“When it started getting late, I got worried,” Malachi says, his knuckles tight on the steering wheel.
Cade leans forward and taps my headrest. “The pillar of fire shooting fifty feet into the air might have been a clue too.”
Aurora snorts. “Great, so I’m a walking flare gun now.” Her snickering is humorless. “Meadow wasn’t even supposed to be that powerful, and we could barely touch her.”
I twist in my seat to face her. The confidence that usually radiates from Aurora has dimmed, replaced by something I rarely see in her—doubt.
“She had advantages we didn’t expect. Shadow teleportation,enhanced strength, no pain response. When we hit the lab, we’ll be prepared. Full team, proper weapons, Avidian to level the playing field.”
Aurora nods, but her fingers fidget with the zipper of her jacket. “I know the plan makes sense.” She pauses, watching the dark landscape blur past her window. “I always thought my fire made me untouchable. Tonight, I learned otherwise. We’re walking into something way bigger than us.”
“Hey, what do you think Meadow meant when she said she saw you down there?” Cade muses thoughtfully.
“I’m not sure. Maybe she saw me at Marco’s compound before,” I say, but in truth I have no idea what she meant. She clearly wasn’t well.
The rest of the car ride back is silent, and Malachi and I leave before I get to hear Aurora break it to Cade that his car was stolen.
I take a shower, desperate to wash the blood off me and erase everything that happened tonight. Once I’m dressed in a silky black nightgown and smelling fresh, I feel my muscles finally relax from the warm water. I step out into the bedroom.
“What are you doing?” I ask Malachi, who’s perched on the edge of the bed.
“I thought about joining you in that shower,” he says, his voice low, “but then we’d never make it to where I want to take you.”
“And where exactly is that?” I move closer, positioning myself between his knees and threading my fingers through his damp hair.
His hands slide up the back of my thighs, pulling me against him until the silk of my nightgown brushes his chest. For a moment, I think he’s going to give in to the distraction. Instead, he lifts me easily and sets me back on the bed, just out of his reach.
“Nice try,” he says, with that maddening grin. “Get your shoes on. I have something to show you.”
After everything that happened tonight, his playfulness is a bit unexpected but exactly what I need. “Please tell me it’s not another abandoned mall.”
He laughs, moving toward the door. “Trust me. And don’t change. You’re perfect like this.”
The way his eyes rake over me makes me tingle. I slip into my loafers and grab my jacket, feeling oddly rebellious about wandering around the Depths in nothing but silk.
We get in the elevator, and I try to see what button Malachi hits, but he quickly steps in front of the panel, blocking my view.
“Seriously? What are you, twelve?” I laugh, trying to peek around him.
“Close your eyes and don’t open them until I say,” he orders, that commanding tone making my stomach flutter.
I scrunch my nose at him. “This is ridiculous.”
“Eyes. Closed. Now.”
“Fine, but if you’re taking me to some creepy basement, I’m never forgiving you.” I squeeze my eyes shut, crossing my arms dramatically.
When the elevator dings and the doors swish open, I’m about to peek, but Malachi scoops me up and hoists me over his shoulder so my arms dangle down his back.
“Malachi!” I yell, laughing despite myself.
“No peeking,” he says, giving my ass a playful smack that makes me yelp.
“I wasn’t peeking! I was—ow! Okay, I’ll be good.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” he says, satisfied.
I’m dying to look, but I keep my eyes squeezed shut, my heart racing with anticipation. “This better be worth the dramatic kidnapping.”
