Page 107 of Cam's Treasure

"Did they get weaker when you absorbed their magic?"

I could feel Micah shifting beside me, and I squeezed his knee with my free hand. I hoped he didn't think I'd forgotten what we were talking about, because I hadn't.

Cam snorted. "I don't think there's anything that can make DD weak. But yeah, Rhiannon lost steam after a few spells, and she said she'd need to recharge to go again. Apparently, most supes have a steady supply, but my power sucks out a good chunk of it, leaving them with an empty well they need to replenish before they can use their magic again. Or at least, that's how Rhi explained it to me."

"Oh," Micah mumbled and I knew he'd realized what I was getting at. I glanced at him, asking silently if he wanted to take over, but he shook his head, waving his hand in a 'go on' motion.

Ember glanced between us, clearly sensing something was up.

"So, theoretically, you could 'eat' Micah's magic so that he wouldn't be able to read thoughts anymore until his magic replenished itself?"

Cam's brows shot up, and he glanced at Micah, green eyes wide. "Do you want that?"

Micah shrugged, a look on his face that I could only describe as hesitant hope. "I can't remember the last time my mind was completely my own without a massive headache following after. If you can give me a break...I'd love that. It would at least make it easier to spend time with others."

The look on Cam's face lacked any of his usual playfulness, and he nodded slowly, reaching over the table to clasp Micah's hand.

"I promise; I'll practice with DD, and I'll learn how. Maybe this was exactly why I got this magic. So I could help you," Cam mused, his smile returning.

Micah rolled his eyes, but he couldn't hide his smile completely.

We resumed eating after that, the conversation turning to less serious topics. Micah told us about some of the more demanding customers that visitedWish For It, and how Kezan had given him blanket permission to not take shit from anyone.

"The guy was obvious about his reaction to my clothes, making a face like he'd seen something disgusting," Micah said with a roll of his eyes. "So I looked him up and down, and pointed toward a store across the hallway and said, ‘Sorry, the boring guy store is over that way. Nothing here will suit you.’"

Ember chuckled while Cam grinned widely, and I shook my head as I thought about how different Micah was around strangers compared to around people he knew. He had this loud and flashy personality that he used as a shield around strangers, but I'd never seen him that way around us, or even anyone from the clan.

"His face turned so red—I swear I was worried he'd explode." Micah shook his head, sipping on his water before continuing. "Then he started demanding to speak to the manager, and when I said that was me, he asked for the owner."

"Oooh. What did Kezan do?" Cam asked, fully invested in the story.

"Kezan waved at us from behind the counter where he'd been watching the whole thing from, and said, 'He's right, actually. You should check out the other store.'"

We broke into laughter, and Micah shook his head, pleased at our reaction. While Micah could read our thoughts, I'd realized it was just as easy to read him once you got to know him.

Micah

How had I ever thought this wasn't what I wanted?

As I lay in bed that night, surrounded by my mates after spending the whole day enjoying their company, I realized that this was the happiest, most at peace I'd ever felt.

I was safe, my mates were safe, and even Ember's impending 'death' couldn't get me down, because I knew he'd be back, though the six months without him would be hard.

Maybe that was why there were four of us, so we could support each other when one of us wasn't around.

For someone like me, who'd spent the first nine years of his life in a house devoid of love, this felt like nothing short of a miracle.

I'd learned what love and care felt like after Dad and Papa adopted me—or was it kidnapped? It wasn't like they'd ever legally done any of it—because they'd done nothing but shower me with it, teaching me what it was like to have parents who cared, parents who loved you no matter what.

Cam was my first friend, and he'd taught me how good it felt to have someone to confide in, to have someone who'd always be by your side, whom you could trust implicitly.

Maybe that was why I'd been worried about meeting Kai and Ember, because I'd thought I would lose that special bond with Cam.

Instead, I'd found two more people I could trust, two more men who loved me just as much as I loved them. All my fears hadbeen unfounded, and I was finally free to love them as much as I wanted without my insecurities getting in the way.

"Micah, sleep," Ember grumbled, and how he could tell I was still awake, I had no idea. But I snuggled deeper into his arms anyway, sighing happily.

I didn't know what the future held for us, but as long as I had these three men with me, I'd be happy.

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