Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,22

always did it for me.

“You’re sweating at the table,” Theo censured lightly, leaning past me to arch a brow at the Puca.

“I figured once I lost Ryder, I might as well get a workout in. Just finished up.”

“Where is Ryder?” Hiro glanced around, trying to spot him, but he wasn’t anywhere in sight.

“Don’t know. He’s a quick fucker.” Killian smirked. “He’s probably hiding out a little longer before attempting to rejoin society, afraid I’ll whoop his ass.”

“Or searching the kitchen and trying to find the donuts for breakfast,” I teased, knowing full well Ryder wasn’t intimidated by Killian. He enjoyed riling him up too much. Killian nodded as he crunched another piece of bacon. “And I don’t mind the sweat,” I added, before taking a bite of eggs, and then offering some to Killian who accepted with a self-satisfied smirk.

“You can work up a sweat with me later,” Killian replied, and my face, which had cooled down from earlier, reheated with a vengeance.

Theo choked on his food, and Hiro’s gaze snapped to the pair of us with a spark of heat.

Donovan and Barrett failed miserably to suppress a matching set of wide grins while Cayden guffawed loudly. Even Rini was grinning ear to ear—it was good to see her smiling again.

“Damn, you two, get a room.” Cayden grinned mischievously, waving his fork back and forth to indicate Killian and me.

“What?” Confusion clouded Killian’s expression, his eyebrows drawing down as he licked his fingers clean with small popping sounds.

“Get sweaty later?” Rini said, biting her lower lip as she made a crude gesture that involved some hip thrusting.

“Oh my God,” I groaned, and let my hair fall off my shoulders to shield me from their teasing, but it didn’t hide my blossoming smirk of amusement even though it was filled with embarrassment.

“Shit! I meant training,” Killian grumbled, his signature scowl back in place as he shook his head.

“Right,” Rini drawled. “Horizontal training. You can’t fool us. We know you want to play with fire.” Rini waggled her eyebrows.

“My annoying brother is rubbing off on you.” Killian scrubbed a hand down his face as I peeked at him through the curtain of my hair, a small giggle shaking my shoulders. Poor Abra. “Speak of the devil.” Kill nodded toward the set of double doors leading into the dining area as Ciar waltzed in with a few of the faction leaders and representatives, all of whom looked like they were in the midst of an argument.

I sighed. They were always in the midst of an argument, each faction wholly unwilling to see the other side’s perspective. I didn’t relish overhearing another squabble.

Rini locked her eyes on Ciar, watching his easy, fluid walk and the big, cheesy smile plastered on his face.

And there it was. Past all her joking, Rini was hurting from Ciarán’s hesitation.

I didn’t understand why he was suddenly pumping the brakes on a relationship I knew he wanted as desperately as Rini and the others. Especially now when it mattered most.

Despite the fact I’d personally never wanted to rush mating, I could see where Rini was coming from. War had changed things for all of us.

If anyone knew how precious life was, it was me. I’d lived in a veritable hell and died enough times to know how important the good moments were. Now all I wanted to do was hold onto the six men I knew were supposed to be mine and never let go. Almost having lost Joshua and seeing Damien’s parents killed put things into perspective. We weren’t promised tomorrow, and I wanted to make the most of today.

If mating was routinely on my mind, I couldn’t imagine how eager Rini felt. She’d been waiting to mate with her bears for years, and now that she’d found her last true mate, she was ready to bind herself to them permanently.

Watching Rini watch Ciarán was like being a spectator at an impending train crash. As annoying as Ciar could be, he was good with people and had endeared himself to each faction. He often acted as a mediator between the rival groups, relieving tensions and soothing egos with his unique brand of humor. Today was no different.

He glanced at our table, wiggling his fingers in a little wave before turning back to the group he was with, and not more than two minutes later, he slung his arm around Valleria as he flirted with Risa, turning the tense conversation into blushes and giggles with his charm. Misting away, he