Chapter Unmasked

"It's been four days, Aria. How do you feel?" Simone asks as I step through the room, wearing of her racy ensembles.

Worse .

"A little better," I murmur while ignoring the terrible feeling that is only growing in the pit of my stomach.

I feel so lost right now, and a sinking abyss is trying to swallow me whole for every breath I take.

The door opens and my stomach jumps to my throat when Jase's face comes into view along with his traveling entourage. He smiles softly, though his eyes radiate his true pain.

Dogs, cats, frogs leaping through the air.

He smiles bigger when he hears my mind's desperate attempt to steer clear of the thoughts I know would only betray me.

"We've caught a fresh trail on Maverick. I want you to be the one to lead the way. We'll have more gifted with us than usual for protection purposes, Ms. Banner."

Ms. Banner? What the hell?

He stifles a devious grin when my mind's big mouth runs amuck, and I tighten my lips as though it'll help shut down my damn rogue brain.

"I'll be down shortly. You could have just called."

His eyes burn into mine, and his entourage starts to walk out as if they're giving us some privacy. Simone deserts me as she follows them, and Jase takes several steps to become dangerously close to me.

"If I had called, I wouldn't have heard your thoughts," he whispers while sliding his hand down my shoulder to my waist.

I tremble to the point my weakened body is forced to collapse, and he catches me before I hit the ground.

"What the hell?" he panics while scooping me up and pulling me to him.

"I'm okay," I grumble while flipping free from his clutches.

I stagger lightly, but I quickly regain my balance before he can overanalyze the situation. His eyes narrow to tell me he's studying the thoughts I refuse to share.

"Aria, tell me what's going on."

"I'm just a little… stressed. Probably because I'm straining so hard to keep some commander from prying into my mind and fucking with it."

Crap.

His eyes fall to the floor as hopelessness weighs down his shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Banner." He straightens his tie, his eyes continuing to avoid mine. "I'll leave you in peace, and I'll see you later - at which time I'll maintain my distance so as not to force you to feel so guarded."

He disappears from the room before I can say anything else, and I fall backwards to the bed. I didn't mean to frigging explode. Now I feel like a bitch.

I shouldn't feel like a bitch. He broke me. He needs to quit thinking I'm still his to fuck with.

The loud sirens wailing outside the window make me jump to my feet, and I squeal out my startled gasp as I rush to find out what's going on.

Dust clouds are stirring in the distance as a convoy of vehicles zoom toward us. I almost think there's about to be an attack when I realize those are our fleet vehicles hauling ass over the dried road between the seas of green grass.

"What's going on?" I shout down from the window when I see Rex rushing out holding the hand of his counter.

I'm so jealous. I wish I had that. I almost did with Jase, but-

"It's him! They've got Kellan Maverick!" Rex yells in excitement, and I get sick.

That means Mom will be here soon, and her interrogation skills will bring out the truth no matter how hard Kellan fights to tell her. She's too good, and she'll know what's out there. Once she knows, she'll die trying to bring it down.

Jase walks over to the foaming-at-the-mouth assembly as the gates open for the speeding convoy. How didn't he already know they had him? Why wouldn't they have called the commander right away?

I jump down from the balcony because no phantom is going to answer the questions in my mind. Simone rushes over to me and shakes her head.

"This is incredible. I've been worried about you having to go out there while not feeling a hundred percent."

"Still no luck with my blood?" I huff out.

"There's nothing abnormal in the structure. I'll dive a little deeper later. Right now, let's go catch up with Aunt Araya."

Oh damn.

"Mom's already here?" I gasp.

"Yeah, she arrived last night. By the way, she doesn't know about your latest abduction. You can thank Jase for that."

My eyes involuntarily slide over to the man signaling the direction for the vehicles to follow. He's so incredible like this, in control. Can I get over his lies?

"How did they find him? When did they find him?"

I wanted to be the one to find him, damn it.

"They just called it in a few seconds ago due to silent stalk details. Abram found him."

"Abram?" I squeal in disbelief. "He can't even track down matching socks. How the hell did he find a guy who has eluded the United for years?"

She lets a laugh free when she hears the obvious envy in my tone. The convoy slows to a halt as several men jump out and pull out the new prisoner. His head is hooded, his hands bound, so it's hard to tell much about him. His stride tells me he's not wounded.

