by Kirk, A
“Why, what is it?” I asked.
“It’s a replica of an umbra stone.” Blake held it up and rotated it. Sparkling freckles of sunlight caught in the facets and winked across my bedroom walls.
Tristan looked wary. “I thought the stone was just a myth.”
“No, it’s real,” Blake said. “Hunters with Earth powers know all about them. Because we deal a lot with minerals, gems, and if we find one, we’re supposed to protect it with our life and get it to the High Council immediately.”
Jayden paled. “Blake, give it back.” He tried to grab the ring but the big guy just lifted his hand out of reach.
“Keep away!” Blake grinned. “Babe, catch!”
I heard Jayden, Tristan, and Logan yelling “No!” Even Helsing let out a warning yowl. But of course I caught the stone. It was a reflex.
And a big mistake.
Which I realized almost immediately because the stone’s energy stoked up from my hand and into my arm, filled my chest. I could cover that up, but the bright glow radiated from my palm, beams shot out. I might as well have been trying to contain a star.
I dropped the stone, but it was too late. It rolled on the carpet, streaks of light bathing the bedroom walls.
“Uh...” I breathed. This was going to be tough to explain.
“You?” Blake’s eyes went huge and ping-ponged between the stone on the floor and me. “You’re the Divincus Nex?”
I screeched, “What? No!” How the heck had Blake, of all people, made that leap?
Blake cradled his head in his hands. “But—it can’t—you can’t—” He spun once, then came back to point at me. “I knew it!” His gaze bounced excitedly to each of the boys. “Jayden was right. It’s her! She’s a girl. The Divinicus Nex is a girl! It’s Aurora!”
When Blake reached for the ring on the floor, Logan, Tristan, and Jayden launched their attack.
Chapter Ninety-Four
Since it didn’t seem prudent to wade into a Hex Boy brawl at any time, let alone when wearing only a towel, I stood on the sidelines and watched them wrestle on the floor. Between grunts and curses, I gathered information.
“So an umbra stone activates, or glows, only when a Divinicus touches it?” I said.
Jayden sat on the back of Blake’s thigh, grabbed his ankle, and bent it back. “Correct. Which is how he ascertained your Divinicus identity.”
“Tag, babe,” Blake muffled from under the pile. “You’re it. Guys, let me up. I’m not going to turn her in. I think it’s cool having the Divinicus as my girlfriend.”
I rubbed my fingers together, remembering the feel of the pulsating force of the stone. “Blake, you sure you don’t know what the stone does?”
Blake shrugged his torso and, sitting on his back, both Logan and Tristan lurched up like they were riding a bucking bronco.
“Sorry, babe. Like I said, they don’t tell us much other than to get it to the High Council asap because the Divinicus uses it for some sort of extra demon-tracking powers. It’s all pretty hush-hush.”
My brow creased. “Eros said it would give me great power and help find the stone I need because they’re similar. Have a connection.”
The door opened. We all froze.
“Mom, this isn’t what it looks like.”
Mom put her hand on her hip. “It looks like a group of boys wrestling on the floor of your bedroom while you watch. Wearing a towel.”
“Okay,” I admitted, “it is what it looks like, but it’s not—”
“Sexual?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Mom!”
Luna stuck her head under Mom’s arm and sucked in a breath. “She’s gone from a love triangle to a kinky sex pentagon.”
Blake lifted his head. “Vote for Team Blake!”
Mom rolled her eyes. “Boys, vacate. Now. Aurora get dressed. And everybody head downstairs. Breakfast is on. I made quiche. There’s plenty for all.”
“First edible breakfast in weeks,” Luna said.
Blake smacked his lips. “Yum!”
Mom checked behind the door. “Ayden’s not here, is he?” I shook my head. “Then there’s no lust factor. Although, your father may not be as easy going as I am. So, gentlemen, get out.”
As she left, Mom dragged Luna away with her.
Blake shook off the other boys and stood. “That’s offensive. I’m a very lustful guy.”
“And a big blabbermouth.” Logan whacked the back of Blake’s head. “But remember you can’t tell—”
“Ayden!” Blake shouted.
