CHAPTER SIX
– FOSCA –
Sevrin looks stunned. We’re on opposite ends and yet we each have the same end goal. I fully expected Triton to spill everything he saw inside my head...and yet he didn’t. Another thing that stunned Sevrin; Triton picked my side.
Triton told Sevrin he didn’t want to disrespect me. I’m totally skipping over the “she’s going to be the president’s old lady” thing. Not something I want to think about with Sevrin being an outlaw, and me working closely with law enforcement as a medical examiner.
I feel immensely conflicted, and yet Triton’s words echo inside my head. With everything going on it would be good to give Sevrin some more details. I mean, the enemy of my enemy is my friend...mate...asshole idiot...whatever.
Taking a deep breath, I start to spill more details, “There was a last-minute conference I had to attend, due to a speaker falling ill. None of my family knew and I went straight to the hotel after work. If I didn’t get that call?
I’m pretty sure I would have been as dead as my parents, my older sister, and my other brother. He killed them all, except for me.”
Silence falls between us. The anger is visible on Sevrin’s face.
His silver eyes flare when he grits, “And he’s been trying to kill you since.”
“Yes. A few years ago he almost did and was rambling how it was all my fault his plan wasn’t successful yet. I think he killed everyone that night to obtain all their powers. Except, I wasn’t there, so I guess he blames me that his plan failed.”
Sevrin places his hands on his hips and shakes his head. “Cassius’s plan failed before he fucking executed it. It doesn’t work that fucking way. Killing for power is playing with darkness. He played and got burned.”
My thoughts go to my brother and his appearance the last time I saw him, when he tried to kill me. “Definitely burned.”
“When was the last time you saw him?” he asks.
I try to brush some hairs from my face and realize my hands are still cuffed.
“Let me,” Sevrin murmurs as he squats down in front of me.
He places his hands over the cuffs. I can’t look away from his silver eyes lighting up like a silver moon reflecting against the surface of the sea. A cold sensation prickles my skin, and I can feel the hum of Sevrin’s power.
“There,” he rumbles and throws the cuffs on the concrete floor.
I rub my wrists. “Thank you.”
A snort leaves me. I shouldn’t be thanking the man who put them on me in the first place.
“With your brother killing off your family, I’m guessing your powers weren’t fully developed yet since you were the youngest?
All your siblings were older and first in line to find their fated mate.
Which meant there was loads of time to teach you.
..until there wasn’t, leaving you unable to defend yourself. ”
I narrow my eyes. “I know how to defend myself.”
He shoves to his feet and stares down at me. “Right. The way you gave me a tiny blast and had to grab my wrist to make sure it went through me? Fuck, Fos, what you did was like a party popper instead of actually using your powers to the full extent.”
“My name is Fosca,” I snap, completely frustrated because I know he’s right about my powers.
The corner of his mouth twitches, as if he knows what went through my mind just now.
“Then we’re in agreement. I’m going to teach you how to use your powers, and until I’m sure you can defend yourself you will have one of my men with you at all times.”
I can feel my eyes go wide. “You can’t be serious. I’ve been perfectly safe without you for...”
“Don’t care about the past. You’re mine, and I won’t leave you vulnerable.”
This man’s thoughts and actions are a wild roller-coaster ride, and make no damn sense. “How can we go from you hating me, to doing a three hundred sixty by telling me I’m yours? Anyone ever tell you that you have a split personality?”
“Not knowing certain information gives a completely different impression than knowing all the details, and deciding what’s best. I might not have judged you correctly before we met, and I’m willing to take the chance and accept you as my mate.”
Loud noises are penetrating from upstairs, but we’re both ignoring it.
“How big of you,” I mutter under my breath.
He still catches the words and smirks. “We could seal the deal right now so you know exactly how big I am.”
Did he just...? “Seal the deal? Ugh. I should have known when I smelled the human female on you that you’re a horndog. So, no. We’re definitely not having sex any time soon.”
He’s about to reply when the door bursts open, and Triton appears. “Prez? We need you upstairs, your old lady too.”
“I’m not his old lady,” I grumble.
