Page 12 of Secret Gifts
“The Bombside Mercenaries were apprehended today during a routine border check. The Lancaster officials found it suspicious for so many men to be passing at once, and they ran their credentials to find out they were falsified. As of now, they are in the custody of the United.”
I turn it back down as a smile spreads to my face. I was right!
It's odd they checked them out. It's not really that unusual for a group of men to be passing through the borders. Nevertheless, I'm frigging brilliant.
“I suppose you’re proud. You should have just told Uncle Brazen and Mom to begin with about your suspicions.”
“Ha,” I scoff while walking out, and he joins me with Mom’s files in tow.
“Seriously. Someone needs to recognize the work you’re capable of doing, instead of letting that asshole hold you back intentionally. He's just trying to keep you from making him look like an amateur.”
“I’m new to the field. Give it some time,” I say casually while shrugging, though I know Hedin won't let me branch out until his span is up.
We walk into the training hall where the full bloods are practicing their shooting skills and a younger one, fresh to his change, glares at me with a menacing smirk.
“She’s one hybrid I would do,” he whispers to one of his chuckling buddies.
Rex starts to do something, and I roll my eyes while holding him back. I simply extend my middle finger at the crude boy, and then I start walking away.
“You’d be in love, and I’d be bored, baby,” he chuckles out.
“That’s it,” Rex growls, and again I hold him back.
"You wouldn't let me take out Hedin, so you can't take out the childish full blood."
“You weren't going to do a damn thing to Hedin. Believe me, I saw it. I held you back to play up your ego because I saw you simply storming away before you did a fucking thing. As always. Damn it. Stop letting everyone walk all over you, Aria!” he barks.
My head tilts as something stirs my inner hybrid, and his eyes change as he stares at me in confusion. I feel… something, but I don’t know what. I turn to face the still sniggering group, and I undo the top four buttons on my shirt until my black lace bra is just barely revealed.
The crude young one’s eyes find mine, and his humor dissipates as I stalk toward him. He swallows the knot in his throat as he leans back, and I lean over to be eye to eye with him while clutching the sides of the chair he’s sitting in.
“Newbie, I’m hybrid. You would be so, so many things if you were with me, but I can promise you that bored isn’t one of them,” I release with the most seductive delivery I’ve ever had, and he melts before me, his eyes captivated by mine as drool forms on the corners of his parted lips.
I let my hand trail from the collar of his shirt to the top of his pants before I start pulling away, and he leans in every inch I lean back until his body falls free from the chair and slaps the floor. His friends all burst out laughing, and I give a smug smirk while walking away and buttoning my shirt back up.
Rex’s mouth is gaped open in disbelief as he runs behind to catch up with me.
“When did you start sticking up for yourself. Are you-”
He jerks me around to check my pupils that have never even tried to dilate.
“Yeah, I wish,” I scoff. “Believe me, if losing Dad didn’t provoke my savage, then some punk full blood making snarky remarks isn't going to do it. Don't be ridiculous."
He frowns as he keeps up with my vicious pace. My body tingles as the adrenaline rush I got slowly slips free. I don’t know what that was to be honest.
“But you’ve never-”
“That was a little hot,” a familiarly smooth voice interjects, and my heart flips until it slaps my throat.
Oh damn. Please don’t let it be him.
I wince as I slowly turn around to the face I’ve been wanting and dreading to see for two days.
“Jase,” I murmur in the wrong octave, and Rex stifles a laugh upon witnessing my awkward reaction.
“I’m just gonna, well, go somewhere else,” my traitorous brother teases before disappearing and leaving me alone with the irresistibly gorgeous full blood in front of me.
“You remembered my name?” he says with mock surprise.
