Now that Jada knows which sealers are reliable and which are delivering altered assignments, removing the threats will be easier, and it’s become a priority. Jada is setting up ambushes, which we hope to be part of, but for now orders will be sent through Jada to Miles and Taryn’s teams. Jada doesn’t know what Rose is doing, and Rose doesn’t know what Jada is doing. The only thing they all know is Teegan’s main assignment – those women are tasked with befriending Logan.
So much to coordinate, but right now I have just one job – pop a damn bubble.
An hour later, we return to the cottage, the sweet bread, and Kitten.
Pax stops me at the bottom of the steps, and Killian hesitates behind me.
“What was the singing about?” Pax finally asks.
I knew the question was coming. Doesn’t make me any more prepared for it, though. I rub the back of my neck, trying to put some words together, then give up and turn to Killian instead. “Was I hurting her?”
“Gold threads are from the heart,” he says.
Pax and I just stare at him – because that may or may not have anything to do with my question.
Killian points at me, then towards the cottage. “Yours and hers. They almost touched.”
“So I was hurting her?” Because connections like that suck power, and she has so very little to give.
Killian tilts his head a little. “Maybe. I ended it.”
By throwing a rock at Kitten’s head. Not something I condone.
“It’s an issue. I heard you, I agree,” Pax says, clearly to Thane, then adds, “No more singing.”
He turns and walks back to the fire – conversation over.
“No more singing,” I echo.
I fully agree.
So why am I swimming in the pang of disappointment as I head inside with Killian behind me?
Disappointment doesn’t feel right, it’s not a big enough word. My seed truly wants the most beautiful creature I’ve ever met. It’s impossible, but it’s real. A connection I thought had died when the Allure line died. Now it’s here and alive and full of possibility that I can never have.
Despondent.
Devastated.
And yet I feel guilty for entertaining my own pain because she is the one dying. She needs me, and I need her, and we both need a miracle.
One thing at a time.
She doesn’t need to know what my Seed is doing when she’s still adjusting to the idea of a MateBond with Pax. Not when I don’t even know exactly what my power is doing, and we don’t have time to experiment. No – there’ll be no more singing.
Kitten is asleep on the couch, resting her head on Seth’s chest as the big guy snores softly. Killian slips his boots off and, with sock-silent, ambles up and pinches Seth’s nose shut.
I fold my arms over my chest and step to the left for the best view.
Seth gasps, sits up sharply, and topples Kitten flat on her back on the floor.
“Brother!” he shouts, swatting wildly at the air, even though Killian has walked away.
“I could have used a blade instead,” Killian says.
“Mallow,” Kitten groans, reaching to slap Seth as if he’s a naughty puppy, but not really getting up off the floor or opening her eyes.
Killian huffs, standing over her. I almost expect he might try to stir her awake with the toe of his dirty sock, but he bends down and yanks her pants leg up to remove one dart cuff.
“That better be Killian, or Killian is going to stab you… Probably somewhere nasty like your eye… or your junk,” Kitten slurs.
We all laugh, Seth the loudest, but Killian with genuine delight. Not a word I usually use on the man. Delight. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever used that word to describe him or anything he does.
“He probably would,” Seth admits, shifting to cover his crotch with his hand.
The far-too-amused Darkness walks into the kitchen, still laughing as he puts the cuff on the bench. “It’ll chafe – weak mortal skin,” he explains, then picks up a chunk of bread, the olive oil, and a cloth.
He pulls the single seat to the furthest corner of the room as he can. Out of her bubble, for whatever reason he’s not willing to explain.
“Is she drunk?” he asks.
“Shhh, Lilian,” she stammers, pointing a finger in Killian’s general direction. Since she’s lying on her back, her head closest to the couch – and she’s still full of Silvari wine – she ends up pointing at the wall.
“What happened to the all-powerful all-mighty Killian?” Seth asks, playfully poking her with his toe.
“Omniscient Killian’s not home,” she says, her voice soft and calm and genuine.
My heart stutters, hearing my word on her tongue. Not that omniscient is my word, but I taught her that, just days ago. We discussed it for seconds, and she was listening. I pinch my lips together to smother my smile. Is it ridiculous that I find her use of such a simple word endearing – even sexy? Yep – sexy.
“What’s a Lilian?” Killian asks.
“It’s a mortal lady’s name,” Seth chuckles.
“He’s a Lilian,” Kitten says, just barely managing to get her eyes open as she points at the Seed of Darkness.
“Why?” Killian asks. “Where did this Lilian come from?”
His eyebrows are tweaked inwards, half grizzly and half curious.
She shrugs, rolling on her side as if to get comfortable on the floor and fall back to sleep. “The guards at Lackshir Market asked me who you were, and I told them your name was Lilian. Why am I on the floor?”
“Gravity,” I inform her.
“Oh,” she says. “Gravity’s nuckin’ chutz.”
Seth cracks up laughing, and we all just wait for him to get himself under control before asking, “What is a nuckin chutz?”
“What? No, not nuckin’ chutz, chuckin’ nuts.” And her eyes are closed again. She doesn’t react at all to all of us laughing at her.
Pax chooses this moment to wander through the door, latching it quietly behind him before scanning over the room and spotting his mate on the floor.
“What happened?” he
