Page 55 of Outnumbered

“Idon’t like this,” Caleb said, and growled as he paced back and forth across the living room.

We’d just learned that there was going to be a meeting of the higher-ups in the Hybrid Eradication Organization, or H.E. and it was in the city near us with a great opportunity for someone to sneak close and eavesdrop.

“You’re too powerful to sneak in somewhere to try to spy on others,” I reminded him. “We can feel you coming a mile away.” I sat on the couch, watching him pace, and trying my best to keep calm and relaxed to try to ease his tension. So far, it hadn’t worked.

Triston lounged on the end of the couch, looking bored. “Caleb, everyone knows what you look like, especially those that are part of the H.E.”

“They seem to be after Ember as well, remember? So, they know what she looks like, too,” Caleb countered. His eyes darted to me before he resumed looking at the floor as he paced across it.

“Not in my rabbit form,” I said. “Only a few of the members of the H.E. have seen me in it, and they’re all dead. I have enhanced hearing in my rabbit form, I’ve improved it a lot thanks to Silverowl’s training, so I should be able to hear them easier than any of you. Plus, I can sense wards if there are any, so I won’t trip them, and now that I can teleport, I’m the best one of us to send to spy. I’ll be the safest one.”

He growled and continued pacing, hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“I don’t like it either, but she is the best option,” Riddick said from the corner of the living room he stood in. It was like he was trying to blend into the darkness in the corner while he brooded.

Branson had been silent, scowling, and sat in one of the reclining chairs staring at the muted television showing the news.

“I can alert you guys if I do get in trouble,” I said. “If there’s an issue, I can just tug on our connection and you’ll know immediately that I need help. You can be stationed nearby ready to come in should I need extraction.”

Caleb’s nostrils flared and he turned to look at me. “Prove it.”

“Prove what?” I asked.

“Tug on them. Prove you can do it.”

It had become easier and easier to feel them, the bonds within my chest that connected me to each of the four men in the room. Caleb’s was the brightest and strongest of the connections, glowing in a way the other’s didn’t. I gave it a sharp tug twice and saw him stumble a step forward, his eyes growing wide. I did the same to all of them to make sure they could all feel it.

Branson grunted when I did it to him, but didn’t shift his eyes from the television.

“See? I can do it easily now.”

Caleb dropped to his knees in front of me, his hands rested on my thighs, and he stared straight into my eyes. His bright blue eyes glowed as he gripped my legs. “The instant you are in trouble, you alert us, you understand? You are more important than spying on them, so if you can’t get past security or wards safely, you can just come back. We won’t be disappointed or anything. Okay?”

I cupped his face with my hands and pressed a light kiss to his lips. “I will be safe and not put myself in any situation that might be unnecessarily risky. I promise.”

Ever since my trip to my lands, he’d been exceptionally protective. He’d even growled at Fox when he’d thrown me over his shoulder during a sparring match. Thankfully, Fox had just laughed at the situation.

Caleb stood and headed towards the stairs. “The meeting is supposed to happen in two hours.”

Branson followed him out, leaving me with Riddick and Triston.

Triston lifted his arm, inviting me to come lay against his side.

I accepted, tucking myself against him and resting my head on his chest. “Thank you.”

Riddick sat down on my other side and unmuted the television, scowling heavily.

Reaching over, I set my hand on his where it sat on the couch. After a brief hesitation, he turned his hand over and laced our fingers together.

Triston rested his head atop mine.

We sat like that until it was time for us to go.

The drive to the coffee shop where the guys would wait was silent and tense and my siren abilities were not helping at all, so I stopped trying to relax them.

Ezio sat at a different table than us, in the corner where he could see the entire shop and the doors to the back and the entrance. As soon as we walked in, the people inside began whispering and a few took pictures.

Caleb, Riddick, and Branson sat with scowls while Triston and I chatted, smiled, and laughed.

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