House of Royale (Secret Keepers #4)(25)

He laughed, the sound loud and jolting after our intimate whispering.

“Is that a challenge, Avalon? Because I have to tell you, I never refuse a challenge.”

Was it a challenge? Did I want to explore this sexual need I felt for Xander? Would there be a possibility I would fall for him though? I didn’t want to get my feeling hurt and somehow destroy the group dynamic…

“Who’s scared now?” he taunted, and my spine went straight.

“You’re on,” I blurted out. “I’m game for a sexual relationship, no strings attached. If you think you can handle it with no hard feelings, then I’m in.”

He leaned in closer. “Oh, there is going to be a lot of hard. But it won’t be my feelings.”

I tried not to laugh. His arrogance was almost endearing.

“We need some ground rules though,” he continued.

I agreed with that, so I nodded. “Okay, let’s think on the rules and then we can discuss them later.”

Somewhere a little more private.

He nodded as well. “Agreed. Although, I can tell you my first one right now. No mentioning this to anyone else. I do not need our friends trying to matchmake us. I had enough of that before we even found you.”

I could see why they would. The six of them were so happily teamed up, they would have expected the same from Xander and me. But Royales were different. This sort of deal would suit both of us better.

My pulse was racing as we settled back together, energy dancing along my skin even though I wasn’t actually touching Xander. But he was close. And all I could think about was sex.

The cabin dropped a little and I realized Xander had distracted me so well that we were almost landed. Looking around, I noticed that Callie and Daniel were absent, which meant Callie hadn’t left the bedroom. Worry replaced the sex thoughts. I mentally started urging the plane on.

She had to be okay. There was no other option. I would not find this new family only to have one of them stolen away from me.

“She’s going to be fine,” Xander reassured me, facing the same direction I was, staring at the bedroom doors.

“I know,” I returned shortly. “She’s too tough to give up.”

I might not have known her long, but I already knew that about her.

She was a fighter.





9





It turned out that there was no need for any identification when you flew in an alien spac— I mean a private plane. We were ushered into two dark SUVs, and none of the officials who helped us blinked an eye. Not even when Daniel had to carry his semi-unconscious mate to get her off the plane.

Xander and Lexen were the drivers. I ended up in the back seat with Emma in the car behind Xander’s. We flew through the town. I barely even got a glimpse of the ocean and cute little houses, we were going at such speeds. I understood it though, and I wished Callie was in the car with us, because I wanted to check on her.

Panic was hovering at the edge of my mind. Emma was very pale, her eyes locked forward through the windshield. No one spoke. It was like we couldn’t until we knew that Callie was going to be fine. Lexen practically drifted around the corner, flying between two huge, ornate gates. We then raced along a fancy street. Near the end, we screeched to a halt and everyone was out in seconds.

“I’m taking her right through,” Daniel said without preamble. “When she’s recovered her energy, we’ll meet you at Darken.”

Callie’s body was limp, her head lolling against Daniel’s chest.

Lexen, Xander, and Chase just nodded and slapped their friend on the back. Daniel swiveled and ran, moving superfast. Within a few of my rapid heartbeats he was completely out of sight, disappearing down some green-covered lane.

“Holy shit,” Emma burst out, holding a hand to her chest. “I didn’t think we’d make it in time. But she’s fine, right? Unconscious is not dead….” Her eyes darted between us. “Right”

Lexen stepped to her, both of his hands cupping her face. She calmed as she stared up into his eyes. “She’s fine. Daniel will get her there in time. He will not let his mate go without a massive fight. Don’t forget he controls the underworld.”

Emma nodded as she swallowed roughly. “I know. But … he can’t control everything. Marsil still died. There is only so much Daniel can do.”

Lexen’s jaw tightened, his eyes almost glowing at the mention of his brother. “He could have saved Marsil, but nothing like that comes without a price. The same way he had to tie his soul to Callie’s to save her life, there would have been a price for Marsil as well. I know, without any doubt, my brother would not have wanted anyone to pay that for him.”

Lexen’s thumbs wiped away the tears trailing down Emma’s cheeks. I had to turn away because that moment was so intimate and sad. Holy shit. I actually felt like I might cry myself, and I never knew Marsil. Drifting a little further from them, I examined the beautiful street we were on. Surprisingly enough, I could still smell the ocean, so we had to be near water. It was probably behind all the mega mansions that lined one side of the street. Huge blocks of land. High privacy fences. This was definitely a street for rich aliens.

I walked along the asphalt until I reached the path. On the opposite side to the mansions, it looked like there were some small houses, and I was curious to see what they were like. It took me longer than I expected to reach their little section. They were grouped close together, their land a fraction of the size of the homes across the street from them.