LAILAH
TWENTY-ONE
Islept the rest of the day and halfway through the next.
Whenever I woke up, I was surrounded by my guys, nestled in the middle of them keeping me warm.
There was something about this that just seemed to heal more than just my dip in the pond; it was as if this is where I’d belonged my whole life and I was catching up on the years I’d missed.
Cami came to check on us from time to time, bringing me piping hot cups of chai tea, but my wakefulness didn’t last long, and soon I was asleep again.
When I finally awoke feeling rested, I was alone in the bed but could feel Brayden and Hudson nearby.
My body still ached, but other than that, I was much more myself and ready to get up.
I needed to meet with Beth and the other Elementi members to share with them what I learned about Ubel and the danger he presented if there were more like him.
Ms. Tabitha was bad enough, having been blessed with demonic power without the serum, but we had no idea what Ubel could do.
I’d seen him poof out of existence, and that would definitely make catching him extremely difficult.
Heading to the closet, I pulled on soft yoga pants and a shirt that said Wake me up when winter is over.
I added a fluffy sweater, still not able to shake that last bit of chill from my bones.
Exiting my room, I found Hudson sitting in his armchair, reading a book.
But the moment he saw me, the book was tossed to the side and I was wrapped up in a warm hug.
“Sunshine, you need to stop taking years off my life, pulling stunts like that,” he whispered into my ear as he scattered soft kisses on my face. “Do you know how lucky you are to still be alive?”
Wrapping my arms around him, I hummed at how warm he was. “Not as lucky as that little boy. If I hadn’t done what I did, he for sure would have died, and I couldn’t live with that on my conscience, Hudson.”
“I know. I get it, I do, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it. Poor Cami has been beating herself up about the whole thing, not that Micah didn’t help with that,” Hudson grumbled.
Micah must have really said something awful to Cami for Hudson to be so bothered by it, or it was another sign he was embracing his emotions more and not locking them away.
Either way, it told me I needed to talk to her to see if I could smooth things out.
Before I could pull out of Hudson’s arms to do that, I felt another warm body wrap around my back.
“How are you feeling, Angel?” Brayden asked, placing a kiss on my cheek.
“Better. Still a little chilled, but I’m sure that will go away once I’m more active and moving around,” I answered with a shrug. “Hudson was just telling me I might need to check in on Cami.”
Brayden let out a heavy sigh and stepped away from me, letting me free from their hold. “Let’s get you something to eat before you deal with that situation.”
“Where is Micah?” I asked, knowing he would be upset with me for doing something so rash.
“He’s down in the training center, along with Parker, dealing with his misplaced emotions. But Tony is there keeping an eye on him and refusing to let him spar with anyone,” Hudson informed me as he took my hand and led me down to the dining room.
“I’ll be right back. Just gonna let Sarah know you’re awake and see what we have to feed you. She’s been having Garrett make a bunch of really good soups in preparation,” Brayden said, giving me a wink before he headed off to the kitchen.
I sat down, but I wasn’t able to relax. I hated the fact that Micah was so upset about what I’d done. “Hudson, has something like this happened before with Micah?”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems that something happened between you guys while we were in France and this situation has made it worse. I’m just wondering if he’s gotten this angry before, and how you guys fixed it.”
Hudson looked at me, his face softening as he felt my need to have everyone get along.
“Sunshine, before you showed up, this was normal. When I say that Micah has never gotten along well with others like he has recently, I mean it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him spend this much time together with us in the years that I have lived here.
” He reached out and took my hand, giving it a squeeze.
“Don’t take on this burden too, Lailah.”
I took a moment to think that over. Brayden had told me something similar a while ago. I guess I just hadn’t believed it. The version of Micah I’d been seeing was a far cry from what was happening now, and it was making me feel unsettled.
“Alright, I have Garrett’s famous chicken and rice soup for you, Angel, with some homemade bread to go with it!” Brayden announced as he walked back in with a tray of food. “I brought enough for the three of us—just taking a wild guess you haven’t eaten lunch either, Hudson.”
Hudson smiled at Brayden as he took the bowl of soup. “You are correct. Like yourself, I couldn’t bring myself to go far from her.”
“Where’s Jay?” I asked, breaking off a piece of bread.
Brayden and Hudson looked at each other before they answered me.
“He’s looking for Ubel…” Brayden started.
“WHAT?!” I yelled, slamming my spoon on the table as I stood. “Why would he go looking for him on his own? He should have waited for us so that we could have his back! Do you have any idea how dangerous this guy is?”
Panic clamored in my chest as I imagined all of the horrible things that could happen to him.
“Lailah, breathe,” Brayden said, pulling me back down into my chair. “He isn’t alone; he took a team of his men with him. They are far better trained for a situation like this than we are at the moment. This is his job, and he’s good at it. Trust that he will come back to you.”
