Chapter Twelve
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XANTHIA WAS SPYINGon Manhattan through security cameras when Tolas approached her.Everyone was taking their lunch breaks.She was sitting at her desk in the great room to eat as usual.The others were in the dining room.
“May I speak to you for a moment, Xan?”Tolas asked.
“Sure,” the computer genius said in surprise.“What’s up?”
The knight glanced at the doorway closest to the dining room, then gestured for her to follow him.Curious, Xanthia took her mug of coffee with her, but left her plate behind.Tol led her to the bedroom he and his mate had chosen in the north wing.
“I would like this to be a surprise,” Tol whispered so his voice didn’t carry.
“What do you need?”the cambion asked, then took a sip of coffee.
“Wynter doesn’t like being in the dark,” he said.“I promised her I’d always make sure she has light whenever she needs it.The fireplace sheds enough light for now, but spring is coming.Even if we manage to put windows in, I fear our bedroom will be too dark at night.”
A lump formed in Xan’s throat and it had nothing to do with the pork chop she’d eaten.“You want me to string some fairy lights up in here?”she figured, blinking away the tears that were trying to form.
“If it won’t be too much trouble,” he said earnestly.
“I’ll do anything for my family,” Xanthia said huskily.Semiaza went on the alert when he sensed her emotions stirring.I’m fine,she said to him telepathically before he could come running.I’ll fill you in later,she added.
“Thank you, little sister,” Tolas said, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder gently.He returned to the dining room to finish his meal and Xan headed back to her desk.
“Xan!”Vic called out when it was time to resume training.“Get your butt in here!”
“I need Grace to help me with something!”Xanthia called back even though the training room was just down the hallway.
The teen was standing next to her desk a moment later.“Is this about Tol’s secret?”she whispered, glancing furtively towards the doorway that led to the training room.She’d noticed the knight sneaking into the great room to speak to her.
“Yeah,” Xan whispered back.“I’ll just wash my dishes, then we’ve got some work to do.”
Grace quietly clapped her hands in excitement.Her tri-colored hair had faded almost back to her natural blonde by now.The dye had never lasted long and she’d given up on coloring it now.It was longer than she was used to, but she’d decided to grow it out just for a change.
The pair chatted in the kitchen while Xanthia quickly washed her dishes.Zoe always made sure they had water stored in the pantry.The lake water was clean, fresh and abundant, so they weren’t in danger of running out.
“Okay, follow me,” the electronics wizard ordered when she was done.They made their way to the north wing where the storage rooms were located.
“What’s our mission, boss?”Grace murmured.
“Tol wants me to string some fairy lights up in his bedroom,” she replied.
“Because Wyn is scared of the dark?”the teen asked, then put her hand over her heart.“That’s so sweet!”
“I know,” Xan agreed, tearing up again.“The knights are all so ridiculously romantic at times.”
“Just like the alien warriors in my favorite book series,” Grace said.
They sorted through the lights they’d stolen from a hardware store until they found what they wanted.Grabbing some tools and other items, they entered the bedroom at the back of the base.It had two windows, since it was the corner bedroom.Like all of the other bedrooms, wooden boards covered the openings.