"He's completely healthy. There's no way this is Kellan Maverick. Abram wouldn't have caught a gifted hybrid who wasn't wounded to the point of barely breathing."

I almost pout as they drag in the phony posing as the deadly threat we've all been on edge about.

"Jase says it's him. They sent him a picture, and he did confirm it just before the sirens went off. He didn't want to bring him here with so many civilians in the city, but he had to. So he had the sirens sounded to tell the simpletons to duck and cover. Come on. Let's go watch your mom work her magic."

I groan under my breath, and she laughs all the harder. It's a guy, so she'll probably use seduction. Considering he's hybrid, it'll be heavy seduction.

Ew.

We head into the building which is serving the United as a holding cell for the man accused of being in allegiance with this unfathomable force. It does have padded hybrid interrogation rooms, so it'll work.

I step into the room and lose my breath when sex and candy invades my sense of smell. Jase is propped up, conversing very quietly with my mother while Uncle Brazen studies the man intensely.

There are so many people in the damn room that it's hard for me to get a glimpse of our suspect. I finally find a tiny gap, and I wiggle through it to see the dirty blond hair tousled sexily atop his head.

The strong lines of his face actually sculpt a pretty damn sexy man. His hybrid blues are fierce but secretive. I know his secret though. He's like my mom... or me. His contacts are way better than mine.

I regret letting that thought slip, but I look over to see Jase hasn't seemed to notice my blabbermouth mind. He's too engulfed to be paying very much attention to me.

I exhale in relief, and then I turn my attention back to the man that has struck fear in so many.

His chiseled body is relaxed as he leans back in his chair with his cuffed wrists strapping him into place. A smile is daring to play on his lips, making him seem a little menacing, but I don't feel as afraid as I should.

The chatter in the room is ridiculous, making it hard to concentrate on anything other than the conspiracy theories spewing from everyone's mouths.

"At this time-" Jase pauses as all the chatter calms down "-I need silence. Let's back away from the window and try to line the walls so everyone can view. We don't need theories right now. We need answers. Unless you have some insight that can benefit the group. Keep quiet or I'll ask you to leave."

My eyes cut to him. I know he just heard me griping inside my own head, but he refuses to make eye contact with me. I hate he knows that I'm looking at him without having to see me looking at him. It makes it impossible to not get caught.

He smirks, and I instantly refrain from slapping my own-damn-self for thinking too loudly. Feet shuffle as everyone complies with the commander's order, and they move to the back of the room to silently observe from afar.

"So what's your take?" Mom asks Uncle Brazen.

He's the only one who didn't move away from the window when Jase commanded it, and my mom joins him at his side, looking to him for insight. It's amazing how much she trusts him.

"He's too comfortable. It's as though he knows something we don't. They said he didn't struggle… almost as though he came too easily. I don't like it. Something's up, and I don't know what. It irks me."

She frowns as she studies him closer, and Jase joins her as the three of them block the view from the rest of us.

"He's good, Mrs. Mordel. He never gave anything away the last time," Jase murmurs warily.

Why don't you just read his mind?

He turns to me and tightens his lips as his eyes gauge the rest of the room staring. It's not like he can just answer my question aloud. Full bloods shouldn't have any gifts, and he's very obviously full blood.

He adjusts his tie while motioning for me to join them, and I swallow hard against the lump in my throat as I come to take his side.

His cold heat rushes me like a wave of intoxicating pleasure, and my knees threaten to buckle as he slides around behind me to lean over to my ear.

"Because for some reason, his mind is always blank to me," he whispers almost too low for anyone else to hear.

I just nod while swallowing harder, and then I shift from side to side to show my discomfort. He doesn't withdraw though. His body stays pressed against mine as he speaks to my mother.

"How are you going to approach him?"

She rubs her hand over her mouth like she does when she's in deep thought, and then she takes a step back from the glass while sliding her gun free from her holster.

"No weapons. He's a loner, but not because he wants to be. The fugitive lifestyle he's had has forced him to be that way. He's lonely, and I think that's why he came so willingly. He's ready for this to end. He wants to connect with someone, and I'm going to be that person. But I can't do that if he goes on the offense."

She hands her gun to Uncle Brazen, and he tucks it into the back of his jeans before pulling her to him for a much too showy kiss.

