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“Do that, and you’ll just have to forgive me all over again,” Jordan said, amusement having overtaken his previously ravaged features. “Family, remember? I hear that’s what we do.”

“I’m going to regret having said that, aren’t I?”

Jordan chuckled again, then leaned in and pressed a brotherly kiss to her forehead.

“Get some rest, Alex. We have another Gate to tackle in a few hours, and we’ll need our saviour in top form.”

Alex rolled her eyes, hiding how pleased she was to hear his light-hearted tone devoid of any darkness. “Yeah, yeah. Maybe tomorrow someone else can take up the slack for a change. Andbesides, I’m pretty sure I don’t have any more memories juicy enough to satisfy our masses of adoring fans.”

“Itiscreepy that they watch everything we do,” Jordan said. “It’s like we’re their daily source of entertainment. I wonder how they kept busy before we arrived?”

“Probably by eating the souls of their children,” Alex said, straight-faced.

With a short bark of morbid laughter, Jordan said, “And on that note… I’ll see you in the morning.”

“’Night, Jordan,” she whispered as he turned from her and strode back over to his room, nodding respectfully to the person watching them as he did so.

Alex didn’t head back into her room straight away. Instead, she walked over to where Kaiden was leaning in his own doorway. She’d known he’d been there all along, and she appreciated that he’d remained silent, giving her and Jordan the chance to make up. But she was also grateful that he’d been ready and willing to step in, waiting for any sign that she’d needed him.

Reaching his side, she hesitated only a second before tilting her head up to press her lips to his cheek. She didn’t say anything, letting her actions speak for themselves—offering her thanks for his silence, but more, for his earlier comfort. And as she turned away from him again, it was with tingling lips and the feeling of his smiling eyes trailing after her as she all but floated back into her room.

Twelve

Breakfast the next morning was a tenseaffair—for all of about a minute. As soon as everyone realised that Jordan and Alex had made up, all tension fled. Bear and D.C. were quick to offer their own apologies, but Alex hadn’t needed them, having already understood that their actions had been moved by loyalty. If anything, her easy forgiveness distressed them more, with D.C. needing to leave the table for a few minutes, only able to return after Alex hunted her down and endured her crying remorseful tears onto her shoulder. But once D.C. had sniffled her last, she, like the others, accepted that Alex just wanted to move on.

It was over breakfast that Alex finally shared everything with them, offering a summary of how she and Niyx had turned from enemies to friends and the events that led to her reasons for wiping Jordan’s memory. Once her explanation was done, she felt exhausted—a bone-tired lethargy that had her again wondering if her immune system was still trying to fight some unknown illness. But without any other symptoms having presented themselves, she ultimately blamed her fatigue on her overtaxed emotions and renewed grief at having to speak about her departed friend. As such, she pushed her weariness aside to reassure Jordan, Bear and D.C. that all was forgiven, especially in the wake of them realising just how much pain they all would have been spared if they’d only allowed her to explain before casting judgement.

“I’m an idiot,” Jordan said, shaking his head with self-reproach.

“No arguments here,” came Kaiden’s instant reply as he spread some kind of fruity paste over a piece of toasted flatbread.

Alex froze at his comment, her own pasted bread pausing half-raised to her mouth. While she had accepted everyone’s apologies, Kaiden clearly hadn’t forgiven Jordan as easily for hurting her. But then again, shehadcried herself to sleep in his arms, so his protective behaviour was understandable. Regardless, she couldn’t help fearing his comment would raise hackles around the table and launch them all into a new round of verbal attacks.

She needn’t have worried, however, because instead of lashing back, Jordan grinned. He looked knowingly from Kaiden to Alex before settling on Kaiden and saying, “Pretty sure you already told me that last night. My ears are still ringing from everything you yelled at me.”

Frowning, Alex looked at them both in question, wondering what had transpired between them—andwhen.

“Someone had to pull your head out of your ass,” Declan jumped in, speaking through a mouthful of food. “You could have been lost up there for days otherwise. Kaid did us all a favour.”

A muffled laugh left Bear while D.C. tried to stifle her own mirth, both of them knowing first-hand how stubborn Jordan could be. But Alex wasn’t laughing with them, because she was too busy experiencing the same fluttery feeling as last night, realising that she had Kaiden to thank for more than just offering her physical comfort. If she understood correctly, he was the one who had prompted Jordan to apologise, and in doing so, reunited her with one of her closest friends—and therefore, all of them. The fact that all she’d offered in return was a kiss on the cheek was almost embarrassing. Or, it wouldhave been, if she hadn’t seen just how pleased his smile had been afterwards.

“Well, for what it’s worth,” Jordan continued, not even a little provoked by Declan’s words as he spoke directly to Kaiden, “thanks for having Alex’s back yesterday.” His grin widened into something more devious as he finished, “As far as approval goes, you’ve definitely earned it.”

Alex nearly knocked over the chalice she was reaching for and had to scramble to keep it from spilling as she noted Bear and D.C. nodding, their smiles as wide as Jordan’s. Hearing Declan’s chuckle, Alex turned to him, but her attention was diverted as Kaiden lifted his juice and took a sip, his eyes dancing as he winked at her. Then, finished with his breakfast, he stood and left for his room, but not before brushing his fingers gently along Alex’s cheekbone as he passed by.

Only then did Alex spear Jordan with a look, knowing his approval wasn’t referring to Kaiden’s protective support, but rather, he—as well as D.C. and Bear—had offered his official approval. As in,seal of approval.

For Kaiden.

And Alex.

Together.

Pulling a face, and hoping they couldn’t see the heat flooding her cheeks, Alex pushed back from the table and deadpanned, “You’re all hilarious.”

Snickers met her comment, and Jordan even saluted her with his fork.

“No point in fighting the inevitable,” Declan said. “You might as well stop trying.”