TWISTED (Eternal Guardians Book 7) by Elisabeth Naughton Page A

his cheek, and his dark hair was tousled around his face, as if he’d run his fingers through it several times in frustration. He’d obviously come right to the castle after crossing back into Argolea, but she could tell without even asking that he still hadn’t found his brother. She felt it as surely as she felt that Nick was still alive.  
    “I wish that was my welcome-home greeting.”
    His humming cut off, and he turned to face her, surprise evident in his black eyes. “Did we wake you?”
    “Yes.” She stepped away from the door and moved into the room to stand next to him, peering down at their daughter. Her brown eyes were all Isadora, but that thick black hair and that tiny dent in her chin were her father’s, and every time Isadora looked at Elysia, she saw the man she loved. “And it’s a good way to wake.”
    She reached for Elysia’s other hand, and the baby cooed and gripped Isadora’s finger, locking the three of them together.
    This was what Isadora wanted. Her family all in one place. But that niggling vision she’d had wouldn’t leave her, and she feared their separation of late was only the beginning of the end.
    She looked up when she realized Demetrius was staring at her. He was still swaying, but concern now shadowed his eyes, and his features were drawn tight as he studied her. “What?” she asked.
    He let go of Elysia’s hand and placed his palm over Isadora’s forehead. “Are you ill? You look pale.”
    Sighing, Isadora released the baby and pushed his hand away. She hated when everyone worried over her like she was some glass doll. And that wasn’t the way she wanted her mate to touch her, not after the days they’d been apart. “I’m fine, Demetrius. Just tired. There’s been a lot going on here, but then you wouldn’t know because you haven’t been around.”
    It was a dig. But she couldn’t seem to stop herself from saying it. Turning out of the nursery so they didn’t argue in front of their daughter, she crossed to the windows in their bedroom and folded her arms over her chest. Frustration clouded her mind as she looked out at the sparkling view of the Olympic Ocean under the full-moon light. Followed by a wave of confusion that she found herself being short with him when what she really wanted was him home and with her.
    The door to the nursery closed softly, then Demetrius’s footsteps crossed the floor. But he didn’t touch her. He stopped several feet away as if he couldn’t read her mood and wasn’t sure how to proceed.
    Well, that makes two of us.
    “I’m back for good,” he said in a low voice. “No more weeks away at a time.”
    She focused on the lap of water against the beach far below, shimmering in the moonlight. “You talked to Theron, didn’t you?”
    “I need to be here.”
    No, he’d talked to Theron and found out what she’d decided about the Misos and the Council. “We’re perfectly safe here in the castle. I don’t need you sacrificing your duties out of guilt.”
    He moved close, his body heat wrapping around her, warming her, and then his big hands landed against her upper arms, gently turning her to face him. “You are never a sacrifice, kardia .”
    Tears burned in her eyes. Useless tears she didn’t understand.
    His hands slid up to cup her face and tip her gaze up to his. Confusion clouded his features. “What’s wrong?” he whispered.
    She didn’t know. And that frustrated her more than anything. It was more than that vision—a vision she wasn’t about to accept. It was more than what was happening with the Misos and the Council. It was even bigger than the distance that was stretching between them. It was something else. Something she couldn’t grasp yet. “I’m just tired,” she managed. “And I miss you. So much.”
    He pulled her in close, wrapped his arm around her, and slid one hand into her hair. “I’ve missed you too. You have no idea how much. I’m sorry I haven’t been here. I’m sorry I left you