Page 8 of Dark Rebel’s Reckoning (The Children Of The Gods #93)

8

MAX

M ax had thought he was falling for Kyra before, but he knew that for sure.

Putting a hand over his chest, he sighed dramatically. "I have found my soulmate."

Kyra laughed, the first laugh he'd heard from her, and at that moment, he vowed to make her laugh as often as he could.

Jasmine regarded him with a small smile playing on her lips. "Soulmates is not something immortals joke about, Max."

"Who said I was joking?"

She didn't look amused. "I'm far from being an expert on post-traumatic issues, but I'm pretty sure that neither my mother nor Fenella are in the right state of mind to evaluate things of that nature."

He had to appreciate Jasmine's verbal gymnastics, trying to tell him to fuck off and not hit on traumatized women who were in a vulnerable state without actually saying that.

"It's okay, Jasmine." Kyra put her hand on her daughter's arm. "I know that Max is just teasing, and I like how it makes me feel. He doesn't treat me like a victim, and that makes me feel more like myself. Normal." She glanced at Fenella. "I can only speak for myself, though. I didn't spend as much time in captivity as you did, so your response might be different. If Max's banter rubs you the wrong way, say so."

Okay, so now he was falling even deeper in love with the woman. Where had she been all his life?

"I don't mind," Fenella murmured. "He's always been an asshole, so I shouldn't expect anything different now." She gave him a saccharine smile. "No offense, Max. I'm grateful for the rescue, and I fully appreciate you being one hell of a fighter to pull it off, but you were never boyfriend material. Not for me, anyway."

He could live with that. Fenella wasn't his favorite person either, but he was too much of a gentleman to return the favor and tell her so, especially after all she'd been through.

He could, however, make her feel guilty. "Don't forget that I made you immortal, so now you have forever to find your perfect match."

Kyra shifted in her seat. "I really need to use the restroom."

He rose to his feet. "I'll help you."

She shook her head. "Thank you, but despite your declaration of undying devotion, I prefer to have Jasmine help me."

Pouting, he put a hand over his chest again. "You wound me."

She laughed, which made his heart do a silly little flip. "You'll live."

Jasmine rose and headed to where Ell-rom had deposited the clothes he'd scavenged. "Let's see if we can use any of these."

"I'm good," Kyra said as she moved the blanket aside. "This sweater is like a dress." She smiled at Max. "Thank you for loaning it to me."

"You're welcome, and it's yours if you want it. A memento from the rescue."

She smoothed a hand over the front. "I would like that. I'll cherish this sweater forever."

Pretending to swoon, Max plopped down into the seat with a dramatic sigh, which had the effect he'd been hoping for, making Kyra laugh again.

"You're such a joker."

After Jasmine took Kyra to the bathroom in the back of the plane, Max was left alone with Fenella and Ell-rom. The awkward silence between them was deafening.

"I remembered you like this," Fenella finally said. "You were always a clown." She closed her eyes. "But Kyra was right. Your stupid teasing made me feel normal for a few minutes. Made me forget what I went through."

Max swallowed hard, trying to come up with something teasing or funny to say, but Fenella's words had slayed him, and he had nothing. "I'm sorry. If I had known sooner, I would have come for you."

She nodded. "Even though you never loved me, I believe you would have come."

"Thank you." He let out a breath. "It means a lot to me that you believe I'm not a complete asshole."

"You're welcome. By the way, how did you know where to find Kyra?"

He debated what to tell her. "Would you believe it if I told you a seer saw her location and that she was in dire need of rescuing?"

Fenella snorted. "At this point, I'm willing to believe in anything and everything. I'm not the naive girl you met fifty years ago. I no longer believe that what they teach us in school or what they print in newspapers is true. Most of it is lies, manipulation, ways to keep the simple people in the dark so they will keep working, pay their taxes, and fight in wars that their leaders manufacture to make themselves rich. The world is a much darker place than most people imagine." She smiled at him with gratitude in her eyes. "I'm just thankful that there are still some people in this ugly world, people like you and your friends, who are willing to fight against the darkness. I thought no one would ever come for me, and that I would spend eternity in the hands of that monster."