Page 18 of Swamp Kings 1

You good?

Was he?I think so.

I’d like to say your pleasure is all mine but… it ain’t. Anymore.

Kaphas sensed there was more to that than he understood.

“Hello brothers,” Handy finally greeted, his words creating a unique vibration in his vocal cords. “I know how very much you missed me.”

He smiled and Kaphas noted the change even there. He was a left-sided smiler while Kaphas was the opposite. Fascinating. And curious. From which of his brothers did these traits come?

Not the warm welcome I was hoping for. What exactly does that look on Kult’s face mean?

Kaphas turned his attention there.Ninety percent curiosity.

It’s the ten percent I’m worried about.

Fear. The concept was foreign to Kaphas in this regard.Our powers permit us to fear nothing.

It’s not about power, it’s about how crazy he is. He’d likely make me kill him.

Kaphas realized they still shared certain feelings. Handy cared for Kult the same way Kaphas did. Maybe more somehow.

Kult tore his eyes away and looked at Fetch, Fathom and Fin for five seconds before bringing that stuff in his gaze back to them.

“Is Kaphas still here?”

“He is.”

Kult nodded at them barely. “I need to ask you things. Privately.”

“Kaphas knows everything that needs knowing.”

Kult continued those slow nods. “And I need to know stuff he doesn’t need to know.”

Handy crossed their arms over his chest, making Kaphas oddly aware of his own perfect physique. “And why exactly do you need to know that?”

“Because you’re both ourbrothers.”

Those words hit their neuropathways like a drug and brought a flood of power that gripped their breath. Thisbrotherbond was the very source of their DNA, and its purpose lit up their very blood and bones.

“Kaphas. Would you mind closing your ears?” Handy asked.

I don’t know how. Nor do I want to.

“Kaphas would prefer to hear.”They know something,Handy said, lookingat Fetch, Fathom and Fin.

“Do not attempt that, Brother,” Fetch warned quietly when he sent kinetic energy to learn what he could.

“What is he attempting?” Kult demanded.

“He perceives we know something and is trying to learn it,” Fetch said.

“Might it be possible for me to know what the fuck we’re fetching and fathoming?” Kult wondered, his control on a taut leash.

“If he doesn’t know, and he learns it, we would need to be prepared,” Fin said, heating the Kevlar in their cells.

Kult demanded, “Prepared for what?”

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