planes being stable. If we’re having problems now, they would be tenfold if the Earth plane started experiencing convergences. I get it. You want to take your consort and hide away, but she’s got problems and you can’t have your happy fun time until you solve them.”
“Marcus, I can’t go to the Earth plane if the convergences are following me.” I didn’t say what I was truly worried about—if I was causing them. All of my life I’d been told that I was different, that I was unique. And though my foster mother had tried her hardest to keep it from me, I’d heard the other things they said about me. I heard that I was unlucky, that my magic couldn’t be contained in such a flawed form. There were some in my tribe who believed I would be the death of them, and I’d proven them right.
Marcus stepped in front of me and made sure my jacket was zipped tight. “All right, then. We will do what we must, but you have to know I will not be parted from you. Not in any way.”
Before I could argue with him, he dipped his head down and caught my mouth with his in the sweetest kiss. It was swift, a casual intimacy that made me long for more.
“Are we sure we should take the unconscious chick?” Dante had his helmet in hand and stood looking down at the redhead still lying in the back of the hovercraft Taggart had driven.
“Miss Charlotte is breathing and her heart is beating,” Kaja assured him. “He will not leave her behind any more than you would leave me in the same situation.”
“But I was think…” Dante stopped at the sight of his wife’s expression. “You’re right. Absolutely, babe. Wouldn’t ever leave you behind for safety’s sake. Gotta take my beloved into danger with me.”
“Yes, you should since your beloved is far more savage than you.” Kaja went on her toes and kissed her husband.
Taggart hauled his wife into his arms and started moving toward the bikes. “I’m not leaving her behind. Your wife might be more savage than you, but mine is way smarter than I am. We need her. Dellacourt, I’m going to assume you know how to drive one of these things.”
“I can drive one in my sleep,” Dante assured him.
“Excellent.” Taggart passed off Charlotte to Adam before hopping on his big hoverbike. The engine purred to life as Adam eased Charlotte in front of her husband and strapped them together. “Someone show the newbie how to get on. I’ve got the second bike tethered to mine. Vorenus, all you have to do is not fall off, and don’t let your consort fall off. Adam will take the lead and the Dellacourts will watch our backs. The helmets have comms if you need something.”
Adam handed me one of the helmets as Ian was fitting Charlotte with one and putting on his own. “Make sure the visor is down before we open the garage. You do not want a taste of the air down here.”
It went easily over my head, adjusting to fit me perfectly.
“I noticed there was significant pollution as we moved toward the ground,” Marcus said. “You are not environmentalists here, I take it.”
“What’s good for the environment is usually bad for profits,” Adam said with a sigh. “We’re not a perfect society. Far from it. You’ll have to tell me about the Earth plane when we bunk down.”
“I assure you, we’re far from perfect, too.” Marcus settled the helmet on his head, held out his hand, and walked me to our bike. He mounted it with grace and I got on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
It wasn’t more than a second before I heard Marcus’s voice in my ear.
“Did I tell you how sexy you look in those clothes, bella? They fit you like a second skin and make me think you could be very naughty.” Just the sound of his voice made me want to melt. “And when we sleep tonight, you should understand that you will be with me. I won’t care that we’re out in the open. I’ll be discreet, but you will understand that I will never let you go.”
“Will you care that everyone can hear you, buddy?” Taggart asked. “The comms are all connected.”
“Hush. I like a little romance,” Kaja said over the line. “Please continue, Mr. Vorenus.”
“Call me Marcus.” He chuckled and I could feel him moving against me as the