Rebel's Desire (Iron Portal Paranormal Romance Series) (Iron Portal Series Book 4) by Laurie London Page A
Authors: Laurie London
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nodded, even though he didn’t understand much. He came from a world with castles, warriors and horses, not computers, electricity and cars. About the only thing he understood was that her father was a powerful religious man.
“You were a kid when you protested with him,” he said brusquely. “I hardly call that being deserving of this kind of retaliation.”
She didn’t look convinced. “I don’t know, Toryn. I’m not sure that I would’ve changed my mindset about Talents if I hadn’t become one. I had a really hard time accepting the fact that I was a freak. I’d—”
“You’re not a freak, Kitten,” he said softly. Her gaze flashed to his as if she were trying to decide whether to believe him. “You’re not.”
She swallowed, looked down at her hands. “I became the very thing that I grew up despising. Both of us did. I don’t know what I would’ve done without Becca. I’m not sure I could’ve gone on without her.”
He exhaled slowly. The world wouldn’t have been the same without Keely in it.
Despite Keely believing this was the work of protesters, he wasn’t so sure. Not with the timing of what happened to her sister. He’d be willing to bet that Reaux was behind it somehow. In his experience, the power hungry would often do things to demonstrate their might and rattle their sabers.
He didn’t want to think of what would’ve happened had she been alone and come upon the bastards while they were still here, but from now on, he’d do everything in his power to keep her safe.
While she gathered up papers and re-shelved books, he boarded up the windows with some plywood he found in the alley.
“So the name of your shop is Sisters Books and…what?”
“Books and Fortunes. Although the fortunes part is more marketing than anything else.”
He quirked a brow. “How so?”
“Becca and I don’t actually read fortunes. It’s more like making thought suggestions, although to be honest with you, she’s much better at it than I am.”
“When you’re done, maybe you can show me. Give me a demonstration.”
She laughed and said she’d love to.
After he finished hammering the last nail, he stood back to check his handiwork. “That should hold for now.”
“I can’t thank you enough for your help,” she said as she rested her hands on top of the broom. “This would’ve taken me all night by myself.”
The place wasn’t completely put back together, but at least it was better than it had been. He brushed his thumb over a smudge on her cheek. “No thanks necessary, Kitten. I was happy to do it.”
They exchanged another heated glance and he felt himself getting hard.
“Is there somewhere you can stay until the windows are replaced?” The words came out low and raspy. “A friend? A relative, maybe?”
Shaking her head, she stepped away from him and straightened a few items on a nearby counter. “No, there’s just Becca and me. I’ll be fine though.”
He thought about this latest Iron Guild mission and how he’d considered using Keely to get to Reaux. The thought disgusted him now. She was an innocent young woman who didn’t deserve to be thrust into danger like that. He’d figure out another way to take the bastard down.
Up until now, his hatred of Reaux had been strictly professional. The man was a threat to the Cascadian people and it was Toryn’s duty as an Iron Guild warrior to neutralize that threat.
But that was before he met Keely. Now, it felt personal.
“Then I will stay here with you until it is fixed.”
Chapter Six
“ C an I get you something to drink?” she asked, handing him a pillow and blanket. They didn’t have a spare room, so the couch in the reading nook in the back of the shop would have to suffice. His large, imposing frame seemed to fill the entire space. How would she be able to sleep knowing he was on the floor below her?
Grinning as if he knew what she’d been thinking, he settled down on the sofa and stretched his long legs
“You were a kid when you protested with him,” he said brusquely. “I hardly call that being deserving of this kind of retaliation.”
She didn’t look convinced. “I don’t know, Toryn. I’m not sure that I would’ve changed my mindset about Talents if I hadn’t become one. I had a really hard time accepting the fact that I was a freak. I’d—”
“You’re not a freak, Kitten,” he said softly. Her gaze flashed to his as if she were trying to decide whether to believe him. “You’re not.”
She swallowed, looked down at her hands. “I became the very thing that I grew up despising. Both of us did. I don’t know what I would’ve done without Becca. I’m not sure I could’ve gone on without her.”
He exhaled slowly. The world wouldn’t have been the same without Keely in it.
Despite Keely believing this was the work of protesters, he wasn’t so sure. Not with the timing of what happened to her sister. He’d be willing to bet that Reaux was behind it somehow. In his experience, the power hungry would often do things to demonstrate their might and rattle their sabers.
He didn’t want to think of what would’ve happened had she been alone and come upon the bastards while they were still here, but from now on, he’d do everything in his power to keep her safe.
While she gathered up papers and re-shelved books, he boarded up the windows with some plywood he found in the alley.
“So the name of your shop is Sisters Books and…what?”
“Books and Fortunes. Although the fortunes part is more marketing than anything else.”
He quirked a brow. “How so?”
“Becca and I don’t actually read fortunes. It’s more like making thought suggestions, although to be honest with you, she’s much better at it than I am.”
“When you’re done, maybe you can show me. Give me a demonstration.”
She laughed and said she’d love to.
After he finished hammering the last nail, he stood back to check his handiwork. “That should hold for now.”
“I can’t thank you enough for your help,” she said as she rested her hands on top of the broom. “This would’ve taken me all night by myself.”
The place wasn’t completely put back together, but at least it was better than it had been. He brushed his thumb over a smudge on her cheek. “No thanks necessary, Kitten. I was happy to do it.”
They exchanged another heated glance and he felt himself getting hard.
“Is there somewhere you can stay until the windows are replaced?” The words came out low and raspy. “A friend? A relative, maybe?”
Shaking her head, she stepped away from him and straightened a few items on a nearby counter. “No, there’s just Becca and me. I’ll be fine though.”
He thought about this latest Iron Guild mission and how he’d considered using Keely to get to Reaux. The thought disgusted him now. She was an innocent young woman who didn’t deserve to be thrust into danger like that. He’d figure out another way to take the bastard down.
Up until now, his hatred of Reaux had been strictly professional. The man was a threat to the Cascadian people and it was Toryn’s duty as an Iron Guild warrior to neutralize that threat.
But that was before he met Keely. Now, it felt personal.
“Then I will stay here with you until it is fixed.”
Chapter Six
“ C an I get you something to drink?” she asked, handing him a pillow and blanket. They didn’t have a spare room, so the couch in the reading nook in the back of the shop would have to suffice. His large, imposing frame seemed to fill the entire space. How would she be able to sleep knowing he was on the floor below her?
Grinning as if he knew what she’d been thinking, he settled down on the sofa and stretched his long legs
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