Ew.

Jase smirks, and his hand slides down my back as he moves to stand beside of me again. His cool touch lingers, setting me ablaze with such a small maneuver.

Crap.

I have to stop thinking.

He smiles - smug bastard - and then his eyes cut to my mother as she leaves the room. His seriousness returns, and he drops his hand from my back as he leans against the backrest of a chair.

Mom walks into the room with Kellan, wearing her short, showy dress swishing across her legs with the dazzle of a salsa dancer. She's so good, and Kellan doesn't stand a chance against her. I just hope she backs off without going after this threat.

"I won't let her go after it," Jase whispers into my ear, his delicious breath bringing the chills to the surface of my body. "I promise you that."

My strength only wavers more, but I clear my throat and my mind as I stare straight ahead.

"So, Kellan-" she pauses to step beside him, and her body slides across the table so that her legs dangle between his "-how long has it been since you've been able to sit down and just rest?"

He shrugs indifferently, his lips refusing to answer her with anything but silence.

"I'm sure it's been hard. Personally, I need peace more than anything to keep my sanity. Here you are, finally resting. You're not looking over your shoulder, you're not worried about your next move… all you have to do is just rest."

He smirks, and I swear his eyes look through the glass to find mine. He looks away just as my mother cranks up her heat.

She slides down to straddle his lap, and her fingers stroll through his soft, tousled locks as she intentionally lets her breath find his lips.

"It's not easy to go so long without someone to talk to, to confide in… to touch," she seduces.

I swear the men in the room are dissolving right now, and then I feel Jase's fingers strolling over the sparrow tattoo on my back. I tense up, but he doesn't stop his tracing pattern.

"Stop," I whisper softly, but he doesn't even acknowledge I've spoken.

Stop!

He ignores my mind just as he did my mouth. I roll my eyes, and then I turn them back to my mother while trying to block out his touch - my sense of feeling shutting down to relieve me of his cool burning sensation.

"I've been there," my mother continues to her quiet victim. "I've been in situations where it felt like there was no one I could trust. When I finally found a friend, I was relieved."

Her lips trail up his neck, but he actually starts laughing instead of crumbling under her seductive web. There's something so familiar about the sound of his laughter - a warming familiarity.

She stands up and fumes exude from her body once she feels utterly rebuffed. She storms out of the room to come regroup, and the fearless, impenetrable man just laughs harder while shaking his head.

"He's gay," she barks when she storms in to join us. "Find a male interrogator."

Everyone moves their eyes away from the pissed off, scorned hybrid as she takes her place by the smirking Uncle Brazen. He mocks her playfully by pretending to soothe her burns.

She rolls her eyes while stifling a grin. Jase doesn't seem amused though.

"He's not gay. Before he went rebel, he was a womanizing legend. I've read everything there is about him. If he was gay, I'd know it."

"If he's not gay, then I've really lost my touch."

She almost pouts, and my Uncle Brazen leans over to kiss his sulking wife.

"You haven't lost your touch," he murmurs softly while gripping her a little too tightly for everyone's comfort level before pulling her into a disgusting display of affection.

And… EW!

Jase stifles a laugh, and grumbles erupt as most of the others disperse from the room. The show they wanted has proven to be fruitless, and they don't want to watch the new show my mother is putting on in true newlywed fashion.

The man behind the glass draws my attention - since I'm sure as hell not going to watch my mother and uncle anymore. His enigmatic smirk sends more waves of familiarity through me.

"Let me try," I murmur softly, and everyone left in the room turns to gawk at me.

"You hate interrogation," Mom objects.

She would flip the hell out if he fell for my rookie antics. It's not likely, but I do want to try.

"Just let me try. What's it going to hurt?"

"I don't like it. Kellan is too dangerous, and you're not as strong as your mother," Jase says dismissively.

"You're not being objective. Just because I don't interrogate doesn't mean I can't interrogate. Let me try."

His eyes narrow as he comes to tower over me with all of his intimidating stature.

"No. I'm not risking your safety. We'll let him stew in a holding cell for a few days, and then Mrs. Mordel can try again."

"Let her try, Commander. She's licensed in interrogation, and there's no one else here besides me who is. My daughter is skilled at more than just tracking, and I can put a halt to any attack - should he try something," Mom says in my defense.

