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And I was really excited to embrace it.

Excited, but also nervous as fuck.

I stared at what Grandfather had made me for my birthday present, the battle garb hanging in the closet of my dorm room.

The silver and black armored corset paired with shimmering gold pants made of a special reinforced material, along with the edgy and standout asymmetrical black hooded cloak with glowing silver sigils adorning it.

“I’m voting for that.”

Vorzyr’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned from my closet to see him still making himself at home in my dorm room, as all three of them had been doing since they’d come to bring me breakfast about an hour ago.

He was reclining on my bed against the pillows, fingers laced behind his head, elbows angled out casually. He’d been taking onrelaxedpositions like that since coming in here this morning. It seemed like it was his way of trying to force himself into that mindset with the stress of his meeting with Grandfather coming up shortly. He’d been concealing it well. Although, his outfit gave a strong inkling that he was affected by it. It was the coat that did it. The high-collared crimson and gold ornate thing that projected a whole lot of power and esteem. He only wore it when he wanted to make a strong impression, or enforce a reverent reaction to himself. I could understand him wanting to do that when it came to the almighty Cornelius Martel.

At least he wasn’t wearing his armor.

That was definitely a step in the right direction where he was concerned—and for the success of the meeting itself.

“Really?” I asked, Vorzyr.

“Sends a powerful message. No holds barred. No-nonsense.”

“The powerful message is that she’s coming in hot with a great deal of aggression,” Kai said, looking up from his tablet that he had resting on his crossed legs as he sat in my desk chair. Nyx was leaning against my desk beside him and reading over some papers that were his notes for his presentation of his proposed Crossborn Refuge System (CRS) today to Gramps up at the Guardian Compound.

Nyx looked out at the outfit and nodded in agreement with Kai. “Sorry, dragon love, but he’s right. She’s not going to battle.” He studied my closet. “Hmm… what about that slinky black dress?”

“Again, inappropriate,” Kai said, his eyes darting from his tablet and being busy scrolling and typing on it, out to me and my closet. “It’s not a date. It’s business.”

“I see your point. I just like it.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “A hell of a lot.” As I chuckled and Vorzyr zoned in on the dress in question eyes hooding, Nyx nudged Kai. “I’m surprised you’re not suggesting that sexy black mini-skirt of hers. I know how much you love it.”

“You love it?” I asked, mighty intrigued now.

“I enjoy the way it looks on you, yes,” Kai admitted. “Verymuch so.”

“Wow,” Vorzyr spoke, his eyes wide as he looked over at Kai. “You’re really holding back with the dirty, hmm?”

Kai arched an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“Come on, where was your comment about how deliciously it bounces against her tight little ass as she walks? The way it bears her thighs so stunningly and has you fantasizing about slipping your fingers underneath it and playing with her sweet cunt?”

Nyx choked. “Damn.”

Kai’s lips quirked. “It seems like you’ve said it all for me.”

“Please. That’s barely scratching the surface compared to you,” Vorzyr said.

Kai shifted his weight. “Can’t a man be on his best behavior once in a while?” He gestured at me. “Ari is nervous about today, I’m trying to attend to that and be emotionally available. She doesn’t need my dirty comments, she needs me to focus on her concerns, to give her support. All right?”

Holy… shit.

“Kai, that’s really considerate,” I told him.

As we all stared at him stunned, he lifted a shoulder, now trying to downplay it because it was out there so blatantly—so vulnerably.

“I know you need it from me, so I’m trying to access that part of me more.”

“Well, it’s definitely been noticed. And appreciated.”

“I’m glad,” he said. He tried to cast aside the lingering vulnerability of it by looking away and focusing back on his tablet. But then, although without looking up again, he offered, “I’d go with the white wrap top paired with those dark leather pants, and that elegant high-collared fitted black jacket with the silver embroidery.”