Page 71 of Slay Me

“Since someone tried to kill her,” Killian replies, clearly unintimidated despite the fact that Apollo is trying like hell to appear more of a man. That’s something I’ve learned though: The more they try, the less secure they are.

And Killian clearly knows Apollo is no threat to him.

“I don’t like you being alone with him,” Apollo tells me as he stops beside me. Reaching out, he brushes my hair from my shoulder, and I want to cringe. “You’re my friend. My partner. I worry about you.” He’s behaving so damn possessively right now that the urge to kick him in the nuts is strong.

“If I really was your partner, you’d respect my wishes and get out of my apartment when asked.”

His expression softens. “You know where I am if you need me.” He brushes past me, and Killian smiles widely as he walks by.

As soon as he’s gone, the shifter grins at me. “I’ll be out here if you need me.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Not a babysitter,” he replies. “Think of me as your older brother. I’ll lurk in the shadows and make sure all the motherfuckers steer clear.”

“How did you even know he was in here?”

“The charm on your room has been removed for the Ringmaster, Duncan, Bracken, and myself. So we can keep an eye on you.”

“The Ringmaster’s doing?”

“Do you even have to ask?” he questions. Then, he takes a step farther into my apartment. “Listen, Liv, no one is trying to hover, but you have to understand that D cannot have anything happen to you. Therefore, neither can we.”

“Why is that?” I demand, crossing my arms. “He says I’m important, but not why.”

Killian smiles. “That’s not for me to relay,” he says simply. Then he turns and heads toward the door. After pulling it closed behind him, I breathe deeply and make my way toward my twin bed.

Without even bothering to take off my shoes, I fling myself forward onto the mattress and close my eyes. I can still feel his hands on my body, his mouth on mine.

My body warms with the memory, and I let myself drift off to sleep.

* * *

“Areyou sure you’re ready for this?” Fiona questions from my bed as I finish applying my makeup. She’d shown up two hours before the curtain is raised, demanding details on what happened. Details I’d given her. Well, mostly.

Some things are safer for us both if she doesn’t know.

Dressed in my usual costume, I turn to face her. “Yes. More than.”

“You’re still healing.”

“Not anymore. The rest of the bruises have faded, and all internal injuries are healed.” In demonstration, I stand and lift a leg. Then I repeat with the other. “Both of my legs were broken. But see? Good as new.”

“Hmm.” Fiona doesn’t look convinced. “Apollo been by since—”

“Since Killian verbally fed him his balls? No.”

She grins. “I wish I could have been here to see that.”

“It was pretty glorious. I mean, I know Apollo means well. But he’s so damn overbearing sometimes.”

“Sometimes?” She arches a white brow. “He’s obsessed with you. In a way that is completely unhealthy.”

“Is there any kind of obsession that is healthy?” I reply even as I feel guilty for the fact that I stoked that obsession because I’d needed him. Because I’d been willing to use him to escape. Which I have no intention of doing now.

She shrugs. “Mutual, perhaps?”

With a soft laugh, I check myself over in the mirror one final time. My light hair is loose around my face, the thick makeup I applied making me look like the pale, grief-stricken woman I am in my performance. “He definitely believes he has claim over me. And after Valentina, I don’t want to take any chances.”

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