Two against one. She's stronger than me and him. Now you have to let me because you won't look very objective at all.

His eyes narrow more. I'm sure he'd rather not be able to read my mind at this point. I even offer him an image of me sticking my tongue out in a childish ha-ha sort of way.

"Very well," he says through grinding teeth. "Exercise extreme caution though. And if I tell you to get out, you do it."

"Always," I chirp triumphantly, and then I drop my gun just as my mother did before going in.

Jase watches me as my mother hands me a bag full of random clothes and props. I smirk as I peek inside, and then I toss it over my shoulder to disappear out the door and into the restrooms across the hall.

I go with the slinky, white fitted skirt that just barely covers anything. I guess it's good I went with white lacy underwear this morning.

I slip out of my already slinky shirt and pull on a very revealing silver shirt with a plunging neckline, while slipping on some hoop earrings and a dangling necklace that falls between my cleavage.

I just hope I don't look as awkward as I feel.

I walk out and drop the bag of props in front of the door before taking a steadying breath. I slip on the earpiece I don't really need, since my hearing surpasses other hybrid's abilities.

Oh! I'm so stupid!

Kellan is an emergent's child or a hybrid emergent like me. If he's like my mother, then he didn't hear us. If he's a hybrid emergent, then he heard everything with the same clarity I can.

Damn it.

No wonder my mother's gimmicks didn't work on him. He has to be just like me, and he heard every scheme we had.

Since Jase isn't running out here, I'm assuming he can't read my damn mind right now.

I have to clear my head and do this right. I can't let Jase overhear my clogged mind, and I can't let Kellan know I know who - or rather what - he is in front of everyone.

I finally push my nerves aside as I walk into the room, and Jase's voice climbs through the glass.

"I wasn't expecting her to do that so soon," he gripes.

Whew.Nothing.

I hear his breath hitch as I feel his eyes burning against my new, too-sexy attire. Kellan's eyes fall on me, and then I'm rushed by a scent that brings all the familiarity to light.

Melted chocolate and dark cherry. Oh damn. It's him. Fuck!

His smile broadens as he takes me in, and he relaxes in his chair as I wobble toward him in the heels I wish I had ditched now.

"I see they decided to send in someone a little more my taste," he seduces with his perfect teeth shining behind his sexy smile.

"He's talking to her already?" Mom almost scoffs out, disbelief oozing from her tone.

I can't smile though. I can't breathe. This can't be possible.

"Something's wrong. We need to get her out of there," Jase says in a worried tone.

Crap. Don't you dare, Commander.

I guess his mind reading game is back to full swing.

"What's wrong? He's already talking," Uncle Brazen interjects.

Kellan gives me a devious wink which lets me know I was right about him. I slowly walk toward him, and his eyes glisten with excitement.

"So we meet at last," he murmurs softly.

"Meet at last? What does that mean?" Jase snaps.

I ignore the chatter behind the glass as I slide to be on top of the table. He leans up, and his soft lips slide across my knee with his deliciously warm breath as the cuffs rattle.

He withdraws slightly, and I hear the harsh breaths Jase is releasing behind the glass after witnessing the lover's caress from the dangerous man.

"I believe you've had me at a disadvantage for a while, Ace . You've seen me… very well. I suppose this was your reason for not letting me see you," I counter with an oddly seductive ring.

He smirks and then shrugs.

"It's him," Simone gasps. "I recognize his voice now."

"Who?" Jase insists.

"He's been the one warning Aria. He's the masked guy that saved our lives at Seminole."

"Not possible," Jase says with angered dismissal.

"It's him. I know it's him."

"If it is, then he's been planning to fuck with Aria. I'm pulling her out."

"No," my mother intervenes. "If he has been saving her, then he feels somewhat protective. Let her try to get the information we need."

Kellan's menacing smile returns, and then he whispers so low I barely hear it.

"You heard them. You need to try."

Oh crap.

"I'm going to," I whisper too low for anyone else to hear, and he tilts his head curiously.

"So you're not scared?"

"Very, but I'm also indebted to you. Whatever your motives, you've saved my life numerous times. I just don't know what angle you thought you were working. I'm not ranked high enough to do you any of the favors you might need."

