He was already injured, so he knew he''d be at a disadvantage in a fight. His only option was to try and intimidate her.


    Ebony Fox strode forward and grabbed Kurt by the cor, her beautiful face radiating a frosty rage. "Who are you telling to get out? You''ve got some nerve, kid!”


    "Let go!" Kurt''s neck stiffened as he yelled, "I''m not one of those guys who won''t hit a woman!"


    He dared to hit women? Ebony Fox let out a coldugh, her eyes raking over the squawking Kurt. The amusement in her gaze deepened. *Look at him,* she thought, *he''s barely a man.*


    Just as they were on the verge of a full-blown fight, with Ebony Fox preparing to teach the brat a lesson, the front door suddenly swung open.


    Ebony Fox and Kurt both turned their heads.


    "My dear sis, you''re finally back!" Ebony Fox eximed with joy.


    "My cousin''s back. Just you wait," Kurt stated indignantly.


    "Sis?"


    "Cousin?"


    Ebony Fox and Kurt''s eyes met, and they spoke in unison.


    Half a minuteter.


    Ebony Fox stood by the window, holding a cup of coffee, calmly watching the boy on the sofa who was alternating between rubbing his shoulder and scratching his leg.


    "You okay?" Shanley nced at him, his voice low.


    "Still breathing.” Kurt grimaced in pain. As he answered, he couldn''t help but sneak a look at Ebony Fox, and his heart skipped a beat.


    Damn. How could someone with such a pretty face and slender limbs pack such a powerful punch?


    "He didn''t say who he was," Ebony Fox said, her brow furrowed with a hint of guilt. "Sorry about that."


    “It''s fine,” Kurt shook his head. When he met Ebony Fox''s suddenly gentle expression, his heart started to pound, and he stammered his reply.


    "He''s got thick skin. He can take a beating," Shanley said with a slight smile. "Don''t worry about it. Consider it a lesson on my behalf."


    He then looked at Kurt and reminded him pointedly, "Kurt, address her properly. This is Ebony Fox, Juniper''s sister."


    Juniper''s sister? Kurt''s brow twitched. She didn''t look much older than him!


    "Go on," Shanley said, giving him a light kick.


    “Fine, fine.” Kurt pouted and looked at Ebony Fox, reluctantly mumbling, "Nice to meet you."


    "Likewise." Ebony Fox raised an eyebrow but didn''t dwell on it,


    ?????


    turning her attention to Juniper "You just got back from dealing with


    Celine. You should rest. My Situation isn''t urgent."


    “I''m alright,” Juniper yawned, leaningzily against Shanley''s shoulder. "Don''t you worry about this. Just focus on resting and wait for me to make the antidote."


    Antidote? Kurt''s gaze shifted to Ebony Fox, a look of confusion on his face. "Juniper, is your sister sick?"


    "Yeah,” Juniper replied with azy murmur.


    "She''s sick and she can still kick me that hard? Wow, just wow." Kurt gave her a thumbs-up.


    “Be serious,” Shanley said, kicking him again, his brow furrowed.


    Did this brat have any manners at all? Who did he think he was talking to?


    "You think that was her full


    strength?" Juniper drawled, looking at Kurt like he was an idiot. "My


    sister is a senior instructor at then et


    Huntsman Institute. If she''d been serious, you''d be waiting line for your next life right now."


    "Huntsman Institute?" Kurt had idolized special forces operators since he was a kid, though he never had what it took to be one out of


    Hearing this, he nearly/DRY


    his seat. "You mean *the* Huntsman Institute? The one that trains elite soldiers?"


    Juniper just blinked.


    "No way!” Kurt couldn''t sit still anymore. He scrambled up and limped over to Ebony


    Fox, his eyes shining. "You''re incredible!"