Page 22 of Reluctant Rebel

“What? It wasn’tmystudy,” she defended herself. “I just thought it was interesting.”

Brax shook his head slowly, his lips twitching. Sabre winked at him, earning a full-blown grin and a sweet peck on the lips.

“Don’t you think we have enough on our hands?” Gage’s deep voice sounded in the room. “What with a murderous triplet on the loose?” he added dryly. “No offence, Abraxis.”

“None taken,” Brax promised the akuji.

“Which is why we need more recruits. Seriously, how are you guys not following this?” It wasn’t astrophysics, Sabre thought in frustration. “Ever heard of multitasking?”

“What exactly do you want us to do?” Eric wanted to know.

“Get Mikhail and Jinx to acknowledge their true feelings about the whole mate thing,” Sabre clarified.

“Did you ever stop and think that perhaps they have already acknowledged their truths? And you’re just not listening,” Draven questioned.

Sabre considered it for a moment before deciding, “No. That’s crap. Your ideas are crap. Your right to contribute has been revoked.” Hearing Draven’s offended gasps and annoyed grumbles gave her immense joy. “Gage? Eric? You’re up.”

“Acknowledging their feelings isn’t the issue,” Eric said. “It sounds like they were brutally honest with each other. Getting them to act on their instincts and desires is the problem. They believe it isn’t possible.”

“So we prove to them that it is,” Sabre said simply. She rubbed her hands together. “Eric, because you’re so smart, you’re up first.”

“Me? Up first? What do you mean?” Eric’s voice was higher than usual.

“What’s one surefire way to get a man to act on his base instincts?” Sabre asked.

“Jealousy,” Brax supplied helpfully.

“No fucking way!” Eric bellowed.

“Come on, Eric. Nut up,” Sabre encouraged, doing her best to deliver a rousing speech.

“That’s exactly what I want to protect: my nuts,” Eric pointed out. “Do you know what will happen if a demon king thinks I want to get in his fated mate’s pants?”

“Yes. Romance,” Sabre stated happily. She had a good feeling about this.

“Wrong!” Eric yelled rather shrilly. “Death.Mydeath. Death from de-nutting.”

Beside her, Brax burst into laughter. Gage’s amusement could be heard via the phone as well. Draven, the sad sack, couldn’t see the humour, of course, and offered Sabre suggestions to balance the chemicals in her brain. “Do you want Jinx to be happy or not?” she demanded of them when she could get another word in.

“You know I do,” Eric responded quietly. His following sigh was loud and resigned. “Fine. I’ll do it. But I better be left intact after this.”

“Don’t worry. If Mikhail kills you, I can always bring you back,” Sabre said cheerily, leaning into Brax’s side. She was beginning to feel cold, and he was always so warm.

“It’s not just Mikhail you have to worry about,” Gage pointed out mildly. “This is Jinx we’re talking about.”

“I changed my mind …” Eric began.

“No takebacks!” Sabre exclaimed, glaring at the phone. “You already agreed. Besides, even if Jinx is pissed at first, she’ll be so happy when she and Mikhail are together that she’ll be thanking you, not killing you.”

“I hope you’re right,” Eric muttered before hanging up.

I hope so, too,she thought after hanging up.

10

Mikhail's eyelids fluttered open, heavy as lead curtains. Pale morning light seeped through the cracks in his blinds, painting stripes across his rumpled bedsheets. His head throbbed, a dull ache pulsing behind his temples. The night had been an endless cycle of tossing and turning, his mind a whirlwind of anxious thoughts that refused to quiet.

With a groan, he pushed himself up, his muscles protesting every movement. The floorboards creaked beneath his feet as he stumbled towards the bathroom, the cool air raising goosebumps on his bare skin. He flicked on the light, wincing at the sudden brightness, and caught a glimpse of his haggard reflection in the mirror—dark circles under his eyes, hair sticking up at odd angles.

---