Page 33

Severin brought their clasped hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

They found Mari sleeping peacefully inside the safe house, unaware of the danger creeping closer. He and Thana flowed into the main room before they materialized, fortifying the wards from the inside out.

“You go in and wake Mari. I don’t want to scare her by popping into her bedroom. As a male, she’d probably gut me just as quickly as she’d hug you.”

“Mmm, so bossy,” Thana whispered, licking her lips. Thana slipped into the adjoining bedroom, leaving him to stare outside at the male walking toward the door.

“Enzo, you got eyes on our target?”

“Yep. He’s alone from what I can tell. I can’t read his mind. You know that’s odd for me, Boss.” Enzo’s strongest ability is reading others’ thoughts. If he can’t read the delivery male, he must have strong walls. Interesting.

“I wonder if that runs in the family?” Severin muttered half to himself, but also through the link.

“What runs in the family?” Thana asked from the bedroom door.

Severin looked toward the outside, then back at his female. “A male is coming up the stairs. He’s...unusual, to say the least. We think he’s related to Mari.”

A gasp from behind Thana silenced them. “My brother?” Mari stepped around Thana. She pressed a hand to her throat.

“We don’t know that he’s safe, Mari. Don’t jump the gun.” Thana held out her arm in front of the younger girl.

Footsteps echoed in the corridor outside, audible only to their enhanced hearing, something most wouldn’t have noticed. Was the male an idiot, or did he not realize he was broadcasting his arrival to them?

“What is it?” Mari asked.

Two sharp raps interrupted them, buying Severin a little time before he needed to explain. Hell, he had no intention of telling anyone but Thana what was going through his head.

Uriel’s aura created a barrier between the male and them. The male’s gift was truly unique. “I like the way you think. It’s like the compass coming before the clock quote. You know, it’s not about the timing in which you’re moving in, but the direction. I’m like the compass. I’m always coming first.”

“Is that actually something to brag about, Bràthair?” Severin asked through their link.

Uriel flashed him an image of himself grabbing his junk and a middle finger with the other hand. Severin smiled and shook his head.

“What did you do?” Mari asked, jolting him out of his thoughts.

“Uriel created a boundary between the male at the door and us, giving us a chance to examine him more closely.” Severin waved a hand at the door.

Mari moved closer, halting as Severin growled. “Does your brother have remarkable mental abilities?”

“The last time I saw him, he didn’t have anything more than I did.” Mari’s words came out easily without a trace of untruth.

“Well, let’s let him in and see what he has to say.” Severin flicked his finger, and the locks clicked open.

Mari’s hand flew to her lips, but she didn’t make a sound. Thana stepped in front of the woman as Severin positioned himself between the entrance and Thana.

“He’s so protective of you. Doesn’t he know you can kick his ass?” Mari asked in a stage whisper.

“Oh, he knows,” said Thana.

“We’ll save our foreplay for later,” Severin said, repeating Mari's words.

“Ugh, gross. My brother’s ears and eyes are too young for it, too.”

With another flick of his finger, Severin opened the door, shocking the male standing on the other side. “Enter, boy.”

Wide, dark eyes stared at him for a brief second before the young man’s face settled into a stoic expression. “Where’s my sister?”

The hair on Severin’s arms stood up as the male spoke. It was as if he were trying to force an answer by sheer will. If he hadn’t been surprised, he’d have laughed. “Your tricks won’t work on me, kid. I’ve had many beings try. They found out the hard way what happens when the backlash hits them.”