Page 73 of Kai (Alpha Heroes #13)
“So, no news about Affie?” Thena asked.
Did Micah’s aura flicker at the mention of our missing sister’s name?
“I’m sorry to disappoint.” Micah shifted on his feet. “I have nothing to report about Aphrodite’s whereabouts at this time.”
Aphrodite . He’d called her by her given name. She would straighten him out faster than fast if he ever made that mistake in front of her. And yet his aura had done something when he spoke. Had it vibrated? Shimmered? Was it all in my head?
I blinked several times and squinted at the man.
“Are you sure, Micah?” Missy insisted. “We’re having such a hard time knowing that Affie is alone and in danger out there.”
His life energy vibrated again. This time around, the silver halo expanded a little, as if his stagnant aura had taken a breath. I rubbed my eyes. Was I imagining this?
I had to find out.
“Affie,” I stated bluntly and then. “Affie… Aphrodite… Affie.”
Each time, his aura quivered violently. I was sure of it!
Beyond that, a faint glow edged the once static light, sparkling faintly.
I realized his energy flickered and ramped up every time someone spoke Affie’s name.
Hell, the man himself seemed to physically flinch.
His last flinch became a wince. Or was it a cringe?
He clenched his hands at his side, lowered his chin, and met my gaze with a glare. “What are you doing, Sorceress?”
“Me?” I tried looking all innocent and shit. “Nothing.”
“I do not believe you,” he said. “You are up to trouble.”
Thena leaned over my shoulder and murmured. “Is he—?”
“Or is he not?” Missy asked, staring at Micah.
“The Astor sisters are plotting.” Micah bounced his shrewd gaze from my sisters to me. “This is cause for concern. You are assessing me as if I were an artillery target.”
He wasn’t wrong about that. He was also more insightful than I expected and honed sharper than a blade. And…
“I think he could be the one.”
The moment I spoke, his aura flowed. It turned into a pale river of energy slowly circulating around him. The strange sight felt like confirmation to my gut.
“He is the one,” I announced, and my own certainty shocked me.
Thena’s eyes grew wide.
“Oh, dear.” Missy grimaced. “We’re in big trouble.”
“No.” Micah’s low bass reverberated in the room, a grumble of thunder. “Do not say it.”
“Say what?” I flung my hands in the air. “That you need to take the lead in the mission to retrieve Affie?”
“I did not copy that.” His mahogany eyes glowered. “I do not acknowledge.”
“Too bad.” I challenged his scowl with a smirk. “Because, tag, you’re it.”
“With all due respect.” He crossed his arms over his massive chest. “I do not take orders from you.”
“But you will follow your superior’s orders, won’t you?”
A muscle flinched in his face, and his jaw locked into a powerful clench. His forbidding expression would’ve scared the shit out of the most battle-hardened Marine. But not me. I was not afraid of Micah Bozeman, especially now that I’d seen his energy reacting to Affie’s name.
“Don’t be mad at me.” I gave a small shrug. “I’m not fate. Or destiny. I didn’t invite this sort of thing. It’s weird, and I can’t explain it yet, but it works.”
“I do not want to have this conversation with you.” His glare expanded to encompass my sisters. “With any of you.”
“Okay, then. I’ll shut up,” I lied. “But as the sayings go. It’s too late. The die is cast. You’ve crossed the Rubicon , or rather, your aura has.”
His eyes bulged. “My what?”
“Never mind.” I shrugged. “I’m sorry, Micah. It has to be you. Resistance is futile .”
“I do not want this mission.” His voice sounded as hard as granite.
Whoever chose his call sign had hit the nail on the head.
“Well, then, sue me, sue us.” I slanted my hands toward my sisters. “It’s not like we asked for this.”
“My answer is no,” he rumbled.
“Will you let Affie die, then?”
He drew back, shot me an indignant glare, and opened his mouth to answer, but the door burst open.
Mina marched through like a warrior on her way to battle.
Her aura was alight with fiery reds. Indigo, blue, and red surrounded Kai, Dash, and Javier respectively, as they followed on Mina’s heels.
The men looked puzzled. They came to stand next to Micah, who beamed his defiant glower—and his recently animated aura—at me.
Did I blame him for his reaction?
No, I’d reacted the same way.
Would he forsake my sister?
He looked like he might.
Granite didn’t bend. In the unlikely event we could somehow persuade Micah to find Affie, how the hell would it work? If he was made of stone and she was like the wind, what would happen when airy Affie and solid Micah collided?
“I bring you truth.” Mina lifted her laptop dramatically in the air before she grumbled. “Well, let’s hope it’s some kind of truth. That’s why I asked these guys to meet me here.”
