Page 23 of Dark Rebel’s Reckoning (The Children Of The Gods #93)

23

KYRA

A fter Kian had escorted them to the penthouse and said a few more words of welcome, he excused himself and left them in the capable hands of his mate.

Kyra had a feeling he was going to check on the Doomer down in the dungeon, and she hoped he wouldn't start the interrogation without her. She'd meant it when she'd said she wanted to witness it.

She needed answers from that monster—she needed to understand what had been done to her and why. The memories of her first and second imprisonments were hazy, clouded by whatever drugs had been pumped into her system, but the emotions lingered—fear, helplessness, rage. She couldn't face those demons and put them to rest without having the full picture.

"Let me show you around," Syssi said, then turned to Jasmine. "Maybe you want to do the honors? After all, you and Ell-rom were guests in here not too long ago."

Jasmine shook her head. "It's your place. You should do that."

What had she meant by that? That Syssi owned the gorgeous penthouse, or that it was where she lived when she was staying in the city?

"Is this your home?" Kyra asked.

"It used to be," Syssi said. "Kian lived here for many years, and then I joined him, and we lived here together for some time. When we moved the entire clan to the new village, Kian leased out this penthouse and the one across the vestibule that belonged to his sister, but then we realized that we needed these apartments for all kinds of guests, and after the last tenants left, we didn't lease them out again."

"Lucky us," Fenella said, turning in a circle. "I've never stayed in a place as fancy as this."

She was right.

The penthouse was spectacular. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered breathtaking views of the Los Angeles skyline. Everything spoke of luxury and comfort, from the plush sofas and armchairs to the state-of-the-art kitchen where a butler in uniform was working some culinary magic.

The smells were incredible, and Kyra's stomach rumbled, reminding her that her last meal had been a while ago.

"This is the main living area," Syssi said as they moved through the space. "The two penthouses take up the entire top floor, and each one has its own terrace. There are three bedrooms in each, plus an office that has a convertible couch and can also be used as a bedroom if needed."

Kyra reached for her pendant, grounding herself with its familiar weight as she processed the opulence around her. How had she gone from living in a tent and using a communal bathroom in a half-ruined structure to a prison cell, and now to this?

The contrast was dizzying.

Syssi slid open a glass door, leading them out onto a terrace that wrapped around the corner of the building. "Each terrace has a lap pool and lush landscaping. Feel free to enjoy it anytime you want."

The pool was rectangular and long, its surface perfectly still in the windless afternoon. Potted trees provided shelter and seclusion, creating the illusion of a private oasis high above the city.

"It's like something from a movie," Arezoo breathed, voicing what Kyra had been thinking.

Once they were done exploring the terrace, they continued to the bedrooms.

"Each bedroom has its own bathroom." Syssi opened a door to a room with twin beds. "The girls could share a room." She turned to Arezoo. "You and Donya in this one, and Laleh and Azadeh in the one over the hallway?"

Arezoo chewed on her lower lip for a moment. "I think Laleh should stay with me. Donya and Azadeh can take the other room."

"No problem." Syssi smiled. "All of the clothing in the closet is medium in size, and that should fit all of you. I'll write down your shoe sizes later and order some."

"Thank you," Arezoo said. "How will we ever pay you back for your kindness?"

"No payment will ever be required. We will help you in any way we can. That's what we do."

The doubt in Arezoo's eyes pierced Kyra's heart. The girl didn't have any reason to trust a stranger's promise, even after all that had been done for her and her younger siblings and cousin.

"I will not let anything happen to you," Kyra promised. "You have my word."

Arezoo nodded, but she still looked just as doubtful as before. "Thank you. But you are not in a better position than we are. We have nowhere to go, we are in a foreign country, and we don't have any money."

"She at least speaks the language," Donya murmured.

"That's true," Arezoo agreed. "It's a small advantage." She cast a suspicious glance at Jasmine and then back at Kyra. "You also have a relative who came to rescue you."

Kyra didn't miss the fact that Arezoo used the general term 'relative.' She'd obviously heard Kyra referring to Jasmine once as her sister and then as her daughter.

Sooner or later, they would have to explain to the girls what was going on, but it wasn't her decision. Her hosts had to decide when and how they wanted to enlighten the girls about the people surrounding them.

"So that's settled?" Syssi asked with mock cheerfulness. "The four of you will stay in these two adjacent bedrooms?"

Arezoo nodded. "We will. Thank you so much. The rooms are beautiful."

"Excellent." Syssi continued down the corridor. "This is the master suite." She opened the double doors and turned to Kyra. "I think you should stay in this one. The girls will feel more comfortable with you next door."

The room was so stunning that Kyra had a hard time formulating words. "Yes. Of course. I will be more than happy to stay in this gorgeous room." She walked in and spun around, taking in the four-poster bed on the elevated platform, the sitting area facing the fireplace, the bookcases overflowing with books. "I could live here for the rest of my life."

Syssi laughed. "I said the same thing the first time Kian brought me here."

"Sounds romantic," Fenella commented from behind them. "Where am I going to sleep? On the pullout couch in the office?"

"There are three more bedrooms in the other penthouse. Let's head over there."

"I don't want to be alone," Fenella muttered under her breath. "I'm very grateful and all that, and this is the fanciest place I've ever seen, but…"

"You won't be alone," Syssi said as she opened the double doors to the other penthouse. "Jasmine and Ell-rom will be staying here with you."

Jasmine arched a brow. "We will?"