"I just need you to make them listen and get me out of here so I can stop running and start helping. I've done all I can do on my own. Now I need the backing of the United," he says in a dull, almost muted tone.

"Kellan, I'm barely a tracker. They just stopped holding my hand. I don't have that kind of pull."

"Yes you do, you just have to use your charm," he menaces, and then he leans back. "Starting now."

I tilt my head curiously, and then I realize he wants me to interrogate him. He wants me to answer questions they need so it isn't so obvious he wants to rejoin the United.

Oh crap. I'm thinking!

"Shit," I murmur too loudly.

"What is it?" Jase prompts through the glass.

I look up to see Kellan's smile, and then he gives me a wink before motioning to my foot grazing his leg.

"When you're touching me, your boyfriend can't read a damn thought in your head."

"What's he saying to her? Why are they whispering so low?" Jase demands.

That's actually a really cool trick, one I wish I could duplicate.

"Because they're kindred spirits," Mom answers. "She has connected with him the way I failed to. He doesn't trust us, but he trusts her."

"Why the hell does he trust her?" he blares.

Kellan looks to be enjoying torturing Jase, and I slide across the table to be in front of him as my legs drop between his.

"Much better," he says too smugly.

"Not an Arayan?" I playfully retort.

"Not really," he teases while leaning forward again. "But you can't interrogate me from way up there. You've got to get closer."

Our whispers continue to escape the ears of the others, and Jase's rattled, distraught breaths tangle in my ears.

"Get in his lap and ask him about where he's been," Mom instructs, but I know where he's been. I just need to know what we're after.

Kellan's smile grows, and I roll my eyes as I play the part and slide into his lap. My legs part as I straddle him more intimately than my mother did, and Jase's clenched fists grind loud enough to rival his clenched teeth grinding as well.

"Much, much better," he murmurs softly, letting his breath slide between my lips.

"I need to know about the latest trip you took. What have you been doing for these past few days?" I murmur while letting my lips scale over his.

"You mean when I wasn't doing you?" he crudely counters, and my cheeks flame their heated touch in response.

"Shh!" I growl, but I know Jase didn't hear it.

"What's wrong, pretty girl? Don't like your boyfriend watching?" his sexy accent releases.

I roll my eyes as my skirt slides up higher, giving him a peek at the underwear hiding underneath, and his breath hitches in response. Suddenly his cool, cocky demeanor is overshadowed by his instant desire.

Go me.

"What's wrong, Ace ? Rattled by a little lace?"

He smirks while leaning his head back.

"Funny, Aria."

"What the hell are they saying?" Jase barks to… I don't know who.

"Just let her work. She can tell us everything when she's done."

Kellan's brow dances menacingly as his smile grows, and I press my center tighter against him to end his playful glow and push him back into the pits of desire.

"I need to know where these people are," I murmur cryptically, making my voice loud enough for the others to hear.

Jase exhales in relief when the barrier of silence is finally broken. I knew I had to appease his curiosity somewhat before he yanked me out.

"Then you'll have to work harder," Kellan says, keeping his voice a little louder too.

The menace in his eyes doesn't go unnoticed, and I bite back a girly grin in response. Then I decide to clue him in, and I keep my voice below a whisper, escaping the ears of the ones behind the glass once again.

"Don't say anything about the Scorpions or the destroying thing-"

"In front of your mother," he whispers to finish my sentence. "I know. No worries."

I almost visibly relax, and I lean into him, allowing my lips to caress his neck. My hands slide down his chest, stopping just above his pants, and then I lift his shirt to reveal the lower half of his abdomen.

He holds his breath, curious as to what I'll do next, and I drag my finger over one of those delicious hiplines I bled just days ago. This would be so much more fun if my head wasn't killing me.

"You're welcome to it... again," he says loud enough for the others to hear.

"Again?" Uncle Brazen muses.

Fuck.

"He's the one who saved her a few times, and once he gave her his blood," Simone says dully, treating it as though it's nothing spectacular.

Shit.

I hear Jase letting out a pained breath, and I'm glad I can't see his eyes on me right now.

" He's the one? The one who healed her? Fuck. No. I'm ending this now," he growls before something crashes in the other room.

"You can't," my mother interrupts. "This is an interrogation. If she has a way to bond with him personally, then she can get what we need."

