" Kiera would never agree to marry someone in so short of a time, but to agree in any amount of time to a man as lethal in appearance as this? "You haven't hurt her?" she pressed. "Where is she? Is she here? What have you done with her? Why did-- "