"Well, yes. Someone who knows their way around the keep should stay here to take care of them until we figure out what's next, and I'm sure you want to spend as much time as you can with your…I mean with Kyra, now that you've found her."

"I do. But we don't have anything here. Ell-rom and I will need to go to the village and pack a bag. We can do that at night after everyone settles in."

Laleh looked suddenly stricken. "You're leaving us alone?"

Syssi's expression softened. "The building is completely secure. There are Guardians stationed on the two floors below?—"

"I'll stay," Ell-rom interrupted gently. "Jasmine can pack for both of us."

The relief on Laleh's face was immediate, and Kyra felt a surge of appreciation for her future son-in-law. There was something about him that radiated goodness and naturally put others at ease, a quiet strength that promised protection without demanding anything in return.

"Then it's settled," Syssi said. "Let's return to the other penthouse and eat lunch."

"Yes, let's." Kyra didn't need to be asked twice.

The delicious aromas wafting from the dining area had been teasing her senses since they arrived.

When they gathered around the table, she found an impressive spread of dishes—grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, fresh salads, and warm bread.

There was something odd about the butler. He didn't look young or pretty like the other immortals, but Kyra sensed that he wasn't human either. She wanted to ask Syssi about him, but with the girls listening, she had to wait.

Now that they all wore the translation earpieces, conversations that had once been private no longer were. The girls didn't yet know they were surrounded by immortals.

"This is incredible," Kyra said instead, savoring a bite of perfectly seasoned chicken.

"I am most gratified that you find the meal satisfactory," the butler responded with a perfect British accent and a dip bow that was almost comical.

Fenella, who was seated across from Kyra, raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She seemed to have noticed the same strangeness about the butler that Kyra had.

The conversation flowed naturally as they ate, carefully avoiding sensitive topics, with Jasmine telling stories about her acting career and Syssi talking about her baby daughter and showing everyone her pictures on her phone. No one mentioned captivity, torture, or the Doomer waiting in the dungeon below.

They were halfway through their meal when Kian returned. "I hope there is something left for me." He looked at the butler.

"Of course, master." He bowed again and rushed into the kitchen.

"Kian is vegan," Syssi explained. "He can't eat most of what's on the table."

"I can," he corrected as he took a seat next to his wife. "I just choose not to."

His presence at the table disturbed the relaxed ambiance they'd enjoyed before his arrival, but as the meal continued, hunger was satisfied, and exhaustion began to set in, relaxation followed.

The young girls looked ready to collapse, the combination of stress and relief taking its toll.

"Perhaps you should all rest after lunch," Syssi suggested. "It's been a long journey, and I'm sure all of you want to take a proper shower and get into a proper bed. As nice as the lie-flat seats on the jet are, they are not a substitute for a good mattress."

The butler bowed to Syssi. "Shall I serve coffee and tea, mistress?"

"Yes, please." She shifted her gaze to the girls. "You don't need to stay if you want to go to your rooms."

"Thank you." Arezoo looked grateful.

She rose to her feet and motioned for her sisters and cousin to get up.

They all murmured their thanks and goodnights, even though it was the middle of the day, before ducking out of the dining room.

The doorbell rang a few minutes later, and Kyra's heartbeat accelerated as she expected it to be Max.

He hadn't said he would be coming later, but she just knew he would, and she was proven right a moment later when the butler escorted him to the dining room.

He was freshly showered and changed—his blond hair still damp and combed back away from his handsome face. He wore simple jeans that hugged his muscular legs and a black T-shirt that emphasized the breadth of his shoulders.

A jolt of awareness shot through Kyra, sharp and sudden. She hadn't felt anything like it since—well, since forever, as far as she could remember.

Was she actually feeling attraction toward a man?

Max's eyes found hers immediately, his lips curving into a smile that seemed reserved just for her. "I hope there is still something left over for me."

"There is plenty," Syssi said. "Help yourself."

"Don't mind if I do." He sat down next to Kyra, where Arezoo had sat until a few moments ago.

As the butler rushed to put a clean plate and new utensils in front of him, Max leaned toward her. "Everything okay?"

"Perfect," she managed a smile, grateful that her voice sounded steadier than she felt. "This place is beyond anything I could have imagined."

What was happening to her? She'd never responded to a man this way—at least not since her memory began. In her years with the resistance, she'd been around plenty of men, some of them objectively handsome, but she'd felt nothing. No spark, no interest, no desire.

Yet here she was, practically vibrating with awareness of Max's presence.

Was this attraction a sign of healing? The first evidence that she was beginning to recover from her trauma? Or was there something specific about Max—some connection that transcended her usual barriers?

She was hyperaware of his presence beside her—the subtle scent of his soap, the warmth radiating from his body, and the occasional brush of his arm against hers when he reached for his water glass. Each small contact sent a current of electricity through her that was both thrilling and disturbing.

Across the table, Fenella watched their interaction with knowing eyes, a slight smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

Syssi said something that Kyra hadn't paid attention to, and Max laughed, the sound of his voice sending a flutter through her chest.

What was it about this man that affected her so strongly? Was it just physical attraction or something deeper?

She thought of what Jasmine had told her about immortals—about mates and bonds that transcended ordinary connections. Was that what this was? Or was she simply grasping at magical explanations for a perfectly normal reaction to an attractive man?

Either way, she wasn't ready to explore it—not with so much uncertainty still clouding her past and future. Not with the Doomer downstairs, holding answers to questions she'd carried for decades. But neither was she willing to ignore the first spark of genuine desire she'd felt in her remembered lifetime.