Page 72 of Reluctant Rebel

“You’re being an arsehole,” Sabre scolded him, placing a calming hand on Brax’s shoulder. “Brax’s new ability was linked to his emotions. What were you feeling when this happened?”

Mikhail was feeling protective, possessive, and pissed off. But he didn’t want to admit that, so he replied succinctly, “Angry.”

“I was super pissed when my new power showed up, too,” Brax volunteered.

“Great. Rage results in superpowers. Just what I need.” He knew he wasn’t behaving well but was scared that he and Jinx might be stuck there forever. Although there could be worse fates, he acknowledged, looking at the beauty sitting calmly beside him. “Can we analyse why later? Let’s just fix this.”

“Lucifer? Any ideas?” Sabre asked abruptly.

Lucifer leaned in close, inspecting the forcefield with narrowed eyes. He hummed, muttered, and finally breathed on the side. Then, he used his pointer finger to draw a smiley face in the condensation. “I’ve got nothin’. But it’s impressive. Just what you need to protect yourself from a soul-destroying brother.”

“What a cool coincidence,” Eric said artlessly.

Mikhail pinched the bridge of his nose. He wasn’t proud of himself, but he wanted to slap the vampire a little bit. “It’s not a coincidence, Eric. The gods don’t deal in coincidences.”

Eric cleared his throat. “Um, of course. I knew that. Have you tried dropping the shield the same way you open and close portals? It’s the same magic, right?”

Now Mikhail really did feel like shit. Eric was a good guy with clever ideas. “That’s an excellent idea. Thank you. I’ll try.”

Five minutes later, Mikhail was sweating and breathing hard. “It’s not working. Whatever this is, it’s different to my original legacy.” He was about to have a panic attack in front of a dozen people, and he had nowhere to hide.

“Hey,” Jinx said softly, reminding him of her steady presence. She took his hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. “This is your legacy, too. It’s just one that’s been dormant until now. Youcancontrol it. It’s a part of you. Breathe with me. Think happy thoughts.”

He did as instructed, breathing in and out in time with Jinx, her calm demeanour like a soothing balm on his frayed nerves. As he stared into her eyes, the tension in his shoulders began to melt away, replaced by a warm, happy glow. He was so caught up in the look and feel of the woman in front of him that he didn’t notice when the shield dropped. He jumped and dropped Jinx's hand when Brax slapped him on the back.

“You did it,” Jinx cheered happily.

“Wedid it,” Mikhail corrected, lifting her to her feet. He looked around at his friends and family, noting their conflicting expressions: uncertainty, fear, and hope. He quirked a grin at Jinx. “How do you feel about mentoring?”

29

Jinx loved the idea of mentoring, she thought the next day, especially if it involved Mikhail role-playing as the naughty student and her as the stern teacher.

She shook her head, dislodging the silly fantasy. Even though they had agreed to reconsider their relationship in the future, that didn’t mean she could get carried away. There was still so much to deal with first. And when all was said and done, when they were no longer caught up in a life-and-death situation, Mikhail could very well change his mind.

Adrenaline,she told herself.Adrenaline and endorphins affect mental acuity.

With a determined sigh, she made her way to the private garden. She saw his back first, broad and muscular, stretching his shirt as he leaned over to inspect a flower. She paused, taking a deep breath, unsure of how to proceed. He said he wanted to give her a gift, but in the light of day, she was unsure if she wanted to accept one. Would he get the wrong idea? Did it mean she was leading him on if she said yes? And what the fuck was she going to do about the anonymous dickhead who had sent her a collar?

Seeing Mikhail create an accidental forcefield had been a great distraction for several hours the previous evening. But once in bed, her night had been filled with nightmares from her past. She took a tentative step forward, then another, her mind racing with what she would say when he turned around. Should she make an excuse and leave? Maybe she should walk away before he saw her? Or should she pull her tits up and get on with it like the mature, twenty-year-old she now was?

Mikhail turned abruptly, his eyes meeting hers, and a warm and inviting smile broke across his face. Her breath caught in her throat, knowing she wouldn’t be going anywhere; he was too damn pretty.

“You made it,” he greeted her.

“Sorry if I’m a little late,” she said, shoving her hands into her pockets so she wouldn’t fidget.

“You’re right on time. Besides, it doesn’t matter. We’re not on a schedule,” Mikhail informed her sweetly. He plucked a yellow flower and offered it to her. “It’s not a blue rose, but it is a happy colour.”

Jinx sniffed the flower, inhaling the lovely scent. “I love yellow. And please don’t tell me you’re jealous of Luca. Brax already has that covered when it comes to Sabre.”

“You call him Luca?” He looked adorably put out. “He’s not in your tribe, is he?”

Jinx bit her lip, wondering if she should be honest or let him down gently. In the end, she went with diplomacy. “Hecouldbe.”

“That’s a non-answer if ever I heard one,” Mikhail drawled, not buying what she was selling.

Jinx laughed, feeling herself relax. “Sorry.”

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