“What’s going on?” Sevrin asks while his narrowed gaze stays locked on me.
Triton glances over his shoulder where the shouting is getting louder. “There’s a dolphin shifter asking about your old lady, and Levan is going nuts.”
“Oh, shit. Zara.” I jump to my feet.
“Zara?” Sevrin questions.
I wince. “My best friend. I might have told her about you and if I went missing you’d be the one responsible.”
“Can we do this later? Preferably before a shark or a dolphin shifter gets hurt?” Triton presses.
Sevrin brushes by Triton and we follow closely behind. The shouting becomes more intense and I now recognize Zara’s voice.
“Don’t test me. I will knock those rows of teeth out, and stab your beady eyes, you stupid bloodthirsty cold-blooded...”
“Endothermic to be precise. I’m warm-blooded, just like you, babe,” Levan calmly states.
“I’m nothing like you, torpedo-shaped idiot,” Zara snarls.
“Enough,” Sevrin roars. “Levan, stand down.”
“Me?” Levan jerks a thumb over his shoulder. “How about lady flipper over there who’s flapping around like a headless chicken.”
“I’ll show you...”
Zara is about to lunge for Levan’s throat when I snap, “We said, enough.”
Everyone falls silent and I step forward to catch Zara’s attention. “Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
Zara shrugs. “You would have done the same for me.”
I catch the time on the clock hanging on the wall. “I wasn’t missing that long.”
“We were supposed to have dinner, and when you didn’t show I had a gut feeling. I called you a handful of times and you didn’t answer. The shit you said about that asshole there creeped me the fuck out. You weren’t wrong...you being here and all.”
Levan leans in and fake whispers, “Clearly, it doesn’t take much to creep you the fuck out.”
Zara takes a swing and hits Levan in the mouth with her fist. Levan smiles, all bloody teeth. His tongue swipes over his pearly whites while his eyes fill with a predatory gleam.
Sevrin shoulders Levan out of the way. “I said stand the fuck down, brother. Karev, take Levan and make sure Stingray and Croc are handling everything correctly at the brewery.”
“On it, Prez,” Karev rumbles and grabs Levan’s cut to drag him out the door.
“Ladies,” Sevrin’s voice holds more warmth than it did a moment ago. “Come join me in the kitchen for a cup of coffee.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to snap, “I’d rather not,” but Zara shrugs and we both follow Sevrin as he walks down the hall.
“Do you only have diesel or a...duuuude, you know your coffee. Nice.” Zara shoves a chair back and grins before ordering, “Double espresso. What beans do you use?”
“The kind that goes through elephants,” Sevrin states.
I frown while Zara barks out a laugh. “For real? Black Ivory Coffee?”
Sevrin grins and gives us his back while he starts to make her coffee.
Zara pats the chair beside me and says, “The man has taste. Not only for having the hots for my best friend, even if it’s a primal thing, but he knows his coffee. He wasn’t kidding when he said it goes through the elephant. They eat the beans and then they’re collected from their waste.”
My head swings in Sevrin’s direction. “I’d rather have some tea if you don’t mind.”
The man chuckles and reaches for something in the fridge. He turns and grabs a large glass before placing it in front of me. I catch a whiff of the iced tea he pours into the glass and I’m wrapping my fingers around it without thinking.
My mouth waters and as soon as he pulls back, I’m bringing the glass to my lips and down a few sips. I close my eyes and groan. Delicious.
“Screw the coffee, this is the most delicious thing I’ve tasted in forever,” I state and place the empty glass on the table. “More, please.”
Sevrin is refilling my glass, but I don’t get a chance to down it because Zara snatches it from me and takes a few large gulps.
“Seaweed, a pinch of sea salt...a hint of shrimp. Wow. It looks like iced tea. Yes, I agree, leave the elephant droppings and gimme some of this shit too.” Zara looks at me.
“He might be the asshole you said he was, but the man has taste. Even if he has a great white shark shifter as a friend. Bad, bad taste in that department. On the other hand, no one’s perfect, right? ”
Sevrin chuckles while I’m debating what the hell happened to my best friend and why she’s suddenly on team Sevrin.