Page 93 of The Magic of Destiny
“You sound surprised?”
“Well, yeah. I can count on zero hands the number of times you've ever sat out,” I pointed out, and he shrugged.
“Yeah well, I'm trying a new thing. Called being more laid-back. I don't need to go—I'm not the best man for this job and I can admit that. Plus, I don't want Saige to be stressed by more of us going,” he added, keeping a straight face and turning back to look at the view.
I lifted a brow. “Ohhh. Don't want Saige to be stressed, hmm? And it wouldn't have anything to do with wanting to get some alone time with our girl?”
He crossed his arms and looked over at me, finding me wearing a goofy grin. “Of course not. I would never send the guys off on a mission so I could monopolize time with my little witch. It just so happens that I am not the best suited for the—”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it loud and clear, Thunder Daddy. Just know that I'm onto you, and if this is how you wanna play it, we can play.” I swung my mat at him, whacking him on the ass.
“Kai,” he growled, spinning and stalking after me as I danced away toward the cottage.
“Come catch me, Thunder Daddy!” I shouted, loving the way his face reddened when I teased him with that nickname. I slipped into the house and sped upstairs, laughing my ass off all the way to the bathroom.
It didn't cross my mind until I was in the shower that maybe Cam hadn't sent me on this assignment because he knew I also needed to spend time with my Cub. Especially since hearing about her pregnancy, the urge to be attached to her twenty-four-seven was riding me strong.
Thanks, Thunder Daddy.
* * *
“Please be careful,”Sprout pleaded, moving between each of her men, hugging and kissing them thoroughly.
“Of course, sweetheart. Don't worry, it's just recon. If all goes according to plan, we'll be in and out within an hour.”
“That's what she said,” Bette shouted from beside me, and I held my hand up, giving her the high five that comment deserved. We were giggling together like ten-year-old kids, only stopping when we got a stern look from Thunder Daddy.
“Wowzers. He could tell me to do just about anything and toss that look my way, and I'd be hopping to do it,” she whispered to me when Cam turned his back.
“Right? It's terrifying and oh so sexy,” I whispered back conspiratorially, stifling a laugh as her eyes widened slightly at my calling Cam sexy. Before she could ask any filthy questions, Rick appeared next to the small witch, staring down his nose at her suspiciously.
“What?” Bette asked, her pitch going high with her faked innocence.
“Stay with Rick, he's been there before so follow his lead,” Khol barked out at the others, doing a final check of his supplies. Rick took his focus off Bette at the sound of his name, and she rolled her eyes behind his back. Good grief, the man had his hands full with that one.
Miranda stood next to Saige as the guys paired off with their demon escorts. She and Khol had arrived together. Annie was having a pool day with her grandparents. I knew it wasn’t easy for Miranda to have her daughter out of her sight, especially so soon after being kidnapped. I’m not sure how I would’ve reacted in her situation; even just thinking about such a nightmare made me feel sick. Our babies weren’t even born yet, and I was ready to walk through fire for them.
Miranda laughed at something Saige said, the two friends giggling like teens. Khol stared intensely at the smiling woman, and I grinned. The fleeting glances and lingering stares when the other wasn’t looking made it clear there was something going on between them, but I’d yet to see anything more than that.
“We'll jump as a group so we're sure to get to the right place,” Rick told the guys. “Are we ready?”
A chorus of agreement filled the air before a gruff “wait.” Everyone turned to Khol, who was now looking more agitated than normal. He exhaled sharply and stormed across the room, reaching for Miranda. She squeaked as he bent her back, sealing his mouth over hers. Humming in appreciation, she wrapped her arms around his neck, returning his kiss with equal fervor.
Faris whooped, and Bette began clapping enthusiastically. Sprout had a hand pressed to her chest, visibly swooning at the romantic display.
Khol pulled back, and his voice was deep as he rumbled, “Mine.” Without another word, he turned and stalked back to the line, leaving Miranda wide-eyed and shocked.
“Damn,” she whispered, pressing her fingertips to her mouth.
“What are you all staring at? Let's go,” Khol barked, clapping his hands together and breaking the spell everyone seemed to be under. They all formed a circle, linking hands to bind them together through the jump.
“Call if there's trouble,” Cam called out, and then the group vanished from the room as though they'd never been there to begin with.
“Holy shit,” Miranda gasped. “That was wild.”
“The disappearing act, or that claim Khol laid on you in front of the entire room?” Bette asked, fanning her face, and promptly laughing her ass off when Miranda blushed furiously.
Saige beamed, reaching for her best friend’s hand. “I'm happy for you. Honestly, I just want you to be happy and if Khol is what you need for that, I'm all for it.” She pulled Miranda into a hug. “And he deserves to be happy, too.”
