Page 72 of Beneath the Watching

You will.

Afterwards, Stefan escorted me to our area of the castle and left with Ilya on some kind of assignment back home in the Third Realm. Benjamin and Jack hung out in the living room, and I worked on my list of supplies for the bake shop. Writing down the items I would need to secure for my creations was fun, and I began making notes of color schemes for the decor and possible materials for the furnishings.

There was a knock at the door, and I listened curiously as I heard Jack say, “Who are you?”

A feminine voice said, “I’m sick of this.”

My skin tingled like it had earlier as I became hyperaware of everything around me. The feel of the paper under my fingertips felt too rough, as if I held sandpaper in my palm. Sounds became amplified; a stereo system turned up too high. My pen dropped to the countertop as I braced myself.

Footsteps smacked against wooden flooring. “I know she’s in there.” Dragging my eyes up, I held my breath. The kitchen door swung open, and she stepped through.

“Why are you here?” Kiara asked, her tone accusing.

My words became stuck in my throat. It was Kiara, but also not Kiara. Her hair was different, her skin altered, and her eyes were lighter. There was no question it was her—just herenhanced. Supposedly, as evidenced by the Sentient in my head, I had magic as did she. Hers changed the atmosphere. Like a living, breathing, intangible entity it filled the space between us.

Neither of us moved, instead we stared at each other for several, long seconds. Finally, I broke the ice. “I wanted to find you, but Stefan wouldn’t let me. And those bodyguards report everything to him.”

Benjamin and Jack, while engaging in multiple forms of distracting entertainments, were adept at reporting my every move to the point they annoyed a longsuffering Stefan to no end.

He didn’t need to know I’d selected a different teacup on Wednesday morning, but he was now in possession of that piece of fascinating information. He could be dramatically severe at times, but he had a heart for those nearest and dearest and humored his men by listening to the banalities of my daily life.

Kiara was one of my own very few nearest and dearest and the impulse to take her in my arms and give her a hug was almost overwhelming. I held back, both shocked and relieved at her sudden appearance, while I waited for the invisible force field surrounding her to abate.

“Stefan?” She gazed at me curiously.

Straightening my pen so it lined up with my notepad, I said, “He’s been keeping me safe. For the most part. When he can.” I cleared my throat.

“Madison thinks you're dead,” she said, reproaching me.

A deep sigh left my chest. “It really wasn’t up to me.”

Kiara stepped back from the counter a space. “You’re not here willingly?”

Irritation teased the back of my mind. I’d had to watch as she endangered others, messed with my boyfriend’s best friend’sheart, and then I endured worrying about her for ages and now it felt as if she were questioning my lifestyle choices.

Ignoring her inflammatory questions, I asked her one instead. “What happened to you?”

She laughed bitterly. “Where do I start?” She crossed her arms. “What about Al?”

“What about him? He doesn’t really give a shit what I do; he never did. He was only my boyfriend in title. I guess I have a lot to tell you.”

Kiara nodded heartily, raising her eyebrows at me. “Where’s Stefan? I need to see him,” she demanded.

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to kill him.”

I giggled. “No, you’re not.”

My ill-timed laughter over my friend thinking she’d do anything to him pissed her off. She raised her hand and gestured toward the stack of plates on the table behind me. They shattered.

Okay, then.

Stunned, I slid to the side. Not a single broken piece of porcelain had come anywhere near me but better to be safe than sorry.

Clearing my throat a second time, I asked, “What is going on with you? I’ve been worried sick and then you come in here threatening the people I love and breaking our dishes. We have nothing to do with whatever happened to you, maybe you should talk to Ramone and Ilya.”

Casting a glance over my shoulder I walked across the room yanked the broom closet door open, intending to clean up her mess just as Benjamin and Jack came barreling in.

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