Page 9 of Tyr

He swept his arm behind her knees and lifted her. He stood with her in his massive arms as if she weighed no more than a babe. She leaned against his chest, and the heady scent of minty soap mixed with his natural cologne filled her nose and soothed her. She closed her eyes, taking in his fresh scent.

He waited until she relaxed into him, and then he moved. He carried her across the expansive garage in long, quick strides. It surprised her that when he lifted a finger to a security system to scan his fingerprint, she already drifted to sleep. Something about being in his arms gave her a sense of safety for the first time in weeks. She opened her eyes as they walked into an underground safe room of some kind. A retinal scan and a second door later, they stepped into a plush hallway next to an entertainment room of some kind. Enormous flat screen, gaming system, huge recliners, pool table, foosball table, and bar. She barely registered them all as he stalked to a set of glass stairs.

For a moment, she wondered if the glass would break under his weight. She held her breath, anticipating the pain of being jostled, but it didn’t happen. Being the God of War, he’d probably perfected the ability to carry injured allies. Taking the stairs two at a time, they emerged onto the main level, which consisted of a spacious open area. White marble floors and minimal modern furnishings met her tired gaze. She registered a dining room, living room, and kitchen, all open up to twenty-plus foot tall, vaulted ceilings.

She peered through the gigantic windows and took in the entire front of the house to the tree line two hundred yards down the driveway. He cut between the living room and dining room to another set of glass stairs on a wall that appeared to be made of a waterfall.

He ascended the stairs, and she fought not to run her fingers through the dripping water. He turned to the left and crossed over a glass walkway overlooking the open area below. It ended in a hallway that spread in opposite directions. He turned right toward the back of the house.

Reaching a door at the end of the hall, he punched in a code on the door lock, and it slid open. The room had been designedthe same as the rest of the house. White, modern, clean. No clutter anywhere. It was dang nice for a guest room.

He walked to the cream bed and went to lay her down, but she pushed against his chest.

“No.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her.

“I’ll get blood on it.”

“You have no idea how many times I’ve gotten blood on my bed. That’s what new comforters and sheets are for. I have an entire closet. It’s fine.”

His bed? Celeste scanned the room frantically.

“No!”

He looked at her again.

“I… This is your room.”

He nodded. “It’s the most secure place in the entire house. It is the only place I will have you sleep.”

A mixture of fear and anticipation whirled in her belly.“But… What about you?”Part of her wanted him to stay so she could continue to revel in the peace he brought her, but the other part remembered the things she’d been subjected to by Anton.

“I’ll sleep somewhere else. As long as you are here, this is your space.”

She searched his eyes, no longer so cold. They had softened a bit around the edges but remained alert.

He laid her gently on the soft, downy, feather bed. She sunk into it and relaxed.

Tyr watched her for a moment and then walked to a wall and pushed a button. A set of security shutters clicked open, revealing the wall to be windows overlooking the back of the estate.

Tyr opened one of the windows about a foot and then crossed to the grand open bathroom. He opened a cabinet, pulled out a plastic container and several towels, and returned to the bed.

“Would you like to shower?”

Frick ya, she wanted to, but she didn’t think she had the strength.

“Not tonight.”

He nodded and stared at her for a moment. “Can you not speak, or do you prefer not to?”

“Does my telepathy bother you?”

Something flashed in his eyes that she couldn’t read. “Not… exactly. It’s a bit uncomfortable, but I can get used to it if need be.”

Uncomfortable? So he did feel it.“I speak, but… I am sure my jaw is broken. So, it’s easier…”Her words trailed off as his eyes flashed with a red light.

He turned from her and spoke in a tongue she didn’t understand for almost a full thirty seconds before blowing out a breath and turning back to her.

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