I replied, “She doesn’t ever listen.” He nodded, “Yes, she’s definitely not the best in our army. She listens during drills though. She only joined so you’d have to talk to her.” I grinned, “If you could prove that’s why she did it you’d bounce her from the army.” He agreed, “I would. It’s good to see you.” He gave me a hug.
He asked, “How long are you staying?” I shrugged, “I’m not sure. If there’s a mission, I’ll go back out. I enjoy it out there. I just don’t understand how people with me keep getting burned.” He said, “Our IT people haven’t found anything either. There’s no chatter leading up to it. You do right by our people though.”
I sighed, “I should keep them from being found out.” He said, “They’d have been captured and tortured with most others out there on missions. You display the Commander that you are and step up.” I still should be able to figure out what’s happening. We poured over the mission but couldn’t find anything. Micah didn’t slip up once. He was perfect.
I groaned, “There’s still nothing about what’s going on here.” He said, “I’ll keep looking. You go see your brother.” I asked, “Which one?” He laughed, “Angus. He misses you.” I nodded and portaled out of his office to my parents’ house. I could go back out through the door, but I knew there would be an ambush in the form of my ex waiting.
I found my brother in his room tossing a ball to himself. I threw shorts at him. I yelled, “Race you to the courts!” He loved to play basketball. I ran by my mom who laughed. I kissed the top of her head as Angus nearly fell trying to run and put shorts on.
I called, “Slow poke!” He yelled, “You’re CHEATING!” I laughed and jogged to the courts we often played at, hopped the fence, and waited. He showed up thirty seconds later glaring at me. I laughed, “Let’s go, little brother. Show me what you got.” He checked the ball, and we were off.
We were sweaty messes when Hendrix caught back up to us. He said, “You left me with the bizzarro twins.” He called Eagan and Cora that for some reason I couldn’t figure out. I blocked Angus’ shot and called, “They aren’t twins nor are they even related. You clearly found Milana and has sex.” He asked, “Clearly?” Angus stole the ball from me and answered, “Your hair looks like a cockatoo and we can smell you. You clearly had sex.” I laughed and tried to block his layup, but he made it anyway.
He gloated, “Game.” I gave him a high five. I complimented him, “You’ve been improving your skills. You should play in school.” He shrugged, “They aren’t as good as you. This is our thing.” I bumped him with my shoulder, “Don’t hide your talents from the world, little brother. You are excellent at basketball.” He grinned, “Better than you.” I bowed, “The student has surpassed the master. Seriously though, think about the team.” He nodded, “Alright.”
Hendrix agreed, “Yeah, you’ll swim in more pussy than you do now.” I took the basketball and chucked it at Hendrix who caught it. He said, “Hey, your little brother is the one carrying on the family name.” I shrugged, “I’m not keen to repeat the experience.” It hadn’t been great, and I was busy.
Angus teased, “All work and no play makes you a hard ass. Or so I hear.” I snorted, “Who did you hear that from?” Hendrix answered, “Everyone. The classes and drills you run are tough. Everyone thinks you need to get laid. Maybe if you did your stalker would quit.”
Angus snorted, “She’ll quit when she’s six feet under.” I reasoned, “She’ll get her mate and I’ll find mine.” Hendrix said, “She’s odd for sure. She smirked like the cat that ate the canary when you and Alexander were talking about Micah getting burned.”
I pointed out, “She doesn’t like Micah.” I paused adding, “That’s definitely uncalled for though.” Milana called from behind me, “What if it’s her burning people around you?” I turned and greeted, “Hi, Milana. She couldn’t have though. She didn’t know where I was.” Milana shrugged, “I mean logically speaking she stalks you, so she could’ve figured it out.” I laughed, “That’s a lot of energy she probably doesn’t need to use. I can’t see why she’d do it.”
Hendrix said, “I’ll look into it my beautiful mate.” Angus pointed at his tongue when they kissed fake gagging. I shook my head at him then put him into a headlock before giving him a noogie. He yelled, “Come on, Cayden. Let me go!” I laughed and did.
He punched me in the arm. I said, “You’ll find your mate and be as bad as him one day.” He shrugged, “You haven’t.” I pointed out, “I’m barely of age to find my mate. I’ll find her one day.” For some reason Cassie Conners flashed into my mind.
Angus asked, “What was that?” I shrugged, “What?” His gaze narrowed, “That look. If you found your mate and didn’t tell us, then you’re screwed. I definitely will not help you with mom on principle of you not telling me.” I asked, “Why wouldn’t I tell you?” He answered, “Because you are leaving again in a burning desire to be the youngest Commander to take over ever.” I snorted.
