265 Old Wounds (14)

While sitting in the kitchen, Iris couldn't move her gaze away from Kyro. He was grumpy as usual in the morning, caring for nothing but his cup of coffee, but she couldn't believe that to be true. He'd been taken into custody because of her the day before!

It was the greatest joy to wake up by his side, but wouldn't he be angry at her? Furious? He acted normal, but…

"Stop looking at me like I'm going to do something crazy any moment," he said, giving her a look over his cup. His dark brown eyes were hazy and heavy-lidded from sleep, barely open.

She smiled and raised her own cup to her mouth. He'd gotten her expression wrong, but voicing the truth was a bit embarrassing. Especially when she heard Gale moving about in the next room.

Could he have already read the letter? If so, did it help?

The questions were endless, so Iris refocused and went to the refrigerator to look for some breakfast. With Gale up, Lily would come out as well, and the little girl needed something more than just a cup of something.

In the time Iris scrambled a pan full of eggs, the siblings came out, and Iris presented everyone with a plate. Gale and Kyro picked theirs to go to another room, so Iris just sat down at the table in the kitchen with Lily. The little girl was grinning proudly, but when asked didn't say anything.

"Did your brother read the letter?" Iris finally asked, unable to hold back her curiosity anymore.

Lily nodded.

"And?" When the girl didn't say anything right away, Iris poked her arm with a finger. "Come on, don't keep me in suspense, I want to know!"

At first, Lily tried to avoid, planning to keep her brother's secrets safe, but after lots of prodding from Iris, she finally gave up. Leaning in, she said in a low voice, "He was really unhappy. Whatever was in that letter, it instantly put him in a bad mood."

"Really?" Iris asked louder when she'd planned.

What could Elise have written in there? Wasn't it some sort of apology? How could something like that make him unhappy…

"I think it brought back bad memories. His brow scrunched up like it does every time I accidentally mention something about home." Lily quickly looked around, making sure they were alone. "But don't tell him I know it. He thinks I don't notice."

Iris chuckled and tousled the girl's hair. "His luck must be extraordinary to have a sister like you."

Lily grinned back at her. It wouldn't last long, only until the girl thought more of it, so Iris didn't give her time. She rose from the table and picked the plates to wash them.

In a few minutes, the men returned. Kyro seemed finally awake and was back to his usual serious self while Gale was smiling wryly at nothing. Upon entering the kitchen, he looked at Iris. "I'll talk to Elise, so please don't pull anymore crazy stunts."

"Hey!" Iris marched over to him, hands crossed over her chest.

Before she could say more however, Kyro pulled her into his embrace, and she looked up at him in surprise. "Ignore him. He just wants to make someone suffer alongside him."

"So he will really do it?"

"Yes, yes. Now leave me alone," Gale said with a roll of his eyes. He then turned and pushed them toward the door. "Better yet, get out of my house altogether. You two are nothing but trouble."

Iris and Kyro looked at each other and laughed. They were the troublemakers? Gale should get a mirror.

Still, they acquiesced, and Iris changed into a fennec. Lily was really interested in petting and carrying her around, but that was too much for Iris to take. She entertained the girl for some five minutes, then ran away to Kyro's side.

He picked her up and they said their goodbyes. The car drive home was quiet and the parents didn't say anything. They didn't seem to be aware that anything had happened.

In the room, Iris jumped on the bed to lie down and let the pain rush through her being. Yesterday's excursion wasn't good for her. It wasn't every day that she walked that much, and every muscle screamed abuse at her. To not worry Lily, she had pretended everything was fine, but home was a place where she could let go.

Kyro sat down by her side and trailed his fingers over her soft fur on the back. "You're tired?" he asked, and she nodded. It wasn't tiredness per see, but close enough. Her leg muscles were all in a riot against her.

"Before you go to sleep, I want to say that I've arranged a date. Next Saturday I'll take you back to UK."

For a moment, Iris just stared at him, her mind blank. Was he speaking about what she thought he was speaking? She pushed herself up and tilted her head to the side in a questioning manner.

"It's too dangerous for you here. I'll leave you with your family until everything here calms down."

His voice was calm, serious, but Iris barely heard it. There was a ringing in her ears, and various unwelcome thoughts crashed into her mind like a tidal wave. Did he want to get rid of her? Was he sick of the trouble she brought?

Her logical side said it was nonsense—he was just looking out for her—but it was hard to believe when he chose to help her get back right after he'd been through something like being held in custody for a day.

A whine escaped her lips, then she quickly shook her head like it was nothing. It was good that all the sounds she produced were high-pitched and almost indiscernible from one another. Or at least she hoped so.

'It'll be good to see Aunt Maddie,' she whispered to herself. 'Isn't that what I wanted all along? I've got so much unfinished business back there. My return is all for the better.'

But even as she tried to convince herself, she wondered if once she was done with everything, if there would be a place to return. Would Kyro wait for her? Or would she come back only to turn into Jane 2.0?

Kyro picked her up at that moment. He went to sit at his desk and placed her on his knees. When she looked up at him, he caressed her small head. "Don't worry, I'll come with you. Not sure yet for how long I can leave Dioscuri, but two weeks shouldn't be impossible. You won't have to face everything by yourself."

It wasn't the exact worry growing within Iris, but his words were like a healing salve to her problems. If he stayed until she finished up with everything, there would be no time for them to grow apart.

Love was funny like that. People may be inseparable when they met every day, but once they didn't see each other for a couple months, the fire within them would die out. Sometimes it could still be rekindled, but more often than not, the embers would just go out as well.

It might be only a superstition, but Iris couldn't help worrying about it. Who could tell the future after all?

But if Kyro stayed with her, there wouldn't be any problems. Of that, she was certain.

With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes and leaned into the familiar touch. As long as they could be together, nothing could pull them apart. Nothing.