Page 84 of The Scribe (Irin Chronicles 1)

He stopped speaking immediately, a smile teasing the corners of his mouth. “Hmm.”

Ava narrowed her eyes. “Hmm? I say I think I’m falling in love with you and all you say is ‘Hmm’?”

Grabbing her hand and holding on when she tried to pull it away, he said, “What did you want me to say?”

Her mouth dropped open. “I… Maybe that you… You know what? Never mind. I changed my mind.”

“So you’re not in love with me?”

“I never said I was!”

“Exactly.” He winked and pulled her hand to his lips, kissing each finger deliberately. “If you had…”

“If I had?” She knew she was holding her breath, but she didn’t know why.

Malachi leaned closer. “How do you think I feel about you?”

How did he feel about her? She didn’t even need to ask, really. She knew without asking that he loved her. It was in every kiss. Every embrace. Every teasing comment. Every patient smile. His dogged affection had worn her down. In that moment, her heart tumbled, and she could feel the flush on her skin.

“I think…” Her eyes were drawn to a man who had just walked around the corner. “Grigori.”

He frowned. “You think Grigori?”

She clutched his hand. “Grigori. There’s a Grigori coming up the sidewalk. He’s—”

“Another one just came in the back. He’s by the bar.”

Grabbing his wallet and throwing a fifty-lira note on the table, Malachi rose. “Walk calmly.”

“He’s already looking at me.” Her heart raced. “Malachi, he’s already—”

“This one spotted us, too. They’re not here hunting. They’re here for us.”

They walked toward the sidewalk, nodding at the host who looked at them in confusion. Malachi muttered something in Turkish as they passed and the man nodded. He kept his hand on the small of Ava’s back, walking quickly in the other direction. Ava chanced a look over her shoulder. Both Grigori were following them. Another melted into the foot traffic as they passed another café.

“There’s three. Three of them are behind us.”

“I’m leading them away from the humans.”

“Should I—?”

“Stay with me. Keep yourself behind me when we get there.”

“Get where?”

They were speed-walking up the hill until Malachi ducked into a side street. Houses rose on either side, the street dead-ending into a hill covered by pink oleander and trash. Ava tripped over a scattering of cans that littered the ground as Malachi leaned down for a quick kiss, his eyes gleaming.

“I love you. Of course I love you. Now stay behind me while I take care of these nuisances.”

He turned his back to her and drew two silver daggers from the sheaths against his skin just as six Grigori soldiers turned the corner.

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