Her gypsy skirt flared, and her many bracelets clinked and jangled when she turned and jumped ass-first into my bed. Oblivious to my puzzlement, the human flame scooted up, fitted herself between Thena and me, and rearranged her skirt before she opened her laptop.
For someone who was used to Kai’s company of one, this was a little weird.
My bed now held four grown women, and my huge bedroom felt almost cozy with the big men claiming the space.
The sight of so many bright auras blinded me, and the combined hums turned into a ruckus inside my head.
A migraine was minutes away. Not to mention that I wore an ugly terrycloth robe over my pajamas, while everyone else dressed in proper clothes.
Kai’s gaze found mine. His indigo energy calmed me. His gaze reminded me of what was important: You are beautiful as you are. You are safe. I love you.
It was all I needed to know.
I blinked until everyone’s auras went away. No need to go blind or incite the migraine of a lifetime for no reason at all. When the lights ebbed and my mind grew quiet, I found my voice again. “Did you break the encryption?”
Mina flashed me a grin even as she typed at top speed. “Did you have any doubts I would?”
“It sounded like a tough job.”
“Tough is so underrated. I like it hard.” She shook her head, and her exuberant blonde curls shook around her brown forehead in tandem with her dangling earrings. “But who’s here to save the day?” She whooped as if she was a cowgirl. “Tell her, girls!”
“Mina Moses,” Thena and Missy recited in unison. “The universe’s supreme hacker.”
“She needs the positive reinforcement,” Missy whispered, pretending it was a secret, although apparently, it wasn’t.
I had a lot to learn about the family’s new dynamics, and I would. In time.
“We’re missing Fin and Matt,” Thena pointed out.
“They’re on guard duty,” Javier reported. “They’re watching Levine, along with Sister Janet, who’s determined to save his soul.”
“Good luck with that,” I muttered.
“Saddle up, Moses.” Dash clasped his hands behind his back and paced at the foot of the bed. “What we got? Have you seen what’s in the file yet?”
“It’s a video track.” Squinting at her screen, she kept working. “It’s titled ‘To Cersi.’ I didn’t think it was my place to look before Cece did.”
“You’re one of us,” Thena reminded her, and me, too.
I hadn’t had enough time—or the courage—to bond with everyone, and that included the superstar hacker. But if my siblings trusted Mina, if they loved her like one of our own, then I trusted my sisters’ wisdom.
“I suspect that whatever is in here won’t be easy for you.” Mina’s sparkling eyes met my gaze. “I can open the file and leave if you want me to.”
“I shall leave as well,” Micah’s baritone announced. “After all, this is a family matter.”
He stressed the word “family.”
I got the message. He would not budge on the Affie front.
“Please, everyone, stay,” Thena said. “You’re both part of our family now.”
Micah met my eyes. “Your call, ma’am.”
Mina’s glance sparkled with a combination of curiosity and vulnerability. “What do you say, Sorceress?”
“Stay.” I backed Thena’s decision, but my voice came out iffy with apprehension.
“Aw.” Mina gave my thigh a little pat while she continued to press her keys. “You’re so sweet and kind. And here they told us you were a tough, wily witch. Oops.” She cringed and widened her eyes at me. “Sorry?”
“Don’t apologize.” I liked her candor. “Tough, wily, and witch are all compliments to me, and your honesty reminds me of… well… me.”
“From one tough broad to the other, cheers and welcome, lost sister of my sisters.” She pressed a last key. “Here we go.”
“Wait.” Kai had been hovering close by, watching me, as if trying to guess the range of my emotions. Now he kicked off his shoes and climbed over Missy.
“Sorry. Excuse me. Apologies.” He slid behind me, and replacing the pillows, fitted himself at my back. “I’m here,” he whispered in my ear. “Right here.”
His arms came around my waist, and I felt properly rigged and ready for whatever storm was coming our way.
“Good thinking, K-man.” Javier plopped down next to Missy and met my gaze. “Your man has the best emotional IQ of this bunch.”
“You’re so cute.” Missy planted a kiss on his nose.
“I’ve come a long way, baby.” Javier scooped her up and held her on his lap.
I gave Javier the slightest nod. It said that I saw him and I approved. He nodded back.
My mattress groaned with Dash’s added weight. He took Thena’s hand. By then, my bed strained with the weight of this new, blended family my sisters and I had formed. I felt a little bad. The only one left standing was Micah.
“I’d invite you to sit on the bed,” I said to the big man. “But I don’t think you’d like it.”
“I’m quite comfortable standing.” Micah clasped his hands behind his back.
Not a cuddler . Another random thought came out of nowhere. Affie is .