“Right,” Tristan said, “or —”
“No, it’s…” Wide-eyed, Blake jerked his chin toward my door.
Our heads swiveled.
Ayden filled the doorway, leaning against the frame, arms folded. “What can’t you tell me?”
He arched one eyebrow awaiting a reply. The silence seemed ready to explode.
Ayden zeroed in on Blake. “Come on, Weak Link, give it up.”
Blake blurted out, “Jayden was in the shower with Aurora!”
I choked. “What!”
“You idiot!” Logan thumped Blake repeatedly.
“Technically, that’s true.” Jayden said. “But only once.”
Ayden’s arms dropped. Along with his jaw.
Tristan jumped up and shoved Jayden’s shoulder. “Shut up!”
I tugged the towel tighter. “Ayden, that didn’t happen. Exactly. Guys, he already knows the Divinicus thing.”
“Oh, good.” Blake was relieved. “Secrets? Not my thing.”
“No kidding,” I said.
“You told Blake before me?” Ayden said. “Unbelievable.”
Blake raised his brows. “What’s that supposed to mean?"
I held up my hand. “I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Oh, my God! Why are you in a towel?” Ayden sprang forward and ripped off his leather jacket. One hand got caught in the sleeve, and he whipped his arm up and down trying to dislodge it. Finally free, the jacket slapped to the ground. Ayden snapped it up and practically dove in front of me in his haste to drape it over my chest and shoulders.
“Are you okay?” I said. “Don’t hurt yourself. The chest wounds could open up.”
“I’m fine.” Ayden narrowed unpleasant looks over his shoulder as he tightened his arms around me, holding the jacket in place. “Why are you guys here? You shouldn’t be here.” He led us both in an awkward sidestep to my closet. “Take your time. Get clothes on. Lots of them.”
He shoved me inside and closed the door. In the pitch, dark I reached for the light switch, but the door opened again.
“Sorry.” Ayden’s hand slid in, groping for the switch, found it, and flipped it on. “Don’t come out until…lots and lots of clothes.”
As I dressed, I heard the strain in his voice.
“A shower? What the freakin’ hell, Jayden?”
“Not like that,” Tristan said. “It was his usual shower surprise routine.”
“On Aurora! On a girl! Mom and Dad will kill you if they find out.”
“I’ve already been apprised of my error.”
“If I don’t kill you first.”
“Whoa, Fireboy. Calm down.”
“Blake, let me go.”
“Maybe if you stop smoking.”
“Yeah,” Logan said, “you’re about to light up.”
“I’m about to light into all of you!”
“Ayden!” I exited the closet, giving my shirt a final pull over my hips and sprinted over to my bedroom door. “They’re right. Calm down. You’re going to have my whole family in here if you don’t quiet dow— Ugh!”
The door burst open with enough force to throw me back against the wall.
Chapter Ninety-Five
Matthias flew into the room.
“Aurora?!” He stopped to look at the crowd. “You’re here already? Good. All hands on deck. Where’s Aurora?”
“Here.” I pushed off the wall.
“Bugger!” Startled
, Matthias jerked around then scowled. “Quit playing games. This is serious.”
The Aussie stomped over to my dresser and started emptying drawers into a black duffle bag slung over his shoulder. The rest of us stared at each other, bewildered. Helsing, still on the dresser, arched his back and hissed.
“Shut up, cat. The rest of you, don’t just stand there, help!” Matthias ordered as he continued his frantic assault on my wardrobe. “We’ve got to get out of here. Now!”
I marched over, snatched my bra out of his hands, and shoved it back in the drawer. Something pinged onto the floor.
“Is that a projectile from a firearm?” Jayden said.
Tristan paled. “Why do you have a bullet in your br—clothes?”
“Because babe is awesome.”
Couldn’t agree with him more. “I’ll tell you later.”
Before I could retrieve the bullet off the floor, Helsing jumped down, grabbed it in his mouth, and raced to tuck it under the purple pillow in his bed, where he also kept Gloria’s feathers. Then he crouched, glowering, as if daring any of us to take it away.
