Dana let out one long guffaw and dropped her arm. If someone had told me on the night of the gala that Dana and I would be laughing together at Alec’s expense, I would’ve suggested they get their head checked, but here we were . . .
When Dana spoke again, her tone was more serious. “I’d prefer to have this conversation in private.”
“No,” Alec answered without hesitation.
Ethan chose that moment to come bounding out of the kitchen wearing nothing but shorts, his impressive muscles glistening with sweat. He’d clearly just come up from the gym. He faltered as he registered the scene, the easy smile falling from his face. His bulk and height made him look even more awkward as he ran a hand through his sweaty hair, then turned on his heel and went back the way he’d come without a word.
I stifled another laugh. “It’s OK, Alec. I’ll be fine.”
“If you’re talking about me, I get to listen,” he said, his petulant side coming out. He crossed his arms, then winced and immediately dropped them.
“Why are you even out of bed?” I asked reproachfully, but he ignored me.
“Not everything is about you, oh mighty Master of Pain.” Dana’s voice practically dripped sarcasm.
“What’s it about then?”
“Alec. Go.” Dana and I spoke at the same time, in the same exasperated tone.
Alec’s eyes widened as he looked between us. Finally, with a groan, he dragged his hands over his buzzed hair and down his face, then rushed out of the room as fast as his injuries would allow, muttering, “This is too fucking weird.”
“Lie down on the couch, please!” I yelled after him as he disappeared in the direction of the living room. “Before you tear your stitches!”
I bugged my eyes out at Dana and shook my head.
She chuckled. “This one time we were on a mission in Morocco, and he got typhoid. We were just on recon, but instead of taking two fucking days to rest, he kept pushing it and ended up being evacuated and hospitalized for a week.”
I groaned but laughed darkly as I led Dana toward the formal sitting room. None of that surprised me whatsoever.
“Your problem now,” Dana finished as we sat down on the plush velvet couch under the window.
“Yeah . . .” I trailed off, not really sure how to address that. Even though Dana and I were now on good terms, it was still a bit odd to be sitting next to a woman—a very sexy, beautiful woman—who’d had sex with my Variant.
I cleared my throat. “Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee? We have this ridiculous state-of-the-art espresso machine I’ve recently learned how to use.”
“No thanks. I don’t have a ton of time, so I’ll get to the point.”
“Oh, OK.” I angled my body slightly to face her.
She leaned forward, propping her arms on her knees and taking a deep breath. “I’m here to speak to you about going to see Zara.”
She looked at me, her expression wary but determined.
My eyes widened even as my brow furrowed. I leaned back against the plush pillows, at a loss for words. “What?”
“There are only two people employed by Melior Group with an ability like mine—blocking other abilities. Zara’s held in a cell that blocks Light and scrambles the use of abilities, but any time she’s taken out, one of the two of us has to do it. She’s too unpredictable, has very little control of her ability. She’s dangerous.”
“I know she’s dangerous,” I growled. She’d handed me over to a man who would have happily seen me die to achieve his goals; her actions resulted in countless deaths and put all my Bonded Variants in danger.
“I’m just trying to explain,” Dana rushed out, keeping her voice calm. “I spend a lot of time with her, see her almost daily. And every damn day, she asks about you, begs to see you, Eve. She pleads with me to get you to come. You have clearance now, so you can just walk in any time you want.”
“Why would I?” I couldn’t believe she was asking me to do this. My heart pounded in my head; my fists clenched. “Why the fuck would I give that traitorous bitch another second of my time, another scrap of my energy?”
“I get it.” Dana held her hands out in front of her. “Trust me, I understand. Which is why I’m not trying to talk you into it. I’m just passing on information.”