Page 21 of Sidone

Kade returns and digs into his food, then moans. When I give him a blank stare, he picks up a fork, stabs some egg on it, and, as if we’re the only people at the table, nudges my mouth, a big smile on his beautiful face. Kade smiles a lot, and when he does, he positively shines. I can’t refuse him anything. I close my mouth over the food. Delicious sweet, salty, sour, and spicy but fresh flavors explode in my mouth, and my eyes widen.

I chew. “It’s pretty good.”

“It is excellent,” Dreikx says. “Drool worthy. Speaking of drool…” He gives me a pointed look.

I take the cue. Thisisa meeting. “The abomination from the yacht never showed his face, and I am certain he commands the two dozen males I killed. He stayed on the yacht.” I crunch on bacon. “Sent his males but didn’t face me. Dickless male.”

“The question is, where does the former vice president fit in?” Dreikx asks, then sips water. “He knew where you were. Either he kept tabs on your movements, or he got tipped off with your location.”

Raven sits down with a pile of fresh fruit. He picks up an apple and crunches into it, chewing. “Where is Sotay?”

“Chasing pussy,” Arkin says.

“Didn’t you collect them all?” Raven asks.

“Not that one Omega. Sotay was adamant about her staying at her house. Also, she’s friends with my Tabby, and things could get complicated for me if I collected Leah. Though, if you order her collected…”

Raven purses his lips. “I might, if only to get him back to the Stronghold.”

“Can we please focus on the topic at hand here?” Dreikx asks.

“Aunt?” Seer leans across the table and taps the fruit on Raven’s plate. He snatches a slice of watermelon. “You ready to head back to Regha?”

Kade stops eating and watches me. I glance at him, then cover his hand with mine. “We haven’t discussed that yet.”

“You know how I feel about you staying on Earth.” Tayseer pushes his plate away. “Your mission is complete. Return home.”

“Don’t order me around, Tayseer. I will do what Kade and I agree upon. You’ll stay out of it.”

“Of course.”

I snort.

Kade reaches for a napkin. “I wouldn’t mind seeing Regha.” My eyes widen. Kade nods and continues. “I’ve always wanted to know where y’all came from. What’s it like on another planet? I’ve been as far as Nevada and that’s it.”

Loven stands and stretches his body, cracking his neck. “That’s settled, then. You will stay at the Horde stronghold. Beach, sea, good weather, nice people, lots of food, and bathrooms with toilet paper.” He unsnaps histiland turns his bare ass to the table. “I’m going for a swim.” He leaps over the railing and takes off for the ocean.

“Good riddance,” Dreikx mumbles, then sighs. “The issue with returning to Regha is the gate.”

I prop my elbows on the table. “What do you mean?”

“It’s unstable. I wouldn’t dare send you in there.”

“But you would go inside yourself?” I ask Dreikx.

“He is different,” Tayseer says. I bristle because I know where this is going. “You and your Omega are a unique pair, and I forbid you from traveling through the gate until I’m certain of its stability.”

“Oh, you mother—”

“My decision is final,” Tayseer says.

I slap my palm on the table, cursing their dicks and balls all the way to my apartment. After the fight, Kade and I switched apartments, taking the one on the other side of the top floor while the crew cleaned up the bloody mess my Omega left behind.

Inside, I sit at the alcove. The Pacific stretches on forever. Waves hit the shore, spitting out Loven now and then.

The door clicks, and Kade enters.

I don’t turn away from the view.

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