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“I see. What did you do to her?”
His eyes light with interest. “Who said I did anything to Celine?”
“I did. I sensed—something.”
“I reminded her who’s in control.”
The brutal side of him, I think. It exists just beneath his surface and I wonder what empowered her to believe she could cross him. “What is her role? She said she runs this facility?”
“On a temporary basis and only out of necessity. We protect humans across the globe. The world is broken into eight domains that eight Crystal Seers, called Overseers, manage. With large territories, we all have a leadership team beneath us. Anytime an Overseer can place another Crystal Seer in one of those roles, it’s both required and smart. There simply aren’t enough Crystal Seers to go around.”
“And then I came along.”
“Yes. And while today might have seemed like an over-the-top reaction to your presence, her anger over you started months ago, when you came onto my radar, and I made you my sole focus.”
“Because you’ve been watching me for months.” It’s not a question. It’s simply what happened at this point.”
“And you know why it had to be that way.”
“Is that why you feel familiar?”
“No, Ember. That is not why I feel familiar.”
“But you do.”
“As do you to me.”
“Why?”
“That’s complicated,” he says, “and I’m not certain I even fully understand it. What else do you want to know that’s not that?”
“Why don’t you know?”
“What else, Ember?”
“Fine,” I say, frustration etched in my response. “Celine thinks I’m replacing her. I feel that’s a problem.”
“Which is why she doesn’t know your assets are suppressed. And we’re not going to allow that to be a long-term problem.”
I hug myself again. “I don’t want to be weird and invasive, but—”
“Yes,” he says, not making me finish the question I wanted to ask and dreaded speaking. “I was at one point involved with Celine, but it’s been over for a long time. She forgets I can sense her intentions. They always forget. She thought that fucking me meant she wouldn’t be replaced. An Overseer must always put the safety of the domain and those we protect above all else.”
Whatever is in that woman’s heart, she’s buried the love she feels for him too deep for him to find it. Then again, he senses things, he senses her intent. All I know for certain is that whatever happened between them, he’s done. That’s clear. “Now I really think me staying here will enrage her, Micah.”
“Stay for your safety and for me. Go for her, but keep in mind, she’s out there waiting on you.”
“Okay. Thanks for that. I’ll stay.”
His mouth, which is intriguingly brutal, hints at a smile and something darker beneath his surface I wish I could read. “As it should be,” he approves, pushing to his feet to tower over me all over again. “You can use the shower first. I’ll see if I can find someone with clothes to fit you.”
I don’t think when I do it, but I reach out to touch him, my hand settling on his chest, the awareness between us a spark and a flame. “Please don’t,” I say, and feeling as if I’ve overstepped, I pull my hand back only to have him catch it in his and between us.
“Please don’t what?”
“They hate me here, Micah. I don’t want to take anything from them.”
“She hates the idea of you. They do not. You’re a mystery to us all, and we’re all intrigued. Me included.”
