Big fucking softy.
I smirk. “Yeah, yeah. I get it, big bro. You love me. Tragic, really.”
He huffs a laugh, I match it, then he turns back to his monitors. “I’ve just been on edge lately. Restless, like I said.”
“I hear you.” I give his shoulder another quick pat, then glance at the screen he can’t look away from. “But you’ve got us, and we’ve got you.”
But it seems the universereallyis testing us today, because a sudden spike of dread rushes through the bond, knotting in my gut. I stand, staring at the shadows as my darkness pulses with an urgency I can’t place—until Kane’s voice snaps into our heads.
“Pit. Now.”
The room shutters into grey, but when Zeek starts to rise, I shove him back down.
“No, you stay. We’re not leaving her again.” My eyes flick over the screens, locking onto her one last time. “And if big man comes for her, you don’t hold back. Got it? You get him downand you keep him down. Big bastard wouldn’t want it any other way. Understood?”
With those reassuring words, and one half-nod from Zeek, I flit—straight into chaos.
Kane’s shadows keep Julien slammed to the ground, the big bastard barely contained as Kane drags a chain over his neck to secure him.
“Hey, big guy!” I shout over his snarls and the clash of chains.
Julien’s eyes are nothing but black, top to bottom, and lucky me, they’re glued right on my face.
Oh, fuck.
I crack my neck, roll my sleeves up, feel the hum of my power as it crackles around me in vibrant vines.
This is going to be one hell of a night.
Chapter 17: Jasmine
There were no more messages in the new group chat.
And I certainly wasn’t going to start another conversation, no way.Especially since the last message was mine, asking who was staying over tonight.
No response.
Ouch. For some reason that… stung.
What could I have added?
“Sorry for making you all aroused and nearly lose your shit at the breakfast table. I actually had a really nice time. Can we do it again? I promise not to touch you with my darkness.”
And if the silent chat wasn’t enough indication that something was wrong, that the morning had definitely caused some type of rift, the way Ezekial is being with me right now is another.
He’d come to collect me and Kacey from the atrium this evening. She’d tried to leave early, but I didn’t allow it, saying I needed her support to face the awkwardness I knew was heading my way.
And Ezekial hasn’t said a word.
Yesterday, he had me pinned against the very door I’m now inches from. But today? He’s closer to the shadows—his escape—than he is me.
A barely-there smile, a brief glance, and that’s all I’ve had.
Kacey’s already raced ahead into the apartment, but I’m lingering.So I take a big breath and turn back to face him.
“Just, spit it out,” I sigh the words, which only makes his prickly apprehension flare.
The four of them have done well at toning down their powers, but their emotions were always on display, maybe except Kane.
