Page 62 of Reluctant Rebel

“It’s Jinx’s birthday? I had no idea.” Mikhail paused, brow furrowing deeply as if trying to solve a complex equation. “She’s going to be … how old now?”

“Twenty,” Brax supplied with a smirk. “And here you are, over one hundred. Talk about robbing the cradle.”

Sabre dug the heel of her boot into Brax’s foot, causing him to yelp and hop away like a wounded animal. Mikhail and Jinx had enough obstacles to overcome without being reminded of their age gap. Age didn’t mean dick to Sabre. She knew it was just a number and didn’t determine a person’s wisdom or experience. And she didn’t need Mikhail inventing another reason to deny his fated mate.

“Don’t do it,” she warned Mikhail, her tone serious.

“Don’t do what?” he asked innocently.

“Don’t start counting the years between you and Jinx. It’s irrelevant,” she said firmly.

“Ninety years of living is irrelevant?” Mikhail challenged, his expression turning mutinous.

“I wouldn’t say it’s irrelevant,” Eric said, joining the conversation. “I’d say it’s morerelative. I mean, isn’t it how those years are spent that is important? The experiences one lives in a single day can be just as significant as those lived in a year.” Eric jammed his hands in the pockets of his baggy jeans,shrugging sheepishly. “I mean, that’s how it’s always seemed to me.”

Mikhail’s face softened, and he smiled at Eric. “Spoken like someone wise beyond their years.”

Eric grinned mischievously. “Proving my point that age doesn’t matter.”

When Gage and Eric began to banter about who looked more youthful, Mikhail spoke softly to Sabre. “I can see why Brax likes him so much.”

Sabre nodded, watching the interactions of her friends with satisfaction. “Eric is a pest in the best kind of way.”

“Like all little brothers are,” Mikhail commented.

She heard the pain in those words, as well as the resignation. She hesitated but finally said, “Brax isn’t trying to replace Zagan with Eric. And I can promise you, the thought would never have crossed Eric’s mind.”

“I know that,” Mikhail promised sincerely. “It’s just …”

“Hard,” Sabre supplied. “And complicated. And irrational. And all the things that make you feel like a tosser.”

“Idofeel like a tosser these days,” Mikhail acknowledged, still speaking too quietly for the others to hear. “Except when I’m around Jinx.” He frowned. “Or maybemorewhen I’m around Jinx. Why do you think that it is?”

Sabre had a theory or two but decided he could figure them out himself. She was doing enough of the heavy lifting for him as it was. “Who knows?” she answered vaguely before changing the subject. “But her upcoming birthday slipped my mind. And, of course, she hasn’t reminded anyone. Thankfully, vamp-boy had it in his phone. Very Gen Z of him. We’re going to do a dinner thing for her tomorrow night at the warehouse. That cool?”

“Of course,” Mikhail said quickly, but he was frowning.

“Problem?” Sabre queried.

“No. It’s just … are you sure Jinxwantsa gathering? And at the warehouse of all places? She was just kidnapped from there. I thought we agreed everyone would be staying here in the palace until Zagan is captured.”

Sabre considered that for a moment. After much back and forth earlier, Jinx, Gage, and Eric had agreed to spend their nights at the palace for the foreseeable future. She was already staying with Brax most nights anyway, so it was no big deal for her. But Gage hadn’t been overly enthusiastic about abandoning his home and business. Jinx had likewise put up a fight. She wanted the comfort and security of her own things. Eric, on the other hand, was thrilled to have a guest room with a jacuzzi.

“Fine. How about the training hall?” Sabre suggested. “It's safe and big.”

Draven frowned. “Why does it need to be big? It’s going to be a small gathering, remember?”

“Sure,” Sabre replied flippantly. Internally, she rubbed her hands together with glee. A party gave her another opportunity to launch the next step in Operation Cupid.

“Okay then, it’s settled,” Eric said with a smile. “We won’t make it a surprise party, but let’s keep the guest list from her. Best of both worlds.”

“Guest list?” Draven yelled. “Now there’s a guest list?”

Everyone ignored him.

“And in the meantime, we’re going to figure out these bonus powers. Plus, Z’s kill list,” Sabre said with determination. Things were gaining momentum, and she wanted to keep it going. She was sick to death of Z.

“And how do you propose we do that?” Draven asked drolly.

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