Great. My cat was a hoarder.
I turned to Matthias. “What’s your problem?”
“You talked to my dad.” He said it as if I’d given U.S. nuclear passcodes to North Korea.
“You’re still mad about that? I didn’t give anything away!”
Ayden’s gaze jerked to me. “When did you talk to his dad?”
“Yesterday. At their house.”
Tristan groaned. “What did you tell him?”
“She lied!” Matthias’s eyes were pale and wild as he kept wadding my clothes into the bag. “You lied to my dad!”
“What? I didn’t lie.”
“You must have.” Matthias was breathless.
I smirked. “Well, maybe about you being charming.”
All the boys went immediately still. Matthias shot me a sub-zero look.
“You told him I was charming? Are you an idiot?! Never mind.” He jabbed a sharp finger at me. “Stupid question. Stupid girl. Stupid, stupid, stupid!”
I smiled grimly. “And there’s the Matthias I’ve come to know and loath. You’re being ridiculous. I’m not going to tell your dad that I think you’re the biggest jerk on the planet.”
“Yes!” Matthias was back scooping up clothes. “That’s exactly what you tell him because it’s the truth.”
The rest of the boys muttered agreement.
“Oh, come on,” I said, exasperated. “That’s just mean. No parent wants to hear that about their kid. Even if it’s true. I like the sheriff. He actually is charming.”
“So tell him he’s charming. Because it’s the truth. And you always tell my dad the truth, or you don’t tell my dad anything at all.”
“Relax, dude,” Blake said. “Just because he knows babe lied to him doesn’t mean—”
“No!” Matthias cut in, frantic. “He doesn’t know. That’s the problem. I mean he does but…he doesn’t.”
“Oh, no.” Ayden rubbed a palm across his face. “Are you saying that he couldn’t tell she was lying?”
Matthias looked ill. “Bingo, mate.”
“Oh, no,” Tristan murmured. “This is bad.”
“What’s the big deal? Would you stop?” I yanked my bra away from Matthias again.
“No.” Matthias grabbed it back. “Because you have to get out of town. Out of the country!”
“Why?” I stole the bra again and stuffed it in the drawer.
“His dad’s a human lie detector,” Ayden said. “That’s his power.”
“Fascinating!” Jayden was almost gleeful. “Yet another one you’re immune to, so it seems. Like Tristan’s hallucinating. And you can hold Matthias’s whips. Perhaps you should try to drown me.”
I looked at him. “Are you crazy? Next you’ll want me to suffocate Logan!”
“Excellent,” Jayden smiled. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“What?” Logan backed away.
I shook my head. “I don’t get the problem with the sheriff.”
“Stupid!” Matthias said. My bra was back in his grip, flinging back and forth.
Ayden sighed. “The thing is the sheriff knows you don’t think Matthias is charming so he knows you lied. Normally, that wouldn’t be a problem, but in this case it is because when people are lying, he gets a reading from his ability—a sense, vibe, whatever you want to call it—that tells him it’s a lie. But, apparently, when you lied his power didn’t kick in. You’re—”
“Immune,” I said quietly.
“And no one’s ever been immune! Now my dad’s asking questions. Questions I can’t lie my way out of. He knows we’re hiding something. He’s coming here to interrogate her. And us. Not good. We all have to disappear, mates. Pack your bags!”
“Calm down,” Ayden said. “Let’s think this through.”
“And stop grabbing my bra.”
“Huh?” Matthias looked down at the lingerie in his hands. His eyes bugged. “Ahhh!” He tossed it in the air and vigorously wiped his palms.
Blake caught the under garment. “Oh, yeah.”
“Blake!” we all yelled.
“Give it back!” Ayden reached for it, but at the last minute pushed a hand through his hair and looked away. “To Aurora.”
Tristan stared at the floor. Logan had his shirt pulled up to his forehead. Matthias kept wiping his hands on his jeans.
Blake held up my bra and studied it. “Babe, this is better than I dreamed. Lace is sexy.”
“Blake!” I snatched the bra, threw it into my closet. “I do not want to know what you dream about.”
