What Wesley said made sense, but I was fixating on that small motion River had made to dodge contact with me.
“I would never heal you against your wishes, Alpha.” I frowned, feeling just a little insulted. “I get that I’m new to this whole magic thing, but I’m not going to just run around shoving it down people’s throats uninvited. You don’t have to avoid touching me.”
“I’m sorry, Kitten,” River apologized. “I didn’t think you would; you’re just so quick to help other people. But I really am fine. It’s not the first time I’ve broken my arm.”
“You’re worried about what it’ll do to you, aren’t you?” I pressed, wanting to understand why he wanted to be in pain when I was capable of healing him. “You’re worried that if I mend the break in your arm that you’ll be the next one to turn scaly, right?”
River’s mouth tightened, his only tell that he wasn’t as calm and collected as he was portraying, and I knew I’d hit the nail on the head.
“Look, I don’t know exactly how this magic works, but I don’t feel like a little healing, like mending your arm, would be enough to turn you into anything else.” I chewed the edge of my lip. “I just mean, with Cole and Vali, I had to spend a really solid amount of time healing them, and we still don’t know if it affected Caleb and Wes before I passed out. Did it?” I looked over to the blond boy sitting beside me at the table.
“Um.” Wesley swallowed his mouthful and took a sip of water before replying. “I’m not totally sure.”
“What do you mean?” I paused with food halfway to my mouth. Surely he would know by now?
“Well, just that. I’m not totally sure. It took Cole like, what, a day or so to start going scaly? So it could still be a while before we know if anything is different.” Wes gave me an apologetic sort of smile, pushing his glasses back up his nose. “But if there is anything, you know, different, well then, that’s okay.”
“Umm.” I was at a loss for words.
“I mean, I’m not going to be upset or anything. You seem really concerned that you’ve somehow doomed us, but that’s just not how I see it.” His gaze was steady, without a hint of dishonesty. “If you have chosen us all as your dianoch, not that I’m assuming you have, but if you have, then we will need to be changed sooner or later. Right? Otherwise we’re a liability to you. Also, I think there is way more to the Ban Dia bond with the dianoch that Vic didn’t let on about.”
“Like what?” River asked.
“Well, I don’t really know. But having bonded guardians as nothing more than a battery pack to recharge on? I don’t buy it. It’s too... simple. There must be more to it than that. Otherwise, why would the original Ban Dia have sought out the most physically and mentally capable men? Why not men they loved or cared for? Vic was very specific that they chose based on physical attributes, which leads me to think there is more to it than pure energy transfer.” Wesley blushed and ducked his head away from my surprised gaze. “But that’s just a working theory.”
“It’s a good working theory,” Cole murmured in his quiet, smoky voice.
“Keep me updated if you come up with more,” River ordered, and Wesley nodded.
“So... Caleb?” I asked after finishing my own mouthful. One thing was for damn sure, Wesley and River could cook. My plate was empty already, and I was licking my fork.
“Not sure,” River frowned just the tiniest bit. “But I have no doubt we will find out sooner or later. So long as he doesn’t get himself into any trouble.”
“Again,” Cole added, and I cocked my head in question. “Story for another day, Vixen. You done?” He reached out and took my empty plate from me, taking them through to the kitchen to stack in the dishwasher.
Holy hotness. How did I end up with guys who could cook and clean?
“How are you feeling, anyway?” River turned his attention back to me. “You seriously drained yourself after the accident, but you look like you’re back to normal?”
My cheeks flushed with heat, and I bit my lip, not shying away from his gaze. “Uh-huh. Wesley and Caleb were very helpful.”
From beside me, I heard Wesley choke on his water and splutter a little.
“You okay?” I asked, concerned as hell but also trying not to laugh. Messing with Wesley was going to be fun.
“Yup.” He nodded frantically, a bit red in the face from coughing. “I need to check some things...” he trailed off and disappeared into one of the bedrooms.
“Naughty, Kitten. Playing with our Crow like that,” River tsked, giving me a wicked sort of half smile.
“He’s fun to play with.” I grinned broadly. “In more ways than one.” I winked at River, knowing perfectly well how comfortable he was with sharing me. Out of all of the guys, he was the one I felt most comfortable around when it came to mentioning my liaisons with his other team members. Probably because I knew how turned on he’d be to watch. And participate.
“You’re going to want to stop with those sexy looks, love. As much as I’d like to give you another lesson in following orders, I had another activity in mind for this evening.” He glanced over my shoulder. “For you too, Drake.”
“This sounds interesting.” Cole nodded, hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his sweatpants and causing them to ride down a fraction lower. Sweet mother of—
“Tactical?” Cole asked the handsome Brit.
“Stealth,” River replied, and a decidedly evil smile spread over Cole’s face.
“So, we get to see our Fox in her element, huh?” Cole rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “This should be fun. Back in a sec.”
As he padded out of the room as well, I frowned in confusion at River. “We’re stealing something?”
It could be the only thing they meant, seeing as my alter ego, The Fox, was an internationally renowned thief extraordinaire.
“You are.” River stood from the table, and I followed suit. “Go change into whatever The Fox would wear on a job, but be quick. This one is time sensitive.” He checked his expensive-looking silver watch, which he’d moved to his right arm, seeing as the left was in plaster.
“Any more info?” I asked, curious as all hell and buzzing with excitement.
“Nope,” he smirked. “Wait, one more thing.” He reached out and tugged me to him with his good hand. “That little show earlier? There will be consequences, you can count on that.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” I grinned, then rose up on my toes to plant a kiss on his lush lips before heading off to get changed.
Excitement surged through me like flood waters, and I couldn’t decide if it was because we were going to steal something or for the consequences River was promising for later.
8