As the guys plated their food, I tried to get out from under my anger. If I let it fester, I’d be a bitter person, and I refused to give Michael another inch.
As we sat down, the guys all hummed in appreciation. “Nix, I can’t believe you did all of this.” Damien beamed at me, eggs, sausage, and his protein smoothie sitting in front of him. Ryder had piled waffles on top of each other, slathered in butter and confectioners sugar, and he looked like he was in heaven. Theo had a waffle on his plate, topped with syrup while Hiro had a heaping plate of eggs and sausage. I filled my crepes with the coveted filling and settled in to eat content to have most of the guys around me. Now if Killian would just hurry his butt home, it would feel complete. Taking a bit of my breakfast, I savored the sweet filling and felt my face warm as I thought of all the trouble it had already gotten me in this morning. The very best kind of trouble.
Fifteen
Nix
Eating and bantering back and forth about the game the night before, I blushed a rosy color as they teased me. Ryder was animated replaying a critical move when a knock sounded at the front door, interrupting his show. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate timing—I couldn’t decide.
The molten heat in Hiro’s eyes was blazing as he stood to answer the door. The look he sent me before he turned toward the entryway held promises of more fun times like the night prior.
I had just focused on breakfast again when I heard Hiro curse from the entryway.
The mental link flew open as everyone started communicating silently.
NIX! Upstairs, NOW! The fact that Damien was yelling in my head had me instantly on alert. Oh shit! It had to be Michael! But wait… Michael would never just waltz up to the front door and knock. It wasn’t his method. Then again… I hadn’t pictured him using a gun either… so my judgment couldn’t really be trusted.
What I did know was that I trusted the guys with my life. I dropped everything on the table and raced up the stairs with Ryder and Theo on my tail. Turning when I reached the landing, I couldn’t help but watch the way they moved as they bounded up the steps. Damn, but they were sexy. Not the time, Nix, I tried to scold myself and focus on their rush to get out of sight. Someone was here, and it was someone they didn’t want me to meet.
“Who is it?” I whispered as Theo took my arm and ushered me to my room. The way he grabbed me had my heart racing, and I tried to hold off a flashback of my foster brother grabbing me in a similar way as he forced me into his room. The situation had me struggling against Theo as tears threatened behind my eyes.
“Theo! Let go of her. You’re making her upset!” Ryder stepped up just as Theo looked down into my panicked face.
“God, Nix. I’m so sorry.” He let go of me. “Bloody hell. I’m sorry.” He backed away, leaving me to Ryder as he descended the stairs looking frazzled.
“Are you alright?” Ryder lifted his arm like he wanted to touch me, but decided to keep it to himself, for which I was grateful.
Swallowing back my tears, I nodded and tried to ground myself in the present. I was with the guys. I was safe. At least, I thought I was.
“Who’s at the door?” I tried to loosen my throat to get the words out.
My grandfather. Damien answered my question silently.
“Is that bad?” I wasn’t grasping why they were all freaking out.
Gently, Ryder reached for my hand and pulled me into his room, shutting the door quietly behind us.
“He’s a shifter, Nix. If he sees you, he’ll have to report you to the Council. He’s very old school in his beliefs, being a retired council member himself, and he won’t hesitate to bring you before the Council.” He paused, trying to tune into the conversation downstairs. “It might already be too late.” His grip on my hand tightened as my stomach dropped. I knew staying hidden forever wasn’t in my cards, but this was all happening much faster than I had anticipated.
He knows. It was Hiro this time.
I closed my eyes and focused, willing my Phoenix to help me hear and praying extended range was within the realm of my powers. I wanted to fist pump when I heard—albeit quiet—voices floating from the entryway.
“Aren’t you going to let me in?” The unfamiliar, older voice asked. “Very rude, you know, to keep your elders waiting.”
“Of course.” I could hear the clipped edge in Damien’s tone.
A soft shuffling and the man spoke again. “Who is the girl, Damien?” The grandfather asked a little gruffly. Well he sure didn’t waste any time. I decided I definitely didn’t want to meet him, even if he was Damien’s blood relative.
“She’s a friend.”
“And a shifter.” The grandfather paused before I heard his voice again, “A strong one.”
“A mythological.” Damien confirmed, and I gritted my teeth. Was he going to give me away?
“I’ve never smelled a scent quite like it.” The man was inquisitive.
“What brings you by, grandpa?” I took a breath. He was trying to get the conversation off of me.
Thank you. I sent the message to Damien and then tensed. Oh shit! Could Damien’s grandfather hear my thoughts? Hell, I wasn’t even sure if it worked that way. I knew Damien could hear the guys and now me. Could he hear other people if he tried? I wasn’t sure because he didn’t hear me until I shifted. Could he only hear shifters or had he just been protecting my privacy when I was still “human”?
He can explain the ins and outs later. Right now, I’d suggest throwing up your wall. He’s suspicious, and I’m not sure the extent of his psychic abilities. It was Theo in my head.
My Phoenix squawked in my mind, just as uneager to be outed to the Council as I was. We worked in tandem to erect my mental wall, and I felt her checking for any cracks as I turned my attention back to listening. It was harder to hear now that I was multitasking my powers. I came in on the middle of their conversation.
“He’s just worried about you and the boys. It’s unlike you to be away for so long. Although, I’m starting to get a clearer picture of what might be going on here.”
“They need to realize I’m an adult. I belong to my own group. I’m no longer under their wings.”
“Yes. I know that, and I’m sure they do as well.” I could barely make out the man’s weary sigh. “The girl, Damien. Her scent is all over the house, as is yours and your brothers. You’re delusional if you think you can hide this from me. I see why you haven’t been back to visit your parents or update the Council; she smells quite alluring.” I scrunched up my nose. Yuck, it was almost akin to be checked out by an old dude. The creep factor had me skeeved out, especially because the man was closely related with Damien.
“Grandpa!” Warning filled the exasperated endearment.
Chuckling, the old man replied, “I felt the same way about your grandmother, god rest her soul, as you probably do about this one. However,” everything about his speech hardened, “ I was not born yesterday. I know everyone, as you well know, and I cannot place her creature. She’s a strong mythological, if I’m not mistaken. Smokey… almost dragon-like, but that’s not it.” Footsteps echoed lightly across the wooden floor as he began pacing. Lowering my wall slightly, I could pick up on the tension from the silent Hiro and Theo. Fuck.
“She’s new to the area.” Hiro inserted, coming to my defense and trying to throw the old man off his scent.
“Ah, and which community does she hail from?” I heard a soft rustling and thought someone may have taken a seat.
I didn’t want Damien or the others to have to lie for me. Especially to a close family member. Lowering my wall, I sighed. Just tell him. If I’m going to be found out, I’d rather do it on our terms.
I didn’t know what to expect from the Council, but the last thing I wanted was several dangerous mythological shifters to show up and drag me away from the guys. No, if I was going to be outed, I was going to take control of the situation myself.