“Oh, it has, believe me. Dad took excellent care of it.”
“And Thorsson’s?”
“He uses it when necessary.”
“Are you kidding? Has he chopped someone’s head off or something?”
He didn’t want to tell her that after killing Emilio Fuentes, Thorsson had done exactly that.
“No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.” She drifted back to the fireplace and gazed at one of the paintings.
“That’s my brother, Ti.” He stood close to her—he enjoyed watching her expression as she studied things around her.
“You look like him.”
“We all bear a close resemblance to our parents.” He pointed them out in the large painting. Looking at them—his mother smiling, her green eyes sparkling like emeralds, and his father, his stern look hiding the gentleness beneath—brought a sudden wash of grief. It threatened to overwhelm the wall he had built around his heart, as it did every time he came in here.
“A stunning couple,” she said, glancing at him. She stared for a few moments before turning back. Damn it, she’d seen his minor breakdown.
“Thank you,” he managed to say. “I’m proud of them.”
“Do they live in Iceland?”
Shit. He tried to answer but couldn’t get the words out. She remained silent however, until he recovered, Odin bless her. “They died a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry.” She touched his arm.
He grasped her hand and just held it, enjoying her warmth. She squeezed his hand in return and moved closer. Her heat enveloped him, reassuring and calm.
“You said you were worried about something.” He stroked her hand with his thumb. “Care to tell me what it is?”
She stared at him, her eyes filled with concern. “I’m not sure how to tell you.”
“Just give it to me straight.”
She bit her lip, and at the last moment, pulled slightly away. “Look, um, I made coffee.”
“You did? Thank God.” He impulsively kissed her cheek, thinking that Eva would talk to him when she was ready. “I’ll find us some breakfast.”
He held her hand as they walked across the wide foyer towards the kitchen. “I was wondering if that other door in the living room led somewhere?” she asked.
“It’s a library.”
“Ah.” Her expression lit up. “Why is it locked?”
Balthazar laughed. “It’s not. It hasn’t been used in a long time. The door’s stuck.”
He gallantly sat her at the table while he rummaged through the fridge and brought out items to make a quick meal. “Has Thorsson shown his ugly mug yet?”
She laughed. “I haven’t seen anyone.”
“Probably no one’s up yet.” Breakfast was a simple meal of cheese, hard-boiled eggs, crackers and sardines. He positioned the plates on the table and grabbed a mug of coffee for himself. As he sat down and started digging into his meal, he noticed that Eva hadn’t moved. “Are you all right?”
“No.” She looked up, and he drew in a sharp breath—her smile was gone again. Not a good sign.
“What’s wrong?”
She sighed. “I’m sure it’s none of my business, and your brother and Mr. Thorsson assured me that you were okay, but I didn’t believe them.”
“Oh.” So Eva had heard him, after all.
“You were screaming last night.” She got up. “Are you okay? What’s going on?”
Balthazar rubbed his shoulder. “Just a bad episode.”
“Bullshit. Don’t lie to me.” Eva stepped closer. “I thought you were dying.”
She had no idea how close she was to the truth. “I need to show you something today.”
“Your dragons again?” Her brows drew together. “Look, it was entertaining, but now it’s not.”
“I didn’t tell you my family’s story to entertain you. I want to tell you what’s going on, and this is the only way to prove it to you.”
He grabbed his mug and filled it again, right to the top, then drank it in one swallow—the heat from the coffee didn’t bother him, and the sharp kick of caffeine spread through his limbs. “I’m going to take you to a special place.”
“You mean like a special dragon place?”
Her question held a hint of sarcasm, and Balthazar wasn’t going to fall for it. He heard a slight movement in the hallway beyond the kitchen, and picked up his bodyguard’s scent. “Thorsson, good of you to join us.”
He stepped into the kitchen, silent as a shadow. “Yes, my lord?”
“Thorsson, grab a set of protective clothing for yourself and Miss Haraldsdóttir.”