“And stop dreaming about…any of that,” Ayden added.
I rounded on Matthias. “I can’t just disappear. My family would freak.”
Matthias paled. “Your family. What if they can lie too?”
Tristan swallowed hard, his skin looking greener the more the hysteria rose in his voice. “If your dad figures out we’ve got a Code Olympus, he’ll call in the whole Mandatum. They’ll take us all out of here. Put us in the Sicarius.” He spared a panicked look at me. “Aurora in some lab.”
“That’s not happening,” Ayden said darkly. “Everyone relax.”
“Let’s relax after we get the tracker while everyone’s downstairs for breakfast,” I told him as I grabbed my backpack and headed into the hall. These guys were seriously cramping my burglarizing style. “You can be my partner in crime. I’m calling it Operation Bonnie and Clyde.”
“Given that Bonnie and Clyde died brutally, I have grievous concerns about whatever this operation entails,” Jayden said.
So did I.
Chapter Ninety-Six
As I worked my tools on Aunt M’s bedroom doorknob, the guys clogged the hallway.
“You’re taking too long.”
“Shut up, Aussie,” I said, irritated because he was right. “You don’t have to be here for Operation Butch Cassidy and Sundance.”
“You’re such an idiot,” Matthias said. “They died in a hail of bullets. Which, if your aunt catches us, will happen to us too. Besides, this isn’t a mission. Not that we name them anyway.”
“D.B. Cooper?” I said.
Lucian came around the corner from the stairway and said, “Missing and presumed splattered on some mountain top.” He grinned. “What kind of mission are you guys on?”
“Heyyy, brrrooo.” I stretched out the words to give myself time for a brilliant cover story. Then the lock pick set clattered to the floor so I went with, “This isn’t what it looks like.”
Lucian folded his arms and stared us down. “Looks like you’re breaking into M’s room to find something she doesn’t want you to have.”
I made a mental note to never use that line with my family again.
“Tell you what,” Lucian said. “Promise you’ll look for my nineteen eight-three Nintendo Entertainment System and I’ll cover for you.”
Tristan’s jaw dropped. “That’s a colle
ctible.”
“Why do you think I’m freaking out she took it? But you’ll have to hurry. Mom sent me to get you guys for breakfast.” He hustled downstairs.
Ayden put the fallen tools into my backpack and said, “Blake.” The big guy twirled a finger, there was a click, and Aunt M’s door swung open.
Show off.
At first glance, nothing in the room jumped out as an obvious hiding spot because it didn’t look like anyone lived there. Set between two windows, the bed was made to military perfection, there were no clothes left out, no dust on the end tables. No suitcase. No sign of M.
“You sure she’s staying here?” Blake asked.
“We’ve only got one guest room, not dozens like you, Mr. Native American Real Estate Tycoon.”
“Hey,” Blake protested. “That’s Mr. Swarthy Native American real estate tycoon to you. And for the record, our house only has one. The cabins are for the dude ranch tourists.”
“And any hunters passing through,” Tristan added. “But Blake’s right. Maybe she moved into the garage.”
I opened the closet to show them her signature blouses, skirts, and blazers pressed and hung in neat order. “She just likes to leave a minimal footprint.”
We got busy scouring the room, but after a several minutes of searching, other than a couple of cool flash drives with tiny password keypads on one side and labeled “CLASSIFIED” on the other, we came up empty. Blake had completely given up, choosing to sit cross-legged on the floor, eyes closed like he was meditating. Incredibly helpful.
“Got it.” Logan crawled out from under the bed, but my excitement died when I saw he held only Lucian’s prize gaming toy.
Someone opened the door. I jumped.
“Time’s up,” Lucian said, then beamed. “You found it!”
Glad someone was happy.
“Bloody failure of a mission. Let’s go.” As Matthias moved past a window, his body suddenly jerked in spastic contortions just before he squealed like a girl and dropped to the floor.
“We’re dead!”
Chapter Ninety-Seven
Through the window facing the street, I caught a glimpse of a sheriff’s squad car before Matthias yanked my ankles out from under me.