"We don't need it that badly," he barks.

"Yes we do, Commander," another man says softly, trying not to sound disrespectful. "We need Kellan Maverick's Intel more than we ever have. Let's stop the Unaligned."

It's not the Unaligned Kellan has Intel on.

"Uh oh. I made the commander mad," Kellan teases, speaking in his whisper once again.

I raise up, dropping his shirt back down, and return to our whispers. "You need to stop poking at him and play along if you want me to get you out of here."

He smiles, leaning back and showing me his will to play puppet to my strings. "And how would you like me to play along with your mother in the next room. Everything I have to say will only intrigue her curiosity."

I smile, moving in closer as I let my lips strum his lightly.

"Kellan, if we give you guarded arrest, will you cooperate fully and help us find these people?"

"No," Jase says before Kellan can answer.

"That's brilliant actually," my mother counters.

"It is," Simone agrees. "If he'll agree to work with us, then we'll have much better depth. Jase, I think it's time for my aunt and uncle to leave."

"What?" Mom scoffs. "I'm not going anywhere."

"She's right," Jase growls, ready to get my mother out before she sways any opinions.

Though I'm appreciative Simone is looking out for them, I need Mom to convince Jase to agree to this. She's likely the only one who can.

"I agree," Kellan murmurs, the chains rattling as he leans forward to try and capture my lips with his. When I playfully lean back, he continues. " If you're the one I'm with."

"Absolutely not!" Jase yells. "Aria, you don't have this authority."

"Actually, she does," Mom scoffs, still angry with her niece. "When an interrogator is working an angle that can pay out, they're allowed to offer such things, as long as they assume the responsibility."

"He's a killer, Araya. Do you want him in a fucking house... alone with her?" Jase releases insidiously.

"We're all killers, Jase. This is war. My daughter sees something in him. I can tell. Perhaps there's more to this story than you know, but we won't find out with him in a cell he could most likely just break out of again.

"He could have beaten the tracker who found him. He could have escaped when captured. I've read his file. His military combat and tech knowledge alone would have kept him concealed. I think this is what he was wanting."

"She can't stay with him," Jase barks.

"Why? My daughter is perfectly capable of dealing with a man on a leash. A tight one."

"She's right, Commander," a new voice interjects. "Aria Banner has the skills and abilities to handle such a man."

"I'll say," Kellan inserts in a whisper for only me, making me laugh a little.

"I'll stay with her," Simone adds.

"I'll stay too," Mom adds, making my stomach twist in knots.

"Absolutely not, Araya," Jase adamantly grumbles. "You're back on leave as of right now. You only came out of retirement to interrogate, and now Aria is doing that. It's time you go."

"You can't just-"

"Watch me," Jase says with anger and dominance.

"That's not the commander I thought I knew," she mumbles.

"I'm doing what's best for you, for us, for the United. You need to leave, go back on retirement. I'll take care of Aria."

Crap .

"By holding her back worse than I did?" Mom asks, taking a stab at the man who just used his rank on her.

I hold my breath, waiting to find out if this plan is going to work while pretending to still be seducing information out of Kellan.

"You've got to stop," Kellan breathes, his breath rasp.

"Stop what?" I ask, my eyes tilting up.

He looks down to where my lower half is almost completely bared to him. My skirt has slid all the way up, and his erection is firmly begging for attention. I run my hand down his chest to his pants, and I unbutton them before lowering the zipper, making his breaths harsh.

"I could stop, or I could finish. Depends on what you give me, Ace."

He smirks, and then he leans over. "I'll give you something to scream about."

I swallow hard as the game turns on me, and our conversation is forgotten by the feuding room behind me.

This time his lips capture mine, embrace them, and send tingles to my toes. I fall into him, my hands tangling in his hair, and everyone behind the glass gasps.

"She's got him. He'll do whatever we need him to as long as he wants her like that," Mom says, sounding so proud of her interrogating daughter.

The door to the room slams as someone leaves, and I listen for the absent voice to find out if it was Jase.

"I'll start the papers and get his anklet ready," a man inserts. "Looks like you've got one hell of an interrogator, Araya. Hale would be proud."

Others shuffle out as my kiss with Kellan becomes too passionate. His chains rattle, threatening to snap, but he knows they would slice his hands off if he breaks through them.

