Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Untouchable (The Moonlight Avatar Series Collection)

Chapter 18 Checking In

“I can’t protect you without holding a sword. I can’t embrace you while holding a sword.”-Tite Kubo

Neron

“It’s hotter than Satan’s armpits.”

“It’s Florida. What did you expect?”

Kiya’s lips twitched in a smirk when she grabbed her luggage off the conveyer belt. Perspiration rolled down her temples from both the many humans surroundin

us and the thick humidity. The Florida heat was definitely not for the faint of heart. We’ve arrived at Miami International Airport shortly after two in the afternoon. After we grabbed our suitcases, we weaved through the hurried crowds to the airport terminals for our designated ride to the Alpha

Erik’s hotel.

“Anthony texted me.” She said, pointing to her phone screen. “He and Alesia are at the hotel already. Only he would book a seven AM flight to wherever.”

“And your sister?”

“Lyria hasn’t replied to my messages in a while, so I think she’s still on her flight.” Kiya shone an ecstatic smile, hopping on her heels. “This is so exciting! Are we waiting for a taxi?”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “Oh, we aren’t taking a taxi.”

“A Lyft?”

“Nope.”

“An Uber?”

“No way.”

“… What are we taking, then?”

Right on cue, our designated driver rolled up to the curb in a white luxury limousine with tinted windows, seating at least six people. Kiya’s jaw dropped so quick that I had to put a muzzle on my laughter.

“A limo?!” She exclaimed.

“A limo.”

“Sheesh!”

The driver hopped out of his seat, showed his pack mark on the right side of his neck to verify his identity, and helped

admiring the polished exterior of a sugar rush carry our bags in the trunk. Kiya fan around the vehicle like a child in the vehicle, her eyes shining with wonder. After a minute of exploration, she threw her door open and hopped into her seat, bouncing against the leather seat.

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Chapter 18 Checking In

“Now, this I can get used to!” She grinned, soaking in the interior of our ride, squealing when she spotted the mini fridge. Michael, our driver, drove from the curbside pickup, into the long road toward our destination. I watched Kiya with a smile on my face as she dug into the mini fridge, adding to her growing pile of snacks beside her legs.

“Is this your first time being in a limo?” I asked, folding my legs.

“Did I make it too obvious?” She asked, twisting open her glass soda bottle. “Alpha Erik sure went all out, huh?”

“The Moon Valley Pack is the richest pack in all of Florida. Erik would take any and every chance to flaunt his wealth, especially since he volunteered to host the summer Alpha Gathering.”

be as luxurious as our ride, since I hadn’t seen the building up close. I scrolled through the photo album of my phone, pulling up the information about our reserved suite. “How many

a couple hundred?” I pushed a couple of strands of my hair behind my

trash beside her. A comfortable silence fell between us, minus the

and I were far from home, on the east coast of the

sharing a hotel room. Mingling with guests. Building new alliances. Spending time with one another far from our families. Now that I think about this, this

knew fully that Kiya can and will take care of herself, it was my responsibility to ensure that she’s both safe and protected the entire trip. I wasn’t kidding about the alphas we’ll encounter. Every man and

theil her den

of her necklace. Unmarked. Wystan is just one of many who she’ll capture the interest of. An unmated woman walking into a den of possessive and entitled alphas was akin to a newborn

over Kiya’s attention is a fight I refuse to be a part of, solely because my instincts are too powerful to ignore. I love this woman and I’m already imagining scenarios of myself fighting against unmated

I can’t help

pinched the bridge of my nose. Goddess,

“Neron?”

“Yes, Kiya?”

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Chapter 18 Checking In

breath, blinking slowly. “You’ll keep me beside you at all

the hymn of angels. “That’s what I intend to do. Are you comfortable with

prefer it if I’m being honest.” She tossed a couple more wrappers in the trash,

have agreed to co with you on this trip if I didn’t believe in your ability to protect me. Plus, I’m

“Unmarked.” I finished.

confident in my eyes. It was rather endearing. “But I’m not insinuating that I wanted to totally depend on your protection; I can protect myself. Since I’m Selene’s avatar, I don’t want a situation to arise where I’m exposed to hundreds of alphas and lunas

hand in my own, raised it to my lips, and planted tender kisses on the back of her palm. “Rest assured, Kiya,

anyone hurts you, I

small it could be mistaken for a mouse

put a limit on

want her to

that tick in her jaw or twitch in her eye to

in my

I might’ve taken a step too far and breached a boundary I didn’t know existed. Even ell me

that Kiya was off-limits. Controlling my innate instincts had raged an internal war,

plan to pass with flying

her soft hand from mine, stilling like a statue as the limo rolled quietly down the road. I waited and waited until she moved. Her lips curved into a smile, her delicate digits curling around my own. Fated sparks zipped and zoomed through my veins from her touch, pushing me into a

voice lowered to a whisper.

“No harm done, angel.”

mine. Her smile fell into a frown, but as quickly as it came, it disappeared. Kiya expelled a sigh carrying unspoken thoughts and emotions before turning her head to the window, watching the cars pass by.

more that wanted to

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18 – Checking

hoped, Kiya will tell me what

have arrived,

seen. This hotel was the space the richest of the rich would lie down and relax. Breathing in the air of this hostel would

“Holy s**it,” Kiya muttered.

laughed. “Holy **t,

bellhops burst out with luggage carts, settling our suitcases inside. Kiya scurried to my side, pressing her body into my arm as a gentle tremor shook her limbs. Her hand found refuge in

through the front doors. The lobby was bathed in the hues of luxury, a story told in strong golds and austere whites. “This is way too extravagant for me. I bet the curtains

more than your college tuition.” I joked. In minutes, many more guests arrived in the lobby. Instinctively, I wrapped my arm around Kiya’s waist as I checked us

hallway, Kiya suddenly jolted beside

okay?” I

nodding. “I-I am. Just had a weird

How odd.

for access. Dinner will be served in the ballroom at

click echoed, our door nudging open. When we entered our room, Kiya dropped

window. “Neron, the view is amazing! I can see the beach