Page 12 of The Brotherhood

He appeared terribly troubled. “Please tell me you knew that prior to this second.”

She couldn’t stop her giggle while shaking her head. “I have a bad habit of never allowing myself to know or believe such things. And I’m happy to do this assignment,” she hurried when pain entered his gaze. “What will it entail? Exactly?”

“They’re on their way here now to fully inform us.”

She couldn’t stop her panic from surfacing, and he nodded at her with raised brows. “There’s the sensible young lady I know.”

****

“Eighteen?” Handy suddenly wanted to climb out of his skin prison and smash his fist into Harlow’s face. “That’s too young!”

“Which is why we’re doing theimprintrather than theintercoursefor triggering your evolution,” he said, yanking thelarge glass door open on the black building. “I think it’s this way,” he muttered, shooting off to the right while Handy ignored the stares from every passing student.

“And eighteen is a legal adult,” Harlow muttered as they hurried down a large hall. “Hell, it’s the new twenty-five by today’s standards. And not like we have a lot of options,” he huffed as they walked. “I was assured she’s more than capable.”

“I’llsurelybe the judge of that,” Handy muttered, ready to do whatever it took to force them to find another solution. “What all does shethinkshe knows and what all is shesupposedto know about this?”

“Not sure what allsheknows, but we’re going with complete transparency with these Kings. I already gave King Skul—her mentor, the one who helps with big life decisions—the gist of it. He’snoton board with it but said he’d let her make that decision.”

“He shouldn’t be on board,” Handy said, getting more agitated with every step. “She needs to knoweverydetail.”

“You sure Kaphas is locked up tight?” Harlow asked as they arrived at a door inside a library.

“Yes, why?” he asked, not liking his tone.

“Just don’t want anybacklashinterference while you’re in such a pissy-ass mood.”

****

Poppy hurried toward the library praying she’d make it there before the two men arrived. Mr. Harlow had decided to wait till after school so she had just enough time to change, only it took her far longer to pick something out than usual! She was due in the library meeting room at six sharp and of course she misplaced her watch.

She was grateful she was able to change at least. A school uniform screamed,still learning. Not ready.She’d chosen asage green dress to match her eyes and to accentuate her physical maturity. She just hoped the open cleavage didn't send the wrong message. She wasn’t blessed with breasts. Yet. Her mother said she’d grow more when she became a mother.

Her insides quaked at realizing she may have just given that vocation up. Oh dear.

She reminded herself that it was Handy who would be with Mr. Harlow, not Kaphas. Just him. How on earth did that even work? Did they have two brains in one body? Or doors they came and went by? She could hardly wait to meet him and learn all about everything. And prove that she was more than capable of helping.

Mr. Skul said she wasn’t just permitted to use every ounce of her gift, she was ordered to. He clearly wanted her to locate the reason to say no while she wanted only to say yes. Had he forgotten all his work with her? Six years of building up her courage and convincing her to take the plunge into actual life?

Like it or not, that’s exactly what was happening. Having only half a day to contemplate and plan a course of action regarding a critical decision was just that—real life. It didn’t wait for you to be ready or plan, it barged right on in and knocked you on your rear-end.

All her prayers were proven to be in vain as she approached the meeting room filled with muffled conversation. Oh dear, a heated one too.

She paused at the door and grabbed the charm on her necklace, sliding her thumb over her father’s favorite words, focusing her breaths.If the Lord is for us, who then can be against us?It wasn’t the words that comforted her but that they were her father’s favorite. She believed them wholeheartedly. For him. She was not a part of theusin the scripture. She was just a bystander. Not by choice but by inability to see herself as anything else. She wasn’t a victim about it. She’d resolved toovercome all her obstacles, especially the ones that held her back mentally.

She took a deep breath and knocked sharply on the door, shutting off the voices inside the room instantly. “Come in.”

Oh God, please give me strength.

That prayer too was in vain when she opened the door and immediately fell into a gaze nearly glowing in gold.

“Holy. F--”

“Language,” the man next to him muttered sharply while Poppy fought to break away from the power in his stare. She remembered to use her gifts and released a breath as she carefully pushed her perception down the line of hostile energy coming from him. She realized in relief that her defenses acted on instinct, and had prevented his ocular invasion now all over her person. She also realized it wasn't a good time to read him and so pried her curiosity from him, reminding herself that it wasn’t Handy she was seeing but Kaphas.

More instincts kicked in as she nodded at the more friendly face next to him and reached across the table. “Mr. Harlow, I take it?”

He quickly stood and shook her hand gently, the pleased look softening his handsome features. “Yes ma’am.” He glanced toward Handy, aiming his thumb at him. “This is Handy.”

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