Page 28 of Dark Rebel’s Reckoning (The Children Of The Gods #93)

28

MAX

M ax woke with a start, sheets tangled around his legs and the vivid remnants of his dream still burning behind his eyelids. Kyra's face, Kyra's lips, Kyra's body pressed against his—images that had tormented him through the night, leaving him aroused and frustrated.

He groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes. It had been a rough night, cycling between dreams of Kyra and periods of forced wakefulness as he tried not to disrespect her by taking matters into his own hands, so to speak. Though he wondered if she'd even find that offensive.

Some women might be flattered that a man fantasized about them.

But with Kyra, he wasn't willing to take any chances. Fates knew he'd screwed up enough relationships in his long life—not with women so much since meaningful relationships with humans had been impossible, but with friends and family.

He wasn't particularly smooth or naturally considerate, and despite his best efforts, someone always seemed to get hurt by an unintentional callous remark or something he was supposed to do but didn't, or vice versa.

Max wasn't going to screw it up with Kyra, though. She was too important to him.

Those two nearly chaste kisses they'd shared in the penthouse had blown his mind despite their simplicity. Just lips meeting lips, nothing more, yet they had been more profound than the best sex he'd had.

Maybe because she was the one, his one and only, his truelove mate, and nothing and no one could ever compare.

Was he jumping the gun on this?

Nah. He knew in his heart and gut that he was right. He just needed to prove it to Kyra.

After a quick cold shower, he dressed and made his way to the kitchen. The coffeemaker was already brewing, and its rich aroma was a welcome greeting. Alfie stood at the counter, staring blearily at his phone while waiting for the pot to finish.

"Morning," Max said, pulling two mugs from the cabinet.

Alfie grunted in response.

As the coffeemaker announced its completion with a beep, Max filled both mugs, sliding one toward Alfie before doctoring his own with cream and sugar.

"You're up early," Alfie observed, seeming to gain coherence with the first sip of coffee. "Are you on shift today?"

"I haven't gotten my assignment yet. I need to talk to the chief and see if I can stay here. I have a vested interest in that Doomer and an even greater one in Kyra."

There was no point in trying to hide his feelings for her. The more people knew that she was his, the better. He didn't want any competition.

Alfie cracked a smile. "Congrats. Does she return the interest?"

"It's too early to tell." Max didn't feel right to say that she did. It was better to leave things vague and let Alfie's imagination fill in the gaps. "I'm working on it," he added to make it clear that Kyra was off-limits.

"Good luck." Alfie finished his coffee, rinsed out the cup, and put it on the drying rack. "I'm heading out."

"Just a reminder," Max said. "I want to be the one interrogating the Doomer, so don't start without me. I'll be down after I talk to Onegus."

Alfie nodded. "Don't worry about it. We won't start anything until Kian gets here, and I don't expect him before ten. You know how the traffic is in the morning. He will want to avoid it."

"True. Do you know if he's bringing Toven?" Max asked.

The god's compulsion ability made interrogations easy—just ask a question, and the prisoner physically couldn't refuse to answer or lie—but where was the fun in that?

"I wasn't told, but probably." Alfie shrugged. "Things go much smoother with Toven doing the questioning."

"Yeah," Max agreed. "But I don't want easy. I want to beat that scumbag to a pulp and get him to sing the old-fashioned way."

A savage grin spread across Alfie's face. "I'm with you there." He clapped Max on the back. "Better get going."

After Alfie left, Max walked over to the couch, pulled out his phone, and sat down to call the chief.

"Good morning, Max," Onegus answered. "All rested and ready for your next assignment?"

Max had no doubt that the chief had already gotten detailed updates from Yamanu and Jade, so he didn't need to bother with a repeat unless Onegus had specific questions for him.

"I'd like to stay at the keep and resume my dungeon duty here if you don't mind."

"I don't. But it surprises me that you wish to stay. You didn't like being cooped up with the vermin in the dungeon."

"I don't, but I want to interrogate the scumbag we brought back with us, and I want to stay close to Kyra. She might be the one for me."

Honesty was the best approach. Besides, with how fast rumors traveled through the clan, by tomorrow at the latest everyone would know that he and Kyra were an item.

For once, he was thankful for the rumor machine. He didn't want any of the single males getting ideas.

Kyra was taken.

"Congratulations, Max. I'm happy for you. You can resume your post and keep Alfie as your second so you can leave the dungeon whenever Kyra needs you."

That was unexpected and extremely generous of the chief, especially given how short they were on Guardians lately.

"I appreciate that," Max said. "I know how stretched thin we are these days."

"Kyra is the priority. She might hold the key to finding Khiann, and every member of the clan owes it to Annani to do their best to help that happen. Just try not to screw things up."

Max winced. "Thanks, chief."

"You are welcome. Good luck." Onegus ended the call.

Max pocketed his phone and headed for the elevator that would take him down to the dungeon level.

As the doors slid open, revealing the corridor that led to the secure cells, Max strode straight toward the cell he had left the so-called doctor at, his boots echoing against the polished concrete floor.

He'd put the monster in stasis, so unless there had been flooding in the cell, the guy was still in the same state he'd left him in. Max peeked through the small window at the top of the door anyway.

"You're going to tell us everything," he murmured, his breath fogging the reinforced glass. "Every last detail about what you did to those women, how you found them, and what you were looking for. And when I'm done with you, there won't be enough of you left to bury."

There was no response, of course, but saying the words aloud felt cathartic in a small way. Acting on them would feel so much better.

This wasn't just about revenge, though that was certainly a big part of it. It was about understanding what the Brotherhood was planning, how they were identifying Dormants, and what threat that posed to the clan.

And it was about justice for Kyra, for the years stolen from her, for the trauma inflicted on her mind and body.

Max's phone buzzed in his pocket, and as he pulled it out, he saw a text from Alfie.

Kian's ETA 9:00 AM. Bringing Toven .

Max muttered a vile curse under his breath.

So, they were going the compulsion route after all.