“No kidding.” He itched to see Olivia again. Taking a subtle sniff, he followed the trace of her lingering in the hallway.
“I can't believe you're sniffing after her like a damned dog. Dude, you're embarrassing,” Tersch grumbled but followed along.
Fallon sped up when he heard Hayashi's, Jules's, and Olivia's voices coming from the gym.
He and Tersch entered to find the three of them dressed for sport. Olivia wore shorts and a T-shirt, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. The shirt clung to her in patches, sweat making her skin shine like gold.
Fallon's beast purred, and Tersch stalked away, muttering under his breath.
“I want to play,” the Viking announced and stripped off his shirt.
Olivia's eyes widened. “Wow. I didn't think they made assholes that large.” Jules laughed, and Hayashi grinned.
“Incredible, isn't it?” Fallon added and stepped forward, pleased to see the awareness flash in her gaze.
“Hey, Jesse.”
Her blush wasn't lost on anyone, and Fallon wanted to crow the petty victory. The woman responded to him because she belonged to him.
“Fallon, Tersch, where the hell have you two been?” Jules asked with a frown. “We've been waiting to train, just warming up. Olivia has some impressive moves. Unfortunately Hayashi's slowed down some.”
Without warning, Hayashi kicked at Jules's head. Jules barely avoided the blow but instead suffered the shot Hayashi aimed at his ribs.
“Slow, my ass,” the Asian muttered. “My roundhouse was intentionally sloppy because I didn't want to brain you. How does the gut feel?”
Jules grunted and straightened. “Terrific, thanks. Fallon, Tersch, get over here. I want to demonstrate a few things for Olivia before we give her some abbreviated training. Mrs. Sharpe has given us five more days before we head out. Our flight for Brazil leaves Saturday morning.” Olivia took the cue and sat down, her legs crossed in front of her.
Fallon wanted to join her, to plant a kiss on those full lips, but the look she gave him warned him not to try.
Jules stretched. “You two, go suit up. We'll wait.”
Fallon and Tersch left and returned in minutes dressed in shorts and T-shirts. Fallon wondered if Jules intended for them to change in front of her. He didn't want to with an audience. For some odd reason, his beast considered it his own personal mission to instruct Olivia in the fundamental truth of what being a Circ meant.
“Why don't you guys ever wear shoes?” she asked, looking at their feet.
“It impedes our abilities,” Hayashi answered when no one else did.
“Hmm.”
“Olivia, this is important,” Jules began. “The four of us work as a cohesive unit. Each of us understands the other after working together for several years. Our abilities give us a unique way to communicate as well. Fallon, open up.”
Fallon released the shields holding his mind closed from outside thought. Olivia's mind remained behind a wall of defense, but the others sounded clear. The union warmed him, made him feel comforted by familiar minds.
“Fallon sends messages with his mind that can't be heard or penetrated by an outside source. Tersch, when he puts his mind to it, can't be stopped.”
“Not even by a bullet?”
“Not even then.”
Her expressive face looked so damned cute. Fallon wanted to…
“Focus, dammit.” Jules frowned at him before continuing. “Hayashi, as you saw, is lethal with those fists and feet. He's also learning to better control his visions.”
“For example, I can tell you that at some point in our stint in South America, the five of us are going to be running in the forest. We're going to separate.” Hayashi paused, his face blank.
“You'll go with Jules and Fallon. Tersch and I will lead them away while you three get to safety.”
Olivia leaned forward. “Safety? From who? Montaña's men? I thought I was supposed to stay in the city while you four investigated the lab.”
“What I see is a possibility, not an exact future,” Hayashi said quietly.
Jules continued. “A possibility that makes it vital you can defend yourself in a worst-case scenario.” He paused. “Olivia, are you Circ?”
The entire room quieted. Fallon waited anxiously for her answer.
“Am I what?”
“Circ,” Fallon repeated, remembering an image of her changed eyes.
“Um, no. I've never been treated for anything other than a superficial cold. I'm surprisingly healthy—no weird shots, no genetic manipulation. Hell, I was almost out of breath on my run the other day.” She refused to meet his gaze. “I don't have any superpowers, no stamina, no incredible strength.”
“I don't know about that,” Fallon murmured, remembering all too well the hold she'd had on his beast.
She ignored him. “I'm sorry. I'm empathic. End of story. I can feel your disappointment and your disbelief. But I don't know what to tell you.” Jules watched her for a moment. “Fallon, I need you to stay back. I'm not going to hurt her, but I need to see something.”
“What are you going to do?”
Jules didn't answer him, and Fallon's beast didn't like the potential threat to the woman he considered his.
When his team leader vanished, Fallon swore.
“Oh my God. Where did he go?” Olivia scrambled to her feet, her mouth open. She squealed in fright when her feet left the ground. “Jesse, something's got me!”
“Dammit. Jules, let her go.”
Olivia settled back on her feet and raced into his arms. They watched as Jules materialized in front of them.
“How did he do that?” she asked, breathless. “My God, that's incredible!” And she had yet to see them shift into their beasts.
“Ask Jules if he wants her to see us change,” Tersch prodded.
Fallon mentally repeated the question as he stroked Olivia's back and hugged her tight.
“Not yet.” Jules sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Olivia, I just thought if you were scared enough, you might… Never mind. We'll take care of you out there. But if what Hayashi saw comes to pass, you'll need to know you can trust us. You'll follow orders, no question, or you're not coming along.”
She swallowed audibly. Fallon tried to calm her quivering frame. Talk about a lot to throw at a person. “I will. I promise.”
“Good. You can start now. I want you to get out of Fallon's hold.” “Fallon, don't let her go.”
Fallon tightened his arms. She couldn't move.
“Try harder.”
She squirmed, but all she did was arouse him.
“Now change, Fallon.”
“Jules, I don't know.”
“I do. She needs to know we can protect her. And we can't afford for her to panic on us if we have to change during the mission.”
“What's going on?” Olivia breathed, still struggling.
“I don't like it. No.”
Jules's entire stance changed. Aggression swelled from him in waves as he faced Fallon.
“You're refusing me?”
“Hell.” Tersch plucked Olivia from his arms. “Come on. Hayashi, let's continue this while they come to an understanding.”
“Good idea.”
His team leader growled low in his throat. “Get outside, now.”
“Fuck.” Fallon cast a last, longing look at Olivia and left the room. He didn't make it a foot outside before Jules knocked into him. Then all hell broke loose.
Chapter Seven