Page 63 of Reluctant Rebel

“We’re going to look for it,” Sabre informed him. She turned to Brax and Mikhail. “Have you checked his room?”

“What do you mean?” Mikhail asked with a puzzled frown.

Sabre tamped down her impatience. “Has anyone checked Z’s bedroom or suite?”

Mikhail’s eyes widened. “You think he’ll have an evil plan outlined in his underwear drawer or something?”

Sabre shrugged. “Why not?”

Mikhail huffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Because …”

“Because why?” Sabre pressed, staring him down.

“Because he didn’t think of it, and now he feels like an idiot, that’s why,” Brax said, a wide grin splitting his face. “I didn’t think of it either. Babe, you’re a genius.”

“It’s been said,” she said demurely.

Brax laughed, ruffling her hair. “Come on, Genius. You’ve earned the right to snoop.”

“If we’re going to be checking Z’s room. We should probably check Mother’s quarters as well,” Mikhail said before anyone could move.

“I went through all of Maliq’s stuff when Brax hired me. Besides, I know you’ve both gone through his rooms multiple times over the years,” Sabre reminded him.

She knew King Maliq’s suite remained empty and largely untouched. She thought it was morbid, with the large space echoing like a mausoleum. But it wasn’t her place. Mikhail and Brax had the right to deal with their grief any way they wanted.

“Father’s rooms, yes. But Mother had her own space,” Mikhail revealed, looking uncomfortable.

“Your parents didn’t sleep in the same room?” Sabre thought that was odd as hell. And also very telling.

“Not for a long time,” Brax replied. “Mother’s choice, I believe.”

The room was silent, tension building with each passing second. No doubt, everyone was thinking the same thing: how batshit crazy and just plain evil the former Queen had been. And nobody had a friggin’ clue. Sabre wanted to discuss the maternalrevelations, but she would wait until she could speak without tearing down the memory of the only mother Brax and Mikhail had.

“How about you guys divide and conquer?” Gage suggested quietly. “You and Brax search one room, and Mikhail and Jinx can search the other.” He gave the brothers a respectful nod, gesturing to Eric and Draven. “We’ll sit this one out.”

Sabre smiled at her perceptive friend in thanks. “Works for me. Brax?”

Brax took her outstretched hand, giving it a squeeze. “We’ll take Mother’s,” he said to Mikhail.”

Mikhail nodded once, his jaw clenched tightly. “I’ll take Zagan’s.”

Sabre walked beside Brax, ordering Mikhail over her shoulder, “Take Jinx with you. She’ll be going stir-crazy in that room.”

And you’ll need the support,she added silently.

26

Mikhail knocked on his own door, feeling nervous. What if Jinx didn’t want to accompany him? She’d been polite since the kiss, but the ease they had established previously had vanished.

Most of that was on him, he acknowledged. Because all he could think about was tossing her to the ground and burying himself in her body. “Get a grip,” he told himself as the door swung open.

Instead of greeting her, he stood staring as the air between them crackled with energy.Sexual energy,his mind obnoxiously supplied. He could feel the heat radiating from her body, even though they weren't touching. Their eyes met and locked, Jinx’s pupils dilating. Mikhail’s heart raced, his breath coming quicker. He moistened his lips unconsciously, noticing how Jinx’s gaze shifted to follow the movement. An ache of longing and lust bloomed low in his belly. His fingers itched with the urge to reach out and touch, to trail along the curve of her jaw and tangle in her soft hair.

There was no denying his feelings for Jinx were growing stronger with each passing day, and he wondered how much longer he was going to be able to hold back. It had been solong since he’d felt this level of desire for someone. And he could quite honestly say that he’d never felt this level oflikefor someone before. He’d had his fair share of lovers in the past but was always careful to keep his emotions in check. It had been a simple task before Jinx.

“Mikhail,” Jinx broke the awkward silence. “Am I about to be inundated by the crew?” She peered around the doorframe, waving to Marius and Shiloh on guard duty. “You can assure them I’m still breathing.”

“Ha. Funny,” was his lame reply. Marius coughed, and Shiloh snickered. Mikhail shot them a dirty look before refocusing on Jinx. “The horde isn’t descending. They’ve split up for a job. I was hoping you might be willing to help me with my part of it?”

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