Free Everlasting by Iris Johansen Page B

resistance, she now found only gentleness and understanding. “Don't look so astounded, love. I know how you feel about Marna.” He turned away. “I'll get to work right away rearranging my plans.” His gaze met Marna's across the room. “I guess this means you're keeping Kira with you tonight?”
    Marna nodded. “Yes. We will have dinner together and talk of the old days and remember. I will send her back to you tomorrow afternoon.”
    A crooked smile slanted his lips. “I suppose it wouldn't do any good to remind you that Karpathan will consider it a little strange for meto let her leave tonight, when we've put out the story we're a very hot item?”
    “Has Karpathan seen you together?”
    Zack nodded. “Yes.”
    Marna smiled faintly. “Then there is no problem. Karpathan is not a
chitka
either. He has eyes to see what is there and many things not so plain.” She paused. “He came to visit me a few times while you were gone.”
    “He did?” Kira asked, startled. “Why?”
    Marna shrugged. “Who knows? He asked no questions. He merely sat and chatted and smiled. He knows I do not trust him. Perhaps he thought to work his magic on me as he does on Stefan.”
    “Work his magic,” Zack repeated thoughtfully. “A curious phrase. Are you crediting him with Rasputin-like powers?”
    “I do not know. There are men who are not easy to read,” Marna said. “Some men are meant to control the winds and others are meant to be buffeted by them.” She looked directly at Zack. “Which do
you
think is Karpathan's destiny?”
    “That's a good question,” Zack said dryly. “Perhaps I'll invite him to have dinner with me.At least it would be stimulating and I'm evidently to be deprived of what I really want.”
    “Only temporarily.” Marna's sudden smile lit her usually impassive face with warmth. “I thank you for giving me this,” she said haltingly. “I can already feel your power. You could have won if you'd cared to do battle.”
    He shook his head. “Then I truly would have lost. We're not in competition, Marna. I'd be an ungrateful bastard if I didn't realize all I owe you.” His eyes lingered for a moment on Kira's bemused face. “Stay with her,” he said softly. “Love her, Kira, there's no one who deserves it more.”
    Kira laughed a little shakily. “I know. I'm just wondering how the devil you do. A few months out of a lifetime fifteen years ago and you're suddenly blood relatives or something.”
    Zack grinned. “Perhaps you're not far off the mark. The American Indian is supposed to have arrived in North America by crossing the Bering Strait in the dawn of history. Maybe my ancestors and Marna's wandered across Europe and Asia together at one point in time.”
    Marna looked at him in surprise. “But why are you laughing? That's exactly what happened.”
    Zack blinked and then shook his head resignedly. “You didn't tell me.”
    “I do not tell anyone everything,” she said. “Life would not be nearly as interesting.”
    “Just a good deal simpler,” Zack murmured. He opened the door. “Enjoy your evening, ladies. I'll see you tomorrow, Kira.”
    Kira watched the door close behind him with an odd feeling of loneliness.
    “Kira.”
    Marna's voice was soft and so was her expression when Kira turned to face her. “It's only one night, not forever.”
    Kira smiled mistily. “I don't know what's going on. I don't know what's happening to me.”
    “You know.”
    Kira looked into her eyes. “I love him? How could I? I don't even know him.”
    Marna shrugged. “You know him. He is the other half of you. When the two pieces come together there is no uncertainty. Accept it.”
    “Marna…” Kira suddenly came back into her arms. “I've never felt like this before. Help me.”
    Marna's hand was gently stroking her hair. “I have helped you. Now you must help me.”
    Kira's head lifted swiftly. “How?”
    “Forget him. Forget him for this one night and be my child again.”
    Kira gazed