NINE
KAAWA STEPPED ASIDE with nimble awareness as I dashed past her and down the stairs. I stopped just short of plowing into Kostya as he stood, legs braced apart, arms crossed over his chest, his face tight with anger as Cyrene harangued him.
“. . . and I don’t care if he is your brother—I was here first, and that means you have to find somewhere else to stay.”
I stepped aside to admire her form for a moment. Her eyes were lit with fury, her hands waving wildly as she threw accusations at Kostya.
“You followed me here! Admit it—you followed me here so you could be with me without apologizing.”
Kostya’s voice came out a growl. “I didn’t follow you here. I came to my brother’s house—my brother’s house—because I had no choice, you insane naiad, not because I was following you!”
“Well,
