Page 46 of Night Sector

Except it disappeared in a flash, making me blink.What in the world…?Had it all been in my mind? A weird reaction to feeling so unstable?

My brow crinkled as I leaned back to stare up at Lorcan. He still had me cradled against him, his expression emotionless as he held my gaze.

That was weird, I told him. An understatement, but I wasn’t sure what else to say.

I should call Cillian,he replied, but rather than walk toward the cockpit, he brought me over to one of the couches in the belly of the jet. There were a few executive chairs there for takeoff and landing, too. As well as a bedroom at the back.

He set me on the couch and squatted to make us eye level. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice a rasp of sound from barely speaking aloud today.

I swallowed and nodded. “I think that strange energy explosion just knocked me off-kilter for a moment.” I frowned. “What was it from?”

“Something linked to V-Clan magic, I believe,” he replied. “It wasn’t from the jet, but from something else. Which is why I need to call Cillian and check on Blood Sector.” He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “I’ll put him on speaker again.”

He pushed away, leaving me staring at his muscular back. I suddenly found myself wishing he was shirtless like that day I’d found him sparring.

Why did I want him in clothes, again? So I could take them off myself?

An image danced in my mind.

Then I remembered that he could hear me.

And I quickly shoved it all out of my head.

But not before I heard the lingering amusement in his own thoughts.

Ugh, it’s a good thing he’s leaving.

Lorcan disappeared from view while I tried to find my sense of self-worth and sanity.

Cillian isn’t answering,Lorcan informed me, his stoic tone failing to reveal the concern I heard echoing in his mind.

I forced myself to get up, irritated that I’d even allowed myself to be coddled in the first place. It was just some residual energy. I was fine. I didn’t need to go fainting into the big Alpha’s arms.

Lorcan met me at the threshold to the cockpit, his dark eyes oddly hypnotic.

It’s okay to let someone else care about you every now and then,he whispered, his palm finding my cheek.That doesn’t make you weak, Kyra. It makes you strong enough to know your limits.

I rolled my eyes. “It was a minor explosion. I’ve been through a lot worse.”

“I know.” His thumb brushed my jaw as he took his touch away. “I meant what I said as a general statement—it’s okay to ask for help, no matter how big or small. I hope you remember that after I leave.”

I… I didn’t know what to say to that.

It was dangerous to put my faith in Lorcan, but a tiny part of me wanted to try. And that made me want to shadow myself back to my nest and dig a hole in my blankets.

He turned away from me as a light flashed on the console again. His movements seemed a little brittle as he flicked the button.

“What’s happening?” he demanded, his Alpha tone sending a shiver down my spine.

“One of the Blood Sector Alphas just tried to kill Quinnlynn with the same spell used to take out her mother.” Cillian’s voice held an edge to it that twisted my stomach. And the words he said didn’t make it that much better.

“Is she okay?” I asked, ready to shadow to the Sanctuary to find her.

“She’s a little shaken up, but she’s fine,” Cillian replied, his tone slightly less harsh. “Her jewelry exploded when taken through the barrier.”

My eyes widened. “The MacNamara family diamonds?”

“Yes. What do you know about them?” Cillian’s tone sounded inquisitive more than accusatory. Which made sense. Obviously, I wouldn’t try to hurt my best friend. And even if he thought I would, Lorcan could take one peek into my mind to determine my loyalty to Quinn and the MacNamara family.