Shaking in my seat, I looked between Hudson and Brayden, feeling their total confidence in Jay and trusting that he would be fine.
“Why couldn’t he wait?” I whispered, slumping in my seat.
“Do you really think he would sit around while there a crazy man out there willing to harm people just to torture you? Jay’s feelings for you are just as deep as our own, and this proves it,” Hudson said, his voice tinged with a slightly scolding tone.
“He left once you were out of danger. I have a feeling he will be back soon. Now eat your soup while it’s hot, please.
We need you to be okay, Lailah, the same way you need us to be safe. ”
Nodding my head, I started in on my soup and gave a soft moan at how good it tasted.
Before I knew it, I was done and pouting that it was gone.
Brayden laughed at me and snagged the bowl.
“Let me get you another helping. It has been a day and a half since you’ve eaten anything. Not surprised you’re hungry.”
I finished the second bowl at a slower, more normal pace, and my warm, full tummy made me sleepy once again.
“Why don’t we go up and watch a movie? Or would you rather take a nap?” Hudson suggested, seeing me fighting against my eyes drooping.
“A movie sounds nice. I don’t want to get back in bed, I just left it,” I murmured as Brayden scooped me up and carried me upstairs.
I didn’t even make it fifteen minutes into the movie, snuggled between the two of them and wrapped in a blanket. The sense of warmth and security was just too much to fight against.
“Get the fuck away from me, you slimy rat bastard!” Parker bellowed, followed by the slam of a door.
A scoff sounded close by. “Why would I waste the effort on a whipped bitch like you anyway?” Micah snapped.
Struggling out of the blanket I’d been wrapped in, I got to my feet and marched over to Micah. “What the hell is your problem? I don’t care what is going on with you, that is no way to treat him or anyone else in this group!”
Micah blinked at me, his eyes wide with surprise at my verbal attack. Walking over to Parker’s room, I tossed open his bedroom door, catching him with his shirt off and a snarl on his face before he realized it was me. “Trouble…”
“It would be wise for your health if you didn’t tell me to butt out of this. I left it alone like I was asked, hoping you would all figure it out yourselves, but this is just getting ridiculous,” I grumbled.
Turning, I looked Micah in the eye and pointed at his spot. “Sit down—please.”
He gave me a heavy sigh and an eye roll as he flopped into his chair. Parker came out of his room with a shirt on and took a seat in his normal spot, while Hudson and Brayden didn’t move from the couch.
“I would have liked Jay to be here, but I know he’s not one to be overly sensitive about things. Now, would someone like to tell me what this tension is between you guys since France?” I asked, hands on my hips, looking at the four of them.
“You really want to know what’s going on?” Micah pressed, casting a dismissive gesture towards Parker. “I don’t trust Parker alone with you.”
Before Parker could fly out of his chair to lunge at Micah, I stepped in front of him.
“No. We are not going to handle this with violence. That is not how we do things.” Turning back to face Micah, I tilted my head to the side as I contemplated him.
“So, tell me. What would you suggest to make you more comfortable?”
“I don’t know how you ever trust a playboy,” Micah stated. “It wouldn’t be the first time he talked a girl into leaving me for him.”
“To me, he isn’t a playboy,” I challenged. “I’ve never seen him act that way or even treat me in any manner other than being sweet and caring. Besides, how can he take me from you when I’m with you both?”
Micah sighed, shaking his head. “His element makes him weak, and he gives into any woman who pays attention to him. Can we really ever trust that he doesn’t use his powers to get what he wants from people?”
Before I could stop myself, I felt my hand connecting against Micah’s cheek, the sound of the slap reverberating through the room. The anger and betrayal I saw in Micah’s eyes cut me to my soul.
“I’m sorry, Micah. I shouldn’t have done that.
There is no excuse for lashing out at you like that.
But I will not allow any of you to talk or about each other like that.
We are only as strong as the weakest link, remember?
You taught me that. We are a team of six, and that is how we need to function.
It’s not the five of you protecting me from the dangers of this world, it’s all of us having each other’s back and acting as one unit.
” I dropped to my knees in front of Micah and rested my head on his legs.
“None of us will survive this if we don’t, and I can’t lose any of you.
I wouldn’t be able to live through that. ”
A hand rested on my head, stroking my hair gently as I started to cry.
“I hear you, Cookie Monster, but this problem is going to take some time for us to work through,” Micah said in a soft voice only I could hear.
“He might be the element of heart, but you are the one who holds mine. If I lose you, then there is nothing left for me to live for in this world. I promise to at least try, but that is all I can promise. He needs to do his part as well.” He reached down and pulled me into his lap, wrapping me up in a bone-crushing hug, his face pressed against my neck.
“Please try not to be so reckless next time, and that will help too.”