I sneak over to the couch and stare down at Malachi. He’s normally not such a deep sleeper, and I wonder how late he stayed up last night talking with Cade. Poor guy probably got no rest at all.
I lean down and press a gentle kiss to his forehead, brushing the dark strands of hair away from his face. Before I can pull back, his hand shoots out and grabs my wrist, tugging me down on top of him.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he whispers as he breathes in my hair and presses a soft kiss to the top of my head.
My pulse quickens at the intimacy of it, the way he holds me like I belong there. “Come on, we’re all awake. It’s time for breakfast and coffee,” I say, grabbing his hand and pulling him up off the couch with me.
I settle at the small rectangular table across from Cade and next to Malachi, the seating arrangement feeling both natural and charged with unspoken tension. Aurora places a steaming mug of coffee in front of each of us, the rich aroma filling the kitchen.
She takes her seat next to Cade, completing our little circle, and we all start loading our plates with the fluffy Goldenscram. The synthetic eggs are surprisingly good—light and buttery with none of the chalky texture I was expecting after Aurora’s protein wafer horror stories.
I grab a piece of toast and spread some dark-purple jamacross it. I don’t know what fruit it’s made from and honestly don’t care because I’m absolutely starving. The jam has a sweet, berrylike flavor that makes my taste buds sing after days of barely eating.
I devour the entire piece and all of my eggs before I even take a sip of my coffee, eating with the kind of desperate hunger that comes from surviving chaos. Only once my stomach starts to feel satisfied and the gnawing emptiness begins to fade do I venture to speak.
“Now that we’re all refreshed and together, I’d like to discuss something important.”
The atmosphere at the table shifts instantly. Malachi turns his head toward me, his brown eyes alert and curious. Aurora gives me an encouraging nod before strategically burying her face in her coffee mug, trying to look invisible. Cade’s eyes narrow with suspicion, his fork pausing halfway to his mouth.
This is going to be great.
Chapter Eleven
LOG ELEVEN – REFUSED SEDATION: THE SERUM DIDN’T TAKE. SHE TOLD US IT WOULDN’T BEFORE WE TRIED.
“Malachi,there’s something we need to share with you, and I’ve assured Aurora and Cade that we can trust you.”
Malachi’s expression hardens, his coffee mug freezing halfway to his lips. I can see the wheels turning in his head, analyzing what kind of secret could require this kind of formal announcement.
“Kitty Kat, are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Cade says in a mocking singsong voice from across the table, challenging me.
“Don’t call her that,” Malachi barks, his entire body going rigid. “It may have been cute when you were kids, but she’s a grown woman now—my woman—and I don’t want you calling her pet names, for fuck’s sake.”
I swallow hard, my stomach dropping as I realize this is already spiraling down a dangerous path. The testosterone in the room is making it hard to breathe, and we haven’t even gotten to the actual revelation yet.
“Hey, hey,” Aurora jumps in quickly. “We’re still at the breakfast table. Let’s all play nice, boys.”
I silently thank her for the intervention, shooting her a grateful look across the table.
“You guys rekindled this friendship what, a day ago, and already you have inside secrets?” Malachi’s says, his gaze flashing between Cade and me.
Cade’s lips start to tip up on one side like he’s enjoying the drama way too much. “Careful, Mal, you’re starting to sound jealous. One might think you don’t feel secure in your relationship,” Cade purrs, deliberately baiting.
I slam my hands down on the table hard enough to make all the coffee mugs jump and rattle against their plates. “That is ENOUGH from both of you,” I say, getting to my feet.
Aurora’s eyes are wide as saucers, but she’s smiling, and both men look like I slapped them.
“You are my friend, truly, Cade. I will always care about you, and I am so beyond happy you’re alive and okay. I’m humbled you were searching for me all these years. I cannot tell you what it means to have you back in my life again. Suffice it to say, it means everything.”
There’s a look of complete bewilderment on his face. It’s probably because I’m yelling, but I need them to stop tearing each other apart so we can actually trust each other and work together.
“And YOU.” I whirl to face Malachi. “There’s no need to be jealous of Cade because I’m clearly madly in love with you. So get your head in the game and start working with us, not against us, because thereisan us here. Cade and Aurora will always be on my team, so if you’re going to be in my life, then you need to get over it and step up.”
Heat rushes to my face. Did I really declare my love for him for the first time while standing and yelling across a breakfast table, scolding everyone worse than my elementary school teacher used to do?
Yes, Kat, you did.
I slowly lower myself back into my chair, feeling the weight of everyone’s stares. Aurora’s smile widens across the table, and she mouthsNice. I close my eyes briefly, feeling equal parts empowered and ridiculous.
