Djinn (31 page)

I turned and Pyke stood inches from me. His shirt was on, but he was still pants-less.

I kept my gaze on his face. He was enjoying making me feel awkward, and smiled, with his goofy grin.

"Here," I said and thrust his pants into his chest. He pulled them on and started work on doing up his belt.

"I wasn't expecting anyone else to be out here this late," he said.

"Keisuke needed a walk," I explained. I glanced back to make sure he was fully dressed, and then turned around to him. "Running?"

"Nothing like a night-time moonlit run," he said, sniffing the air like it was a calming drug.

I suddenly remembered what Seth had told me earlier in the day and my entire body stiffened.

"When you figure out your animal, we should go running together," he said. "Though you might be a bird, so flying … swimming maybe."

I couldn't respond. My mouth was locked shut. How could Pyke be talking to me so casually, knowing I was the reason his father had been murdered?

"Kyra?" he asked, slipping next to me on the bench. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I said and stood up. "I should be heading home." I walked away in search of Keisuke when a hand touched my shoulder, turning me around.

"Did I do something to upset you?' he asked. I could see the hurt reflected in his eyes, the corners of his lips turned down.

"Did you do something …" The words came out a choking cluster as I fought the urge to cry. I shook my head. "No, Pyke. No, you didn't do anything."

"Then what's wrong?"

Pyke's hand was still on my arm, and though I just wanted to pull away, I couldn't. I owed him.

"I found out how your father died," I said, catching his eye.

His grip loosened, his hand falling away. All his cheery cockiness faded in an instant, leaving the sad look he'd had at the graveyard.

"Who told you?" he said.

"Does it matter?" I pulled my arms in close, not because I was cold, but because I wanted to make myself disappear. "Pyke, I'm so sorry."

He didn't respond, only stared at me. His golden eyes shone under the white light of the moon. I had to apologise, and the words just didn't seem enough to be enough to explain it all.

"I … I'm …"

What could I say? Sorry I got your father killed. Sorry I was kidnapped by a crazy Blooder. There was nothing I could say to make it right. Tears spilled down my cheeks in silent guilt.

"Pyke … I …"

He grasped both my arms, holding me with such force I half wondered if he'd crush me on the spot, but he didn't. Pyke's grip was firm and his gaze hard, but there was no anger in his eyes.

"Kyra. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to upset you," he said.

"Upset me?" I gasped.

"At first I wanted to tell you, blame you. When we first met, you defended him, and I wanted to kill you both, but you didn't know. You shouldn't have had to know."

"It's all my fault!" My whole body was shuddering, and Pyke pulled me into a hard hug.

"It's not your fault," he said, like it was the most true statement in all the world. "You had no control over what happened to you. It's all on him. He took you, and he murdered my father. It's his fault."

"I should have let you kill him," I whispered into his shirt.

He pushed me away keeping me at arm's length, but still holding onto my shoulders. "It wouldn't have done any good. It wouldn't have brought my dad back. I know that now. The important thing is that we got you back."

Pyke brushed a piece of fallen hair behind my ear and my heart skipped.

"Pyke …"

"The first time I saw you …" he said.

"Pyke …"

"And you fought against me and I pinned you to the car …" He smiled and dropped his hand. "It's okay," he said. "I know your heart belongs to Will. We're friends. I can do friends."

He stepped back a little to give me some space. My heart was racing, my breath coming in short bursts. Pyke had feelings for me? I couldn't believe it, but I was grateful he hadn't tried anything. I cared about him, but not in the same way I cared for Will. I wouldn't say it out loud. but I thought of Pyke like an older brother.

"I should be getting home," I said, wiping away the dried tears.

"Sure. I'll walk you," Pyke replied. Keisuke appeared from the bushes and nuzzled Pyke's leg.

"You should come by the park tomorrow and hang out," he said. "Keisuke would like to play with the other dogs."

I stood still watching him ruffle Keisuke's fur.

"Sure," I replied. "Sounds good."

Chapter Thirty

The next morning was slow. I sat at the dining room table with Ivan and Isabelle in silence. My mind switched between going to the park to see Pyke and hiding out in my room. I'd decided to take a break from training today, after what had happened yesterday. Isabelle thought I should take it easy and get myself back into a good mental space.

I didn't see that happening any time soon. Not only did I have to worry about Will, but now Pyke, too. He'd said he was happy being friends, but all I could think about was how close he'd been to me. It didn't seem fair to keep hanging around him if I didn't feel the same way. But I couldn't just stop talking to him without an explanation. I decided to take Keisuke to the park and talk to Pyke after all.

Keisuke was eager to go back. He was even more excited when he saw the other dogs—or maybe they were Guardjinn, I couldn't tell the difference. The moment we stepped onto the grass he bolted after two German Shepherds playing tag.

I spotted Pyke and Mia on the bench, talking. I wasn't pleased to see Mia. I had put great effort into getting out of my tutoring sessions with her, and I already had one lined up that afternoon. Ivan had organised it when he'd found out I wasn't going to training.

"Hey, Kyra!" Pyke called, waving me over. Mia's face scrunched up like she'd just tasted something really sour.

"Hey, Pyke," I said, and an awkward silence hung between us.

"What are you even doing here?" Mia said, like she was spitting venom at me.

"I'm allowed to be here," I said, feeling the heat in my belly. "It's not your park."

