In the meantime, Nikos is dealing with a screaming Hali. She doesn’t like the fact that she’s separated from her brother in a different crib, but when we put them together, she would keep him awake, so we moved them apart. I can see Nikos’s anguish at his daughter’s screams and tell he’s wavering. I hurry forward and take the screaming child off his hands.
“Hali, sweet girl. If you go to sleep, we can go for a swim in the big pool tomorrow,” I coo to her, and this has the desired effect. She gives up on her tears and claps her hands together. These two are not quite as old as the kraken babies, but in human years, they are about eighteen months, according to Mark. Their language skills are developing rapidly, and their comprehension skills are off the charts. Link suggests that they will probably develop as quickly as the kraken babies. It sent Lila into another tailspin, because three teenage girls will be terrifying.
I slide her into her own pod. She swims back and forth a few times before she settles down at the bottom as well.
Maxsim and Echo curl up between the older kids’ beds. They will stay there for a while until all the family members have returned and the suite is locked down for the night before moving to their own bedroom. They each have one, Lila ensured we all have our own space, but they tend to sleep in the same bed.
“How about we get a drink while we wait for Lila?” Xavier suggests before he grabs Nikos by the hand and tugs him out of the room. I follow along behind them. I have no idea what that male has in mind, but I’m curious to see what it is.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Lila
Iapproach the table Mark and Susie are at. No one notices me, as they seem to be in the middle of an argument. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we don’t need you tailing our asses across the galaxy. You’re only here because my parents insisted on it. They wouldn’t know if you did your job or not, so how about giving us a little bit of breathing room?” Damn, Mark sounds annoyed. He’s usually so mild mannered, but it turns out he does have some fire in him. His wings bristle with agitation, and I feel a ripple under the skin of my back. It’s a weird itchy feeling. One set of wings wants to come out and join the fun, but which one? I brush the feeling away. I’m getting so much better at ignoring the insistent mimic power.
The golden guardian angel doesn’t say anything, just smirks at him. Susie is looking between the two men like she needs a bucket of popcorn. Oh, I can’t wait to hear all about this, but I won’t quiz her about it while the two of them are around.
“Hey, can I join you?” I don’t wait for an invite before I pull out a chair and take a seat, swiping my finger over theholographic menu. “I’m freaking starving. I haven’t eaten all day, too many emotions wreaking havoc on my system, but all of a sudden, I could eat a horse.”
Mark just about leaps out of his seat, but Aarin gives me a welcoming nod.
“Well, if it isn’t the boss lady.” Susie gives me a sassy grin and a wink. “Better behave now, boys, because we wouldn’t want to be tossed off the ship before we’ve even hit orbit.”
“Lila, congratulations on your promotion.” Mark leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
“I noticed,” I say dryly, putting in an order for food and a bottle of rilaxious. “Is everything okay? How about you introduce me to your new friend, since he is on my ship?” I raise an eyebrow, and Mark blushes as Susie giggles, before he waves a careless hand at the Celestian.
“This is Aarin. My parents insisted he accompany us. They weren’t happy with me leaving so soon after we were reunited, which I completely understand, but I’m not ready to be the crown prince and settle down. I’m excited about discovering all the galaxy has to offer. Hell, until a few months ago, I was human with absolutely no chance of even going into space, let alone traveling the stars.”
“But you must understand your parents’ position. You are new to your power and vulnerable once more. Although they have seized control of the planet again, there are still rumbles of a democratic rule opposed to a monarchy, and you would be the perfect target for those factions to take out,” Aarin argues casually like he isn’t talking about my friend being assassinated. “Your fathers decided I would be the best person to teach you to protect yourself both physically and with your growing powers.”
“Why you? General Saxon could have instructed me just as he is instructing Lila with self-defense.” I wince at that argument. Apart from our first disastrous attempt at self-defense, we actually haven’t had any more lessons. I’m not even sure how Mark knows about that. I guess Susie filled him in.
Aarin scoffs. “While I respect General Saxon and his very extensive abilities and talents, he is also a married man who is focused on protecting his family, not to mention taking on the responsibility of running this operation. No, it will be me, and I will not hear any more arguments.” Aarin stands up, spreading his wings wide before tucking them against his back. “I will come find you once we are underway tomorrow. We will schedule your training to work around your responsibilities in the med bay. I bid you goodnight. I have an old friend I need to talk to.” He bows to Mark and nods at both Susie and me before turning with military precision and stalking through the room in the direction of the front table.
I stare after him, kind of dumbfounded. “Wow, what a hard ass,” I murmur, and Mark groans, slouching down and burying his head in his arms on the table.
“You have no idea,” he grumbles, and I shake my head.
“Oh no, I had a perfect view of his ass when he walked away. You could use those cheeks as airbags.” I mime cupping them, and Susie cackles.
“That’s half of Mark’s problem. He pops a hard-on if Aarin just breathes on him the wrong way. Can you imagine what it would be like doing hand-to-hand combat?”
“Susie…” Mark groans and turns his head. “He is my fathers’ oldest friend. I can’t be lusting after him. He’s going to think I’m such a perv.”
We watch as he stops in front of Zeydan. Zeydan crosses his arms and glares at the male, and I brace myself for some kind of confrontation, but the two of them stare at each other for what seems like forever before they embrace each other without words. There are manly slaps on the back, and the hug goes onfor a long time before they part and start talking quietly to one another.
“Hmm, an old friend of your fathers’, right? Are you sure there isn’t anything divine about your fathers’ friend apart from his looks?”
“I don’t think so. No one has ever said anything. You think he might be a god?” Mark’s eyes widen in surprise as he watches the same scene I do.
“I think the god of air may have been hiding in plain sight. What was his original name again? Zeydan told me…” I snap my fingers, and my own eyes widen. “Holy shit, his name was Markit. Maybe he changed it because it was a little too close to yours, especially if he was hiding in plain sight amongst one of his creations.”
“Oh my god, now the thought of training with him is even more terrifying,” Mark laments.
“Nonsense,” Susie scolds him. “He is hot as fuck, and if we can get him to pull the stick out of his ass, he might prove to be more than just protection. Who cares if he’s a god? Hell, one of Lila’s mates is a god. I bet the sex is off the fucking charts.”
I smother the sly grin that really wants to make itself known and change the subject, seeing that Mark is only moments away from a meltdown and Susie isn’t doing anything to help. I will grill Zeydan when I get back to my room, but I’d put money on the fact that Aarin is the god of air. One down, two more to go, and we have all we need to take Vivian down.
