“What the fuck was that?” Her voice was shaking.
A smiling Theo answered her plea. “It looks like more of your powers are manifesting. This one, in particular, pertains to enhanced reactions, particularly involving speed and reactionary time.”
“You’re saying I have super speed?” Nix’s voice rose in pitch towards the end of her question.
“Yeah, babe. That’s what Theo’s saying.” She turned to look at me as I spoke. Her deep brown eyes had flecks of gold in them as her Phoenix shone through, alluding to her power and presence. It was a damn beautiful sight, and I felt my Puca pushing his luminescent green into my eyes as he tried to connect with her alternate form. He wanted to see her shifted and he wanted to shift for her too. He wanted to meet her Phoenix. Me? I wanted to put off my shift for as long as possible. What the hell would Nix think of me—of us? My Puca growled, berating me for thinking little of his preferred form.
My Puca calmed as she grinned, the lightness of her tone when she spoke easing all of us in the room. “So you’re saying I’m like the Flash?”
“You see, that’s why I love this girl. She knows her superheroes.” Ryder plopped down on the couch on her other side, throwing his arm around her shoulders. I watched as she tensed again, and growled at the Ceraptor for making her uncomfortable. Taking a deep breath, she relaxed on the exhale. I was proud of her for trying so hard to overcome her triggers and aversion to touch. It hadn’t escaped my notice that she was more comfortable around us when we moved slowly and didn’t startle her. I’d have to have a conversation with the Unicorn about how he handled her. I threw the name at Ryder mentally, willing Damien to pass along the message. I knew the Gargoyle had done me a solid when Ryder arched his brow at me, pulling a face.
“Well, we’ll need to run some tests to see how far you can push yourself, and we may want to start a training program to help you hone your skills—we should do that for your fire powers as well—but, essentially, yes. It’s not uncommon for abilities to appear after your shift, but you’re a unique case since you didn’t shift until you were eighteen. Most shifters get their powers young and use their schooling in the shifter communities to learn how to harness and control them. You’re experiencing everything so late that it’s hard to know what powers will manifest and when.” I hummed in agreement with everything Theo had just said.
“More blood work?” The way Nix scrunched up her cute nose was telling. I didn’t think she liked needles.
“We’ll make it as painless as possible.” Ryder squeezed her shoulder.
“You’ll be stronger in your shifted form, too. It would be good to get you out as soon as it’s safe so you can start practicing your shift and testing your powers.” She smiled at Damien as he mentioned her alternate form, and I could tell she was excited about the prospect of shifting again. I’m sure her Phoenix was pushing to get out and spread her wings.
“Well, since we can’t do that tonight, I think we should get on with the ass kicking. That would be me… kicking your asses!” She stood and turned around, narrowing her eyes on Hiro. “No cheating this time!”
A gentle smile crossed his lips as he leaned toward her. “Then you shouldn’t be allowed to play because everything about you, including the way you move, is distracting.”
Holy fuck. I watched in apt fascination as a light blush worked its way into her golden cheeks. I wanted to see her look this way all the time. Walking past her on my way to the couch I leaned in, careful not to brush against her just in case she startled, and whispered, “He’s right, you are, but we fucking love it and wouldn’t change a thing about you.”
Hums of approval joined my statement, and I saw a small grin grace Nix’s lips. Passing me the spinner, she redid her hair, fastening it into a high ponytail, and I watched as she wrapped the rubber band around her mass of black hair.
I ached to run my fingers through it again, and I wondered if we could convince her to watch a movie after our tournament ended.
“Alright gentlemen, shall we?” She motioned to the board.
“Wait, there are four of us this time.” Ryder ran into the room and got to work pushing the two boards together and securing them so they wouldn’t come apart. “There. That should give us enough room for all four of us to play.”
The four of them stepped onto the board and moved effortlessly through the first few moves. They were barely tangled together, but everyone was in a hilarious position. I couldn’t take my eyes off Nix’s ass as she was bent over. Three more moves and suddenly Nix was partially under Damien. The heat in his eyes told me he liked where the game was heading, although the mental link was suspiciously closed.
“Left leg red.” Nix scrambled to reach the closest red circle before Damien could claim it. The position opened her legs under him, and I watched as the circle he found to complete the move caused his leg to bend right into her center. Sly move, Gargoyle.
A small, high pitched hum left Nix’s throat as Damien growled softly. She tried to hold still, and I purposely left a few extra beats before calling the next color. I wasn’t sure if the Gargoyle would thank me or kill me later.
“Right leg yellow.” I watched in amusement as Damien and Nix maneuvered around each other, his leg brushing against her as he shifted. I almost choked on air when I saw her hips flex into his thigh as she purposefully sought friction.
Two more moves and Damien’s torture was over, but Ryder’s and Theo’s was just beginning. The moves had brought them right up to Nix, one on either side of her with their heads practically in her lap as they twisted into each other.
“Damn, but you smell amazing.” Ryder’s voice was full of want as he scented her pheromones and arousal. I growled in both excitement and jealousy. Damien must have gotten her worked up with the light touches.
When the next move was called, I caught the barely perceptible narrowing of her eyes, and her lips twitched as she tried to school her features. Everyone else seemed to miss it.
“Left foot green,” I called out with too much enthusiasm as I spied Nix’s next move. While Theo ended up in a backward crab walk position, Nix swung her leg over his head, effectively straddling him with a leg on each side of his face.
“Oh fuck.” The Ceraptor’s curse was long and drawn out as he watched from next to the couple.
“Nix.” Theo’s voice was strangled.
“Oh, hey there, water boy! I didn’t notice you down there. Come here often?”
The Kraken groaned as he breathed in deeply. “I’d like to.”
Ryder coughed to cover up his startled laugh.
“I don’t think you know what you’ve done.” The tone of Theo’s voice was deeper and almost challenging.
“Oh, I think I do.” The triumph in her voice was unmistakable.
“You underestimate me, little one.” He nipped at her inner thigh, and I almost flew up off the couch as I waited to see how she would respond. I wasn’t sure if I would be rushing to bash our fearless leader into next week for taking liberties or if I would be stepping closer, trying to scent her myself. Her small gasp made me take my seat again and scramble for a pillow to cover myself. This game was getting way to fucking heated. As soon as he had that small affirmation, Theo continued, “I’m dying to have a taste of you.” This time when he nipped her, it was over the center seam of her jeans, right at the heat of her core. Nix moaned, and I watched as she hung her head, trying to compose herself. The noise she made set me on fire.
Glancing at Hiro, I saw him white knuckling the couch as he watched the intimate scene in front of us and I smirked, shaking my head. Our girl had us all wrapped up. The Fox liked to pretend he was in control, but truly? It was Nix.