I pull back as the door opens to the interrogation room, and Uncle Grayson steps in, surprising me completely.

"Commander Ericson wants to talk to you... in his office," he says while grinding his teeth together and glaring at Kellan.

"Okay," I grumble, climbing out of Kellan's lap, and then Mom walks in with two men, each carrying a box.

"We'll get Kellan ready, and then I'll transport him to your new apartment," Simone says while joining us.

"You're not qualified for that," Uncle Grayson growls, scolding her with his eyes.

"Actually, I am. I'm a lead Scientist with the United. That gives me a rank high enough to transport a guarded arrest prisoner."

This thing could put us on the outs with our family, it seems. Though we're not all blood related, we're one of the first of the large hybrid families. Until now, we've never argued so much.

Uncle Grayson looks pissed, disgusted, and agonized right now.

I clutch Kellan's hand in mine before walking off, and I feel his eyes on my back as the men go to strap on his anklet. I turn to see one man holding the anklet out to cuff to him.

It's a black, wide cuff that covers all of his ankle, and there are red lights around the center of it. The other man opens his box and pulls out a key, one he uses to activate the device.

"Let's go," Unc says in his gruff, angered tone.

"What's your deal?" I ask the second the door closes behind me.

"Have you lost your fucking mind, Aria?"

Like the smartass I am, I stop to check the mirror. I open my mouth and pull at my eyes, pretending to be doing an inspection of myself, and then I mutter, "I think it's still in there. Why?"

He curses me under his breath while shaking his head, not finding any humor in my clever little joke.

"This is too dangerous. If he-"

"Stop, Unc. Don't. I'm tired of everyone treating me like some fragile kid. In case you haven't noticed, I'm older than some of the members of the elite squad who are respected at all times."

His head flops back in exasperation, but he doesn't have time to argue further. A large room is apparently what Jase calls his office. This is nothing more than a hotel suite. How can he call me here? Is this ethical?

"Go in. I'll talk to you more about this later," Unc says before leaning over and kissing my head.

I steady my breaths, trying to ready myself for the lashing that is to come, and then I push open the propped door, letting it close completely before I try to step in farther.

"Commander Ericson?"

There's no answer, so I'm starting to wonder if he forgot he sent for me. I walk into the spacious and elegant living area to see the white couches so plush and pristine. Apparently no blood fucks are allowed in this room, because every thing is white.

Before I see Jase, I feel him turning me around, his lips pressing against mine as he picks me up and wraps my legs around his waist. My headache subsides, leaving me free from pain after feeling his incredible touch.

My hands tangle in his hair as pull him tighter to me, feeling his taste revive me from the horrible pain I've dealt with - physical and emotional. I don't stop him when he crosses the threshold to another room. I don't stop him when I feel the bed beneath me. And I don't stop him when I feel his erection pressed against me.

It's not until he starts unzipping his pants that reality pummels me with the truth of my predicament. I'm not going to let him use sex against me.

"Jase, you're insufferable," I grumble while pushing him back, barely getting him to budge.

He stays on top of me, staring down into my eyes as his cool hand slides down my waist and to the top line of my skirt. He doesn't stop his descent until he reaches the bottom of it, and then he starts sliding it up, his breath keeping my head from exploding.

"It doesn't hurt when I touch you?" he murmurs curiously, his hand venturing to be on the lace.

I let him stay there for a second, let him feel what he threw away by guarding his secrets. Then I shake my head.

"It doesn't, but that's probably because of your chill. You're the only full blood who's touched me since the headaches started."

He runs his hand over my head, feeling it as though he can draw the pain out of me forever. I'm just soaking up the moment of reprieve.

"You could just stay with me, until we figure out what's going on with you."

I shake my head, and though I know the pain will kick back in the second I withdraw, I pull away, brushing off his hands as I stand. I was right. The pain sets back in instantly.

"Why did you call me here?" I ask while refraining from grabbing the throbbing monstrosity atop my shoulders.

He stands as well, coming to me and barely touching my sides. The headache vanishes almost instantly, chillingly so. What's he doing?

"I'm not doing anything but touching you."

"Quit answering the questions in my head and start answering the ones I've asked aloud," I grumble, turning away from him.

