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“Many fronts. One mural work exposed a corrupt city council and forced a full investigation. A performance piece redirected grant money to the communities it was stolen from. A short film pushed a turnout in three school districts, flipping a vote.”

Her eyes narrowed. Focus locked. “That actually happened?”

Kade nodded once. “It did.”

She studied the air between them.

They both watched her.

“I always go with you,” she announced, turning to the whistling kettle. “In the dream that I have.”

Kade glanced at him, his brows popping once as Kaos returned his attention to the girl, trying to recall what came next. She had to accept the offer first. Officially. Which required her to know it. Fully.

She poured water into three cups as he also wondered over her dream confession. “So, I accept,” she said without turning. “As I stand here and pour tea for the two men that feel more like family than complete strangers.”

Kaos struggled to name the feeling assaulting him, finding that only shock fit.

“We are more pleased than you can imagine,” Kildare assured like a man who’d wagered exactly this. “Would you like to know the job details?”

The kettle returned to the stove with a soft clink. “Not really,” she mumbled with no care, walking over their two cups. “Careful, it’s very hot,” she warned softly as she held them out. “Your company is exactly what I’ve been praying for,” she announced with a smile. “I’m very excited to be a part of such a… soul stirring revolution.”

Kaos carefully took the cup from her, his instinct to touch for necessary information flexing through his fingers that barely brushed hers.

A current arced between them, some of it static electricity, some of it not. But it was felt both ways judging by her sharp, barely audible intake of breath before she turned.

“On behalf of Trojan Horse Corp, we are honored by your acceptance and trust. The only thing remaining is my duty to formally inform you of what happens next.”

“Alright,” she said, back near the stove, leaning against the counter with her cup at her lips, watching and waiting.

Kade launched into the details with gusto and Kaos tuned in, needing them again as well. “To begin, your acceptance initiates immediate protection protocols. The nature of our work—and the impact it generates—poses significant risks. We engage with systems that affect high-level economic and political interests. These entities have the means to eliminate resistance without notice. As such, you’ll be placed under full security detail. Kohl will remain with you from this point forward and will personally accompany you to your new quarters at Trojan Horse Estates two hundred miles east of here. From there, we’ll introduce you to the full Trojan Horse team. You’ll have space, budget, and full operational support. Your name stays on your leases, your records stay intact.”

She gave her first sign of alarm. Finally. “Two hundred miles?”

“Yes ma’am,” Kade said. “And anything here you wish to bring, just make a list and we’ll arrange for it to be delivered to your new apartment or studio.”

She held her cup before her chin with both hands, index finger tapping as her gaze meandered around the room. “Alright, then,” she surrendered with sudden clarity and smile.

Even without his power intact, Kaos could see the truth behind her submission. Stupidity wrapped in smiles. Like the world hadn't proven to her its appetite for blood. Her every gesture and word—thick, untrained, soaked in a dense, brainless glow humans called hope. It was nauseating. And he couldn’t stop watching it. Or needing to crush it.

****

Jaxi stuffed her two suitcases to the brim with clothes, her heart pounding from the sheer effort of holding back screaming squeals of excitement. And fear and shock.

It had happened. The dream had happened. And she’d said yes! Even when yes wasn’t really the obvious answer! Why would she do such a reckless thing? She was at the cliff and he asked her to jump and she did! She just jumped like a lunatic! Didn’t let herself think because dear God, she knew wherethatled, it led to her being a spinster and living alone at twenty-six.

Now, all there was to think about was what the dream had actually meant. It was the single safety net because she’d had these vision-dreams all her life and they’d come true enough times to at least know they were legit. And she was sure this one was exceptionally legit which brought her to the only thing that needed sorting—the meaning of it. The meaning of these two, beyond beautiful men bearing ominoustoo good to be trueflags. More like too beautiful. Both of them!

Eeeeeeeek! She bit her lower lip and stifled the squeal in her throat.Oneof them could be hersoulmate. And there wasnothingwrong with hoping it! There was no fretting. She’d jumped from the cliff without thinking and there’s no turning back.Let the colors show themselves, let the moment paint the picture, let the canvas breathe! Hands off!

She snuck her way back to the living room, biting her knuckle when she saw he was still there. The dark one. She’d painted them long ago the first time she’d dreamed them. Mr. Kade was surely the light one and Mr. Kohl was surely the dark. She sucked in a breath. Kohl even meantblack!What did Kade mean?

She angled her head, watching him stand like a statue before the window, hands in his black slacks. Oh, my, whathair. So thick and shiny and… black. So Kohl. Like his eyes. No, not like his eyes. They were dark but there was a color in them. She was dying to see him in proper lighting to see what it was.

Her hunk oflightflowed through her like a perfectly mixed pour medium of vibrant colors. And her dark hunk flowed through her like… well, he didn’t flow at all, he was more like… a lump of clay covered in oil. You just wanted to get your fingers on it and dig in, feel it all up and down and around till it revealed its well-kept secrets.

She jerked back into the hallway when he turned. She tiptoed her way back to the bedroom for one last look around. Holy smokes, this was all about to become her past. Her entire life.

Stop thinking!