26.Blood, Circuits, and Silk

Leah flicked her wrist, checking the time display. She had everything—almost.

Then it hit her.

Ava.

Right.

If she forgot, she'd be hearing a smug, drawn-out "Did you forget me?" for the next three months.

Leah's voice cut through the quiet hum of the car: "Ross. One more stop before home."

Ross didn't take his eyes off the road, but the flicker of amusement in his voice was unmistakable.

"Ava?"

Leah's lips tugged upward.

"Of course."

Before Ross could say another word, a familiar crackle came through the car's comm system.

"Oh, so now you remember me?"

Leah exhaled slowly.

"Ava."

"Mmhmm. That was a long pause, Leah. Almost like you forgot me. Almost like I'm sitting at this damn tower, running every security feed, handling your mess, and you weren't even going to bring me something nice."

Leah's lips twitched.

"You're going to ask for extra silk pajamas, aren't you?"

"Damn right I am." Ava's voice dropped into something almost serious. "And none of that cheap crap. Jewel tones. You know the rules. If it doesn't feel like water, I don't want it."

Ross's tone was dry, laced with humor. "Loud, demanding, and only satisfied with the best."

"Ross, honey, you get me. Leah could learn from you."

Leah rolled her eyes, scrolling through her inventory list.

"Fine. Silk—top-grade. Twelve sets. Six for you."

Ava's voice hummed through the comms. "And six for you, obviously."

Ross flicked a glance at Leah, amused. "You are getting some for yourself, right?"

Leah sighed, tapping the purchase order.

"I wasn't, but now I have to, or I'll never hear the end of it."

Ava's laugh was pure delight.

"See? Growth."

Leah shook her head, ignoring the warmth curling in her chest.

"And chocolate. To Victor's."

Ross let out a soft whistle. "You're spoiling her."

"She's earned it." Leah shot him a knowing look. "Plus, she's stuck at the tower working with James. I feel... generous."

"You better be getting me more than one damn box, Leah."

Ross snorted. "That'll be handled."

Ava's hummed approval was smug. "Good. Now, did I hear something about Kael?"

Leah sighed.

"Why are you still listening?"

"Because I have nothing better to do. So... what are we getting for our broody warlord?"

Ross smirked. "Fish."

Silence.

Then Ava's voice, full of pure disbelief:

"The great Kael Voss. Staring at fish?"

Leah's smirk deepened. "Apparently."

A beat.

Then Ava burst out laughing.

"Oh, this is gold."

Leah exhaled. "Are you done?"

"No. But continue."

Entering the Azure Emporium was bathed in soft, ambient lighting, the gentle trickle of water weaving through the space like a living thread.

Inside, the air was cool, serene, the storefront lined with delicate aquatic installations—miniature biospheres, flowing cascades, handcrafted aquariums.

A smooth, practiced voice greeted them.

"Welcome to Azure Emporium. I'm Nora, your consultant today. How can I assist you?"

Leah's eyes swept the displays, her voice crisp and direct.

"I need something unique. A water feature. Compact, but living."

Nora's expression brightened, professional focus sharpening.

"For a private space or an office?"

Ross's voice, dry and edged with amusement, answered before Leah could.

"Office. Something... calming."

Leah shot him a look, lips curving slightly.

"Exactly."

Nora nodded knowingly. "I see. Follow me."

She led them toward a display encased in crystal-clear glass—a biosphere aquarium. Inside, a delicate world thrived:

—A flowing cascade, shimmering under soft lighting.—Living coral, pulsing gently with the water's rhythm.—And a school of iridescent blue-and-silver fish, gliding in slow, hypnotic movements.

Nora's voice dipped into the cadence of a seller who knew she was offering perfection.

"Self-contained ecosystem. Minimal maintenance. The light cycle shifts with the time of day, simulating natural dawn and dusk. It's designed for... quiet reflection."

Leah's eyes softened slightly, something warm flickering beneath her usual edge.

"It's perfect."

Ross tilted his head, studying the fish. "What are they?"

Nora's smile didn't waver.

"Glassfin Eels. Very rare. They're bioluminescent in low light. Extremely resilient."

Leah's gaze tracked the fish, mesmerized by their slow, fluid movement, the way their fins shimmered under the artificial sun.

"And care?"

Nora's smile remained, but her voice dropped into something almost... careful.

"Self-sufficient, mostly. Just don't let them prick you."

Leah's brows lifted slightly.

"Excuse me?"

Nora gestured toward the fins.

"Their spines secrete a mild neurotoxin. Harmless—unless you get stung."

Ross let out a low chuckle. "So, basically, don't stick your hand in the tank."

"Exactly." Nora smiled, smooth and composed. "As long as they remain undisturbed, they're perfectly tranquil."