He breathes out heavily, and he goes to sit on the bed, though I can feel his eyes glued to my back.

"I don't want you being the one in charge of Maverick. I've already asked Simone to stand in your place."

I whip around, a move I'm punished for when my head all but falls off my shoulders. I cringe while grabbing it to steady it as though it's trying to actually move by itself.

"You can't do that. Commander or not, you don't have that authority. I'll fight you on this. Kellan is now my informant, my responsibility, and my charge. Legally, you have no right. I'll take it to the council. You'll be surprised at how many of them will side with the daughter of Hale Banner."

I keep my mind clear, not giving him anything else to respond to but my spoken words. He curses, slapping the bed beneath him before leaning over and letting his head fall in his hands.

"You want him as much as he wants you, don't you?" he growls. "That was more than an interrogation, and I knew it."

I roll my eyes, realizing this is all just some jealous scheme. "I want to find this threat, and Kellan isn't as dangerous as you think... at least not to us. He's been after this thing a lot longer than we have, and I want to know why they want my blood. I'd rather not find out after they have me in their grasp."

He looks up then, suddenly realizing my own selfish reasoning behind this whole thing. His whole demeanor changes.

"Your blood?"

Fuck. That time I was the blabbermouth instead of my mind.

"Answer me," he demands.

"Fine," I murmur through a wince when his raised tone forces my head to pound more fiercely.

He jerks me into his lap, and I try to pull away.

"Just let me touch you while you're here. If it stops the pain, you should be smart enough to accept the help, no matter if you do hate me now."

I don't hate you. I-

I stop my thoughts, sealing the lips of my mind with a white blanket of nothingness. Instead, I focus on the real issues at hand, rather than linger in our fucked up issues. The reprieve from the vicious banging is nice, so I stay in his arms, though that in itself is almost painful.

"They leveled Seminole to get to the blood Simone kept vaulted. My blood. Kellan went looking for it, though I didn't know his name was Kellan Maverick at the time. Until today, I've never seen his face."

"Even when you blood fucked him?" he scoffs, looking away as his grip on me loosens.

I tighten my lips, feeling like I'm the one who betrayed him. "Even then. He blindfolded me and poured his blood into my mouth when I was seconds away from dying."

His body tenses, and he turns back with tears staining his eyes. "You were that bad off?"

I nod, breaking the eye contact and scooting out of his lap and onto the edge of the bed while still keeping some physical contact with our sides. It's enough to keep the pain subdued.

"When I led them away from the others, they caught up with me. Kellan had given me a panic button to press, in case I ever needed him. He showed up just in time. Fortunately for me, he was just a few miles away when I sent for him.

"He's a gifted, as I'm sure you're well aware. He didn't fight them when they found him today. He could have slaughtered them all if he had wanted to. He came willingly. He's here to help, and I'm giving him that chance because I need help. I have to stop them from killing people in order to get to me, or I'll have to-"

"Don't you fucking dare finish that sentence," he interrupts, scolding me with more than his tone.

I look away, feeling shameful and selfish. How can I let so many others die in my place? This isn't their war, this is mine.

"Aria, I'm serious. I'll put you on suicide watch. Stop thinking like that."

His lips find mine as the tears stroll down my face, but I pull away from the incredibly soft, comforting kiss. It's hard to fight him right now, especially when all I want to do is just give in, but he's full blood. This is for the best.

"Full blood? You're suddenly prejudice?" he growls, leaning away.

"No," I mumble, wishing I could just keep my mind's mouth shut. "I'm not prejudice, just logical. Hybrids and full bloods aren't meant to be together."

He scoffs to himself, seeming to find that tragically humorous. "And your mother and Brazen? They shouldn't be together?"

"They're different," I say with a shrug. "Mom found her counter, but her span outlasted his... obviously. Uncle Brazen waited over seven-hundred years just to be with her. That's a love I can't understand, but it's there." I pause as I look at the clock. "I need to go. I have a blood appointment with Simone. She's trying to find out what's going on with my head."

He looks down as I stand up, and then I compensate on his silence and slip away before he says anything else. I lean against the door as it shuts behind me, and I hold my breath, keeping my mind as blank as possible while trying to gather my composure.

His words come out in a whisper no one is supposed to hear, and my heart breaks upon hearing him. "I would wait longer."