"You're just hanging around in the hopes of seeing Will." She laughed. "You're pathetic. Just get over him and stop being a stupid, lovesick puppy."

"Well, that's the pot calling the kettle black, isn't it?" I snapped.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mia jumped off the bench, and moved into my personal space. "Just because you had a little fling with Will, you think he's yours? Just because he kissed you, and touched you. Got you all flustered, did he?"

"Shut up Mia," Pyke said.

I'd forgotten he was even standing there, in the heat of the argument. The sudden bark of his voice caused us to jump. Heat flooded my cheeks. Pyke shouldn't have had to hear what went on between me and Will. I wondered how many people knew what had happened in my bedroom.

"You're going to defend her?" Mia said. "I'm your cousin."

"You two are cousins?" I said. It made sense. They were close, and they did look alike.

"Mia, you really need to get over yourself and stop being bitchy to Kyra. Just leave her alone," he said.

Mia was gobsmacked. I don't think I'd ever seen her with no comeback. She stood there, mouth open, rage filling her eyes.

"I'll leave you both alone then," she said, and turned heel.

"I'm sorry about her," Pyke said once Mia was gone.

"Honestly, I'm used to it. Are you two going to be okay?"

"Mia and I fight all the time. She'll cool off and get over it." His face darkened. "She shouldn't have said those things. It's no one else's business but yours and Will's."

"Thanks," I said, feeling completely guilty. Pyke was being an amazing friend, and I was just going to dump him.

"Where's Keisuke?" he asked, changing the subject.

"He ran off with some German Shepherds," I replied. "He's having fun, though."

"I knew he would. I'll have a run with him later. You look really nice, by the way."

I looked down at my usual jeans and tank top outfit. I wasn't feeling particularly pretty today, and Pyke's comment caught me off guard.

"Um … thanks," I said.

He grinned. "I'm sorry. It must be awkward for you, after last night."

"No, not at all," I replied.

"You're a bad liar, but just so you know, I won't make any moves on you unless you want me to. I promise. I know how you feel about Will."

Pyke moved in close to me again, and the memories of last night came flooding back: the intensity of his eyes, his touch.

"Pyke, I don't feel the same way," I said, trying to make him understand.

"I know. Not right now and that's fine, but I can wait. I meant it when I said I would be your friend."

"A friend who tells me how good I look," I said.

"Pretty much." He shrugged, and ran a hand through his Mohawk.

I couldn't help but smile at his determination. I had no plans to fall for Pyke, but he was a good friend and I needed him.

"What are you doing here?"

Will appeared next to me, and my breath caught in my throat. His hair shone in the sunlight and his face was so angelic I wanted to brush my fingers against his cheek.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" I said, shaking my head.

"Hey, mate," Pyke said with a grin.

I suddenly realised how close Pyke and I were standing. Barely any space separated us, and I immediately took a few steps back. I hoped Will hadn't noticed how close Pyke and I had been.

"I invited Kyra," Pyke said. "Keisuke wanted to hang out with some other dogs."

"I see," Will replied, eyes darting between the two of us. "I'll leave you to it, then."

"You can stick around if you like," Pyke said, but I could tell he didn't mean it. There was a harshness to his voice that hadn't been there before.

"I've got to be at the palace, anyway. You two have fun."

Will walked away, and I couldn't help but analyse his last words. Did he think Pyke and I were a thing? Did he know Pyke had feelings for me? They were friends, after all. Was he jealous? Did he even care? My lack of information was driving me mad. Boys in general were driving me mad.

"Don't worry about him," Pyke said. "He's been taking his job at the palace really seriously, which is good."

"How come you don't work for the palace?" I asked, trying to forget about Will. "It seems like the perfect job for you. You like protecting people, the queen is on your side for equal rights …"

"It would be good," he admitted, "but then I'd be stuck at the palace all the time, and I'd never see you."

"I'm actually at the palace a lot, so you'd see me all the time."

Pyke raised an eyebrow, and it took me a moment to realise he was flirting with me. "I thought you said you weren't going to do that," I said, giving him a tired look.

"I can't help it," he said with a beautiful smile. "The heart wants what the heart wants."

His words took me aback, thinking about Millie had said them week ago. Love is love. I shook my head.

"Pyke …"

"Okay, okay," he said. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to hide the way I feel about you. It's not in me to pretend to be someone I'm not."

"I would never ask you to," I replied.

What was I saying? Why was I talking this way with Pyke? He was my friend, like a brother. He was confusing me, so I took a step back. We'd somehow crept close together again, his eyes tracing my face.

Mia made her way over to us, obviously still fuming. I was grateful for the distraction. This conversation was going in a strange direction, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know where it led.

"Hey, Mia," Pyke said, like they hadn't just had a big fight.

Mia shot him a dangerous look and turned her attention to me. "We have a session in an hour," she said, ignoring Pyke. "I'll meet you in the palace library. Ivan arranged our session to be held there."

She didn't want to talk to me, but Ivan was paying her to be my tutor, so she didn't have a choice.

"Okay," I said, and Mia stormed off.

"Great," I said to Pyke. "Just what I need, to spend time alone with Mia. That can only end well."

"I don't envy you," Pyke replied. "But she does know a lot."

I sighed. "Can I leave Keisuke with you? He'd prefer to stay out all day and not be stuck at my house."

"No worries," he said. "I'll bring him around later tonight."

Pyke moved closer to me again and I felt the heat from his body. My breath caught and I turned away.