I didn’t expect the sharp spike of terror that seeing the killer’s face evoked and I reached for Leo instinctively. All I could see was the assassin’s mocking grin as I shot him over and over with the blaster. I could have been using a pea shooter for all the damage it had caused.
Vennix. Nix. He had a name. A terrible, terrifying name.
Then I was floating for a moment. I landed in Leo’s lap, my ear pressed over his heartbeat, his warm hand resting against my other cheek, holding me to him. “I’ve got you, Trinity. Never again, I promise you. Never again.”
Focusing on the steady pulsing sound, I let his heat soothe me, sink into me. It was almost as if he was feeding my Ardor, but there was nothing sexual passing between us. This was gentler. Softer.
I was falling in love. Not falling. Fell. Hard.
This was why Jessica liked to sit in her mates’ laps. Why they insisted on putting her there.
Damn it. I knew the signs. There was no denying it, not after what seeing him hurt and bleeding had done to my insides. Not when simply sitting on his lap banished my demons so quickly. I instinctively knew I was safe with him. He would die to protect me. I’d seen it first hand in that miserable cell.
He was making it all too easy to lean on him, to need him, and I wasn’t ready for that. It was so intense. So… much.
Pulling away, I climbed from his lap and situated myself on the sofa facing Nial, who still held Jessica. She looked at me like I was crazy for crawling out of Leo’s lap. Maybe I was, for I felt cold and lonely, even only a few feet away. But I couldn’t think when I was in his arms. Not like I needed to. He was too comfortable. Too sexy and warm and safe.
I couldn’t feel any of those things, for once I did, I would forget. My goal, my purpose for leaving Earth. I needed to find my mother. I needed to figure out a way to help my sisters.
I needed to hunt down and kill an elite assassin.
And I couldn’t do any of that curled up on Leo’s lap like a sleepy kitten.
I was a princess. Heir to the throne. My mother was counting on me. The citadel had chosen me, deemed me worthy. When I’d placed my blood on the stone I’d felt… something changing inside me. Something different. The mythology behind the royal family of Alera stated that those born with royal blood, those strong enough, were born with special gifts.
The truth was different. We weren’t born with anything special. We were changed by the intelligence that ran the citadel itself. I was different. Seeing shadows that weren’t there. Seeing light where there should be none. I had begun to suspect the true nature of my gift, but I was still evolving. Into what, I wasn’t sure yet. And I had no idea what my sisters were going through. What their gifts might be.
“We have to find him,” I said. “I might be safe here on this battleship, but he’ll try to kill my sisters.” If I were on Alera, he might try to kill me again as well, but that concerned me far less. In fact—
A thought came to me and I blurted it out. Stood suddenly. “Use me to lure him out.”
“What?” Jessica tilted her head. “You want to be the bait?” She was quiet for a moment. Thinking. “It would work. They really want you dead.”
Prime Nial and Leo spoke at the exact same time. Two baritone voices barking in stereo.
“No.”
“Fuck, no.”
I met Jessica’s gaze and understanding passed between us. No collars were needed. If our mates wouldn’t help us, we’d figure this shit out on our own. Earth girls stick together. We’d done it earlier to save Leo, we could do it again.
Ander moved to stand silently behind the couch, directly behind his family. He must have felt something through the collar, or was very talented at reading human expressions, because he
actually growled at me.
Yeah, Nial might be Prime, but Ander was scary. Intense.
Leo jumped to his feet, fists clenched, and moved to stand in front of me, blocking Ander’s view. “Do not take that tone with my mate.”
“Your female seeks to endanger mine. This will not be allowed.” Ander’s voice was venomous now.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Leo countered.
“Control your female, Leoron,” Ander warned, without answering the question. “Or I will lock her in the brig until she sees reason.”
“I’m right here, gentlemen,” I stated, trying to get around Leo’s big body. “And you’re not locking me anywhere. And stop talking to each other through those dang collars. It’s not fair.” I sighed. “I’m heir to the throne of Alera. A fucking princess. I think that somehow outranks all of you. If I want to set a trap for this assassin, I will.” I faked to the right, then stepped out from behind Leo to square off with the scarred Prillon scowling down at me. Leo pulled me back against him, wrapped an arm about my waist, but at least he didn’t shove me behind him again.
“And if I want to help her, you can’t stop me.” Jessica was inspecting her fingernails, still lounging in Prime Nial’s lap as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Had she lost her mind? Finally, she leaned back and tilted her head up at Ander, batting her eyelashes at him without shame. “Or, you cavemen could just stop being stubborn and help a girl out.”