Page 212 of The Curse Trilogy

“I came here expecting to find you. I thought it was just a minor security breach, and I assumed they were overreacting because of how many of the United were here. I tried to go find you, and they damn shut off all access to anything below. How did you get back?”

“Clay let me leave since I checked out, and he radioed ahead to make a path for me. I just wanted to get back to you. I knew you’d be here,” I murmur as my lips move back to his.

He smiles against my kiss, and then we move to the couch where he pulls me tighter to his chest. His lips begin stroking mine as he flips on the television. I smile as he turns it to a movie that showcases the old world and how simple it was.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I should have went to the lab with you before starting the check-ins. I didn’t think about something like this happening,” he murmurs guiltily.

“What? You didn’t expect the new hybrid to rise from the dead and go animal savage?” I sardonically joke. “How very thoughtless of you.”

He rolls his eyes, and then his lips press gently against my forehead again.

“I should have been there. I’m glad you were able to kill it before it got to you. That had to be terrifying, baby,” he coos.

Hale killed it. Not me.

“Honestly, seeing your mother was more terrifying,” I mumble, and he accidentally lets a laugh escape.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was coming. She and Miles are here as representatives for the Metropolis. She and my father have set up at my place, so I’ll be staying with you tonight.”

This time I laugh, and I shake my head as I scoot in closer to him.

“I didn’t kill the hybrid,” I grumble while returning to the rest of his statement.

I can’t lie to him. He’ll find out eventually who was down there with me.

“It’s still alive?” he gasps.

“No. After your mother bombarded me in the hallway, she wanted to interrogate me about why my ring was on the wrong hand. Hale interrupted her attempt, and he followed me to the lab to find out what the results were. He killed the hybrid after I threw it into the light.”

Brazen’s jaw tenses the moment Hale’s name is released into the air, and his grip on me changes.

“Why were you with Hale to begin with?” he strains out while trying to stay calm.

“I had to check in. Your father was walking down the hall when I tried to leave the first time. I ran and hid - pathetic I know. Your mother was coming toward me the second time, and she caught up with me before I could properly disappear. That’s all I was doing - checking in. It was outside his apartment, not inside.”

He relaxes slightly, and I feel air entering his lungs again. I kiss his neck very softly, and he squirms a little under my seductive touch.

“So you don’t want to be with him?” he asks very insecurely.

Yes. No. Hell, I don’t know. I want you too.

“I want to be with the only man who has ever really loved me - you,” I answer purposely indirectly.

His lips cover mine, and his grip tightens around my waist. I feel his erection bulging between my legs as I straddle him, and then my door opens without someone so much as even knocking.

“Oh. I’m so sorry. I was expecting it to just be Araya,” Clay stammers out with embarrassment, and Hale steps in behind him while allowing his eyes to catch mine briefly before looking away.

I huff as I dismount Brazen, but he tugs at my waist to keep me in his lap. Hale’s dark, wet hair glistens under the light, and his half buttoned white shirt reveals the top of his perfectly smooth chest while his dark jeans hang low enough to make me visualize the immaculate body I know is hidden. My mind inadvertently flashes back to his erection in our radiation shower, and I shiver slightly. He smirks to himself, but it’s only temporary. His brooding expression returns within a small second.

“We have a lot to talk about, but the good news is, the infection is not viral. Just as the virus carried by the full bloods, the new hybrid virus is going to have to be injected through the blood bringers or ingested through the mouth. The bad news is, the virus mutates when they’re in their savage form. While in their sane state of mind, they infect others to be like them. While in their savage frame, they infect others to be just as savage as they are. I’m not sure how in the hell it came back to life, but I think it has something to do with the unfinished code in this virus. It’s as if they only halfway engineered it before stopping for some reason. Until we know more, all nations - United and unaligned alike - will be on high alert. Absolutely no one wants another outbreak, and we’re reaching out to neighboring United members outside the region. You’ll come in handy here, Brazen, since you know so many outside of our network. The other leaders will be a little less lax on formalities than I, so please behave,” he murmurs, and the last part was solely pointed at me, his eyes digging into mine.

“I’ll be on my best behavior, Commander Jude, Sir,” I retort while saluting.

Hale stifles a grin while covering his mouth, and Brazen smiles as he kisses my head. Clay scowls at me before rolling his eyes, and then he sits down beside us.

“They’ll be here in a about five days, and it’s going to be hectic in this small compound. The reason I asked Hale to come tonight is because I want to know with certainty the two of you can get along in front of the other leaders. We were going over to your place when I finished speaking to Araya.

“I don’t want the other regions knowing two of my finest captains are on restrictions, so I’m lifting the verbal restraint. You can communicate one on one without supervision as long as you don’t lose your cool in front of the others.”