Page 93 of Reluctant Rebel

“I can empathise with your first point. But not your second.” Jinx frowned, feeling frustrated with Sabre’s attitude. “It’s really none of her business.”

“I know that. And she does too,” Mikhail said, tossing her a crooked grin, “deep down. To be honest, I think it’s less aboutusand more aboutme.It’s just another strike against me, one more thing she can blame me for and be pissed about.”

Jinx slouched against the wall, leaning into his side. “You two still haven’t cleared the air?”

“Not entirely, no,” he admitted. “I’ve been using Z as an excuse to delay the confrontation, I think. Which makes me cowardly, I know. But I’m afraid of what will happen when we talk about it all openly. I’ve been using Z as an excuse about us, too.”

She looked up at him, finding his expression contrite. “What do you mean?”

“When Z and his plans are no longer between us, will anything change? By way of what choices will we be able to makeor what freedoms will we have? After speaking my truth with Brax yesterday, I’m not so sure,” Mikhail stated, his voice flat.

Jinx felt a bubble of hysteria rise within her.Is he here to tell me he’s made a decision, and we have no future right when I’ve decided wedohave one?Jinx thought to herself. That would be just her luck. She didn’t say anything, wondering if she could slink back to her room. But before she could move, Mikhail cursed and dropped her hand. He moved in front of her, placing both hands on the wall by her head.

“I’m just going to say it. Like I should have said many things to Brax long before now, and I promise you, Sabre will be my next stop.” He dipped his head until their eyes were level. “I want you, Jinx. And I’m already more than halfway in love with you,” he declared, making her breath catch. “But what happens when I get all the way there? What happens when we claim each other, and you become more important to me than my people? What then?”

Mikhail is falling in love with me?She licked her dry lips, noting how his pupils dilated, and his eyes tracked the movement. “Mikhail …”

He grunted, tracing her lips with his thumb. “I want to throw you over my shoulder and lock you away in my room, naked, all day, every day, and every night. We’re not mated yet. We’re not sharing a heartbeat. And I already want to blow off my duties for you. It’s dangerous.”

“I can see how that would be a concern for you,” Jinx offered, her body swaying against his. He was hard, his breaths coming in pants. She ran her nose along the tanned line of his neck, inhaling his rich, masculine scent. When she got to his ear, she murmured, “While we’re being honest, I want you to know that I feel safer with you than anyone on the planet. I trust you to care for me and treat me with respect. I trust you with my past. And I think I trustmyselfwith my past.”

She placed a soft kiss on the shell of his ear before leaning back to see his face. “It doesn’t hurt me as much as it did weeks ago. And I no longer believe having a fated mate equates to my choices being stolen. Because every day that we choose to be polite, that we choose to be friends, that we choose to have sex, I’m in control. And I know it.”

“You said sex,” Mikhail practically whimpered. “Please don’t say that word.”

Jinx laughed, watching avidly as he repositioned the large bulge in his pants. “I just poured my heart out, and all you heard wassex?”

“I heard every word,” he vowed, cupping her face. “I’m more honoured than I can say. But it only makes my future decisions more difficult. Knowing you’re down to be claimed …?” He shook his head and side-stepped, so they were no longer touching.

Was it wrong of her to feel happy? Jinx wondered. She’d potentially just set herself up for heartbreak, but all she felt was joy. He was worried she would become the most important thing in the world to him. It was the best compliment she’d ever received.

“Well, good luck with that,” she said, patting his cheek. She giggled when his expression turned dumbfounded. She had no intention of pressuring him. She’d told him where she stood. Now, it was up to him. She pressed a loud, noisy kiss to his lips before adding, “Talk to Sabre. It’s time.”

She turned and walked back to her room, shutting the door behind her. She squeezed her eyes closed and did a weird, happy little stomp-dance. “It’s all going to work out. I just know it.”

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news …” a smooth voice said from her left. “But it really isn’t.”

37

“Where’s Jinx?” Sabre asked. She was waiting outside the entrance to Brax’s quarters, where they were supposed to be having breakfast.

“She went that way,” Mikhail replied, opening a portal abruptly. “And we’re going this way.”

Sabre stood up straight, eyeing him warily. “We’re doing what now?”

“Come on. I’ll explain when we get there,” he said, walking through the metaphysical doorway, knowing Sabre would follow.

He stepped into his living room, causing Styx to jump up and release a vicious growl. It quickly turned to a happy whine when he recognised Mikhail, and he bounded over for some pats. By the time Sabre stepped through the portal, Mikhail had two hellhounds on their backs, groaning in bliss as he rubbed their stomachs.

“They are going to be so spoiled,” Sabre pointed out, offering the hounds scratches. “What’s going on? What are we doing here?”

“We need to talk,” Mikhail said, smiling when he felt the pups moving around beneath his hand. “Soon,” he crooned to the female.

Sabre eyed him warily. “Talk about what?”

He braced himself in case Sabre got physical.At least you have a forcefield now,he reminded himself happily. Though, it likely wouldn't be enough when it came to the best assassin in Purgatory. “About how I ordered you to kill me.”

Sabre went deathly still, her lips barely moving when she said, “What?”

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