Leah's lips curled slightly.

"Perfectly tranquil. Until provoked."

Ross smirked. "Sounds like someone we know."

Leah hummed, not disagreeing.

"We'll take it. Have it shipped to Voss Enterprise. No card. Just... let it arrive."

Nora's fingers glided over her tablet. "Of course. Delivery within the hour."

As they turned to leave, Ava's voice crackled back through the comms.

"Wait, wait, wait. Did you just buy Kael poisonous fish?"

Leah grinned. "Yes."

Ross chuckled. "Fitting, isn't it?"

Ava's laugh was pure delight.

"Oh, he's going to love that."

Leah's smirk deepened.

"He'll know who it's from."

Ross, voice laced with amusement: "Oh, he definitely will."

The comms crackled, and Ava's voice slid in, smug as ever.

"You know, this has been wildly entertaining for me."

Leah sighed, already bracing for nonsense.

"Ava."

"No, no, let's recap! I get silk pajamas and expensive chocolate. Kael gets a tank full of poison. But the real highlight?"

A pause, filled with pure glee.

"Kael walked into the tower covered in blood from head to toe."

Leah's hand froze mid-air, fingers tightening against the console.

"Define 'covered.'"

"Mmm. Dripping?" Ava sounded way too pleased with herself. "It not his bloog. Intense look, very dramatic. Made quite the entrance."

Ross's brows lifted, shifting his grip on the wheel. "So, what? He just strolled in, dranking blood all over the place?"

"More like dropped his coat, shrugged off his RED wet shirt, and walked around like nothing happened."

Leah's jaw tightened.

"What. The. Hell."

"Right? James nearly combusted at the mess. He took one look at Kael and immediately started muttering about 'unsanitary conditions' and 'reckless idiocy.' Meanwhile, Kael just—leans against the counter like he's having a casual afternoon."

Ross snorted, adjusting the car's speed.

"So, standard BOSS behavior. It normal. Just get use to it."

"Exactly. And James is seething. You know he's about two seconds from stapling a shirt onto him."

Leah dragged a hand down her face.

"Did anyone think to stop him from strutting all over the damn place?"

"James tried—Kael growled. It was very alpha posturing, very 'don't fuss over me, I am fine'. Then James threw a med pack at his head and stormed off to the docks. Leaving me to handle updates. I want overtime."

Ross shook his head, chuckling.

"Wish I'd seen that."

"Oh, honey, I recorded it."

Leah exhaled sharply, fighting the urge to bang her head against the dashboard.

"Ava."

"Yes, darling?"

"If he collapses, call me."

"Oh, don't worry, I'm watching very—very closely."

Leah could hear the smirk in her voice.

"For science, obviously."

Ross flicked a glance at Leah, half amused, half exasperated.

"She's never going to let this go."

"Nope," Ava agreed cheerfully. "But let's talk about something fun. Did you see the circuits activate?"

Leah's attention snapped back.

"He used them?"

"Oh, fried some poor bastards. He and James both have them. And let me tell you—I need to study that tech. The conductivity, the power source, the way it amplifies muscle response—tell me, does Ross have the same system?"

Ross's blue eyes flicked to Leah in the mirror, unimpressed.

"No."

Ava clicked her tongue.

"Boring."

Ross, flatly: "Functional."

"Potato, potahto," Ava murmured.

Leah ignored them, her focus narrowing.

"If Kael pushed his circuits, his power reserves are going to drop fast. Keep an eye on his vitals."

"Already on it," Ava said. "But honestly? He's still walking around like nothing happened."

Ross, dryly: "Shocking."

"I know, right?" Ava's voice turned mischievous. "Now, tell me—where exactly are you two off to next?"

Leah tapped the console, the route flashing across the screen.

"Victor & Co. Luxuries."

Ava let out a delighted gasp.

"LEAH. Are you finally upgrading your wardrobe?"

Leah rolled her eyes, adjusting in her seat.

"Ava, I have clothes."

"You have combat gear. You have tactical wear. You do not have luxury."

Ross smirked, watching the city blur past.

"You walked right into that one."

Leah sighed.

"Twelve sets of silk pajamas. Six for Ava. Six for me."

Ava's sharp inhale of pure joy was nearly deafening.

"MY INFLUENCE."

Leah muttered under her breath, "This was a mistake."

Ross, grinning: "Absolutely."

Ava, still rambling:

"Okay, okay. Baby steps. We'll start with black. Classic. But next time—colors, Leah. Jewel tones. Let's make you look expensive."

Ross, chuckling.

Leah smirked, watching as Victor & Co. Luxuries came into view, glowing in the distance. It was a place she had visit before.

"Yeah."

The car slowed, pulling into the reserved lane.