I assured him, “I’d tell you if I saw you after I met her.” Hendrix teased, “Unless she asked you not to. From what I’ve seen everyone’s saps for their mate’s requests.” He wasn’t wrong. Milana said, “He probably wouldn’t tell anyone if he was going right back out, and she was underage.”
I rolled my eyes, “Are you going to keep listing strange reasons for me to hide my mate? My brother has a point, but yours is easily deflected. I could take her with me if I was going out.” Angus yelled, “AH HA! You have a plan already! Which means you thought about it” I snorted, “You guys are ridiculous.” Angus teased, “Or are we right?”
My mom said, “You’d better not be.” I somewhat pleaded with her, “They are being crazy.” I sent my brother a warning that if he got me in trouble over a non-existent situation he was in for it. Mom ruffled my hair and gave us a picnic basket.
She said, “I brought you guys some food. There will be NO hiding mates in this family. Are we clear?” I answered, “Of course, mom.” She narrowed her eyes on me then on Angus. She pointed at us both then made the sign for her watching us before she opened a portal and left.
Angus ripped open the basket and took a sandwich then took off running. He shouted over his shoulder, “This was fun, big brother! I’ve got a date though.” I yelled, “Have fun and be a good date!” He called, “I always am! I’m the picture of gentleman.” I laughed, “You’d be better.” Hendrix yelled, “Make sure she orgasms first, little dude.” I laughed, “He knows that.” Milana snorted, “I’d hope so.”
We sat down on the bleachers to eat. I asked, “So, how was Uncle Bjourn’s coronation?” Milana frowned, “You mean since the last time you asked us? It’s the same.” Hendrix answered my unspoken question, “We didn’t meet her.” Milana asked, “Who?” I nudged him in the gut. He asked, “What? That’s the question you’ve wanted to ask and haven’t. I finally took pity and answered you.”
Milana gasped, “NOOOOOO!” I glared at Hendrix as his mate smacked him on the arm. She pointed at him, “How dare you not tell me has a crush!” I would argue it wasn’t a crush, but it was. Hendrix was the only one I’d told though.
Milana nudged me, “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you agreed with ALL the rumors!” I frowned, “What rumors?” She blinked at me several times. Then looked between Hendrix and me. She asked, “What on EARTH do boys talk about with each other? How can he not know?!” I looked at Hendrix.
He said, “We talk about important stuff.” She scoffed, “No you don’t! He doesn’t know the rumors and I told you those YEARS ago!” I asked, “What are we talking about right now? Also, I don’t wantanyone to know that I want to date Cassie Conners. Ok?” Milana waved, “Sure, whatever. My lips are sealed. You’re missing out on the important details.” I pointed out, “Rumors are just rumors.”
She groaned, “Aesir give me the strength to deal with the male mind.” Hendrix said, “I mean, it’s just people talking. They aren’t really even rumors. They haven’t met. It’s just people gossiping.” Milana stared at him grounding out, “But you didn’t tell your BEST friend about the gossip I’ve been telling you about for like thirteen years. I need answers about what boys talk about. I would SHUN my best friend for not telling me things like this.”
Hendrix groaned, “Don’t make it sound like I’m keeping secrets.” She yelled, “You are! You guys need best friend help. I’ll get you an appointment with the Princess at her therapist clinic because you are BROKEN! Seriously, I need to know right now. WHAT DO YOU TALK ABOUT? You know he has a crush, but you don’t tell him the realm’s been talking about how cute him and the Duchess would be.”
I stalled asking, “Wait, what?” She nodded, “Yeah, everyone keeps it quiet for sure. I’m betting the Cambridge women all know about it though. No one wants to get anyone’s hopes up. If I knew the Princess personally, I’d tell her myself because she would set up the most epic meet cute. I don’t know her though. Which is sad because the people who do know and think you and the Duchess are the cutest couple waiting to happen have more patience than me.”
She groaned, “Then you two keep missing each other. I swear to god you should’ve met when she was a baby. You know why that didn’t happen?” I answered, “Timing.” She acted like I hadn’t answered, “Someone doesn’t like me. You might think it was a direct attack against you, but it was me. I was FORCED to deal with Cora and her wannabe friends because you dated her.”
She ranted, “I would rather watch paint dry than talk to that woman ever again. I made nice with her against my better judgement. Even her evil little posse got the nice version of me, and I swear there had better be something amazing in the afterlife for me solely based on that period of time in my life. Do you know I saw her the other day and she had the audacity to ask if something was wrong with me because I hadn’t had a child yet?”
I frowned, “You guys always talked about wanting to wait to try for kids.” Hackura couples did tend to pop out kids the second they met, but Milana had always had her own timeline. Hendrix was more than willing to go along with that. I pointed out, “You guys are young.” She snorted, “Right? God, I told her what for. I wish Aubrielle had been with me because she never approaches when she’s around.”
