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.”

treats on her lap. I answered her with a nod. It was safe to expect the hotel would 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 Alphas and Lunas

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

her. A comfortable silence fell between us, minus the crinkling of

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

of us 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 is the first trip

I 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

theil her den

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 bunny tossed in a den of hungry coyotes. I tightened my grip on the armrests, my teeth aching to tear the throats of those

too powerful to ignore. I love this woman and I’m already imagining scenarios of myself

goddamnit, I

my nose. Goddess, I’m such

“Neron?”

“Yes, Kiya?”

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Chapter 18 Checking In

slowly. “You’ll

singing the hymn of angels. “That’s what I intend to

being honest.” She tossed a couple more wrappers

your ability to protect me. Plus, I’m more…” Kiya paused, waving her hands

“Unmarked.” I finished.

I wanted to totally depend on your protection; I

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

you, I

small it could be mistaken for a mouse when I kissed each of

put a limit on my protection, Kiya. You’re

didn’t want her to forget

that tick in her jaw or twitch in her eye to tell

my

taken a step too far and breached a boundary

off-limits. Controlling my innate instincts had raged an internal war, and each day it

plan to pass with

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 pool of heat, overpowering the

voice lowered to a whisper.

“No harm done, angel.”

removing 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

wanted to be

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18 –

will tell me what

have arrived,

Breathing in the air of this

“Holy s**it,” Kiya muttered.

laughed. “Holy

our suitcases inside. Kiya scurried to my side, pressing her body into my

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 cost more than my college

Instinctively, I wrapped my arm around Kiya’s waist as I checked us in, receiving copies of electronic keys to our hotel room. The bellhop with

Kiya suddenly

you okay?” I asked,

She sighed, nodding. “I-I am. Just had a weird

How odd.

Dinner will be served in

Swiping my card through the electronic key, a click echoed, our door nudging open. When we entered our room, Kiya dropped her luggage and ran toward the window with

palms against the window. “Neron, the view is amazing! I can see the beach from here!