Never Underestimate Destiny

Part 30

After breakfast Tess, Ava and Kyle arrived and Michael and Isabel filled them in about the progress, or lack of, in finding Rath and Lonnie.

Tess looked at Liz, silently furious that her powers might actually help find the others. She wanted to be the one to tell Max their location. She had stayed up half the night trying to find them, but she'd had a lot less luck than Liz and Isabel.

Her powers were not really that useful in locating people. They worked better up close.

Her gaze slid to where Max was standing and she smiled. She would keep doing anything she could to be his friend and show him how helpful she could be.

Looking across the room, she focused on Zan. Now if only she could get him to work on Liz. He met her eyes and she subtly raised her eyebrows and nodded toward Liz. With a smile he nodded back, crossing to Liz and touching her arm to gain her attention.

Tess rolled her eyes. Zan looked like Max, if not a bit more disreputable but he was certainly no king. She had to tell him what to do. She just hoped he was better at seduction than Max was, but she was pretty sure he was. Zan seemed a lot more aware of his sexuality than Max. If she thought Max would never find out, she might have tried Zan out herself.

She watched as Zan leaned close to Liz, talking softly so only she could hear. Liz smiled, blushing and Zan touched her again.

Silently, Tess nodded approval. He was good, she thought. He would have Liz eating out of his hand in no time. It was too bad she hadn't remembered to suggest it to him sooner and she might have been with Max now.

Looking to where Max was standing she saw him notice Zan with Liz.

He watched them for a moment, his brow creasing. It was obvious he was disturbed by them being together.

He started to walk toward them but Tess moved quickly and intercepted him.

"Hey, Max," she purred, stepping between him and Liz and Zan.

Max glanced at her, "Hey, Tess," he said, his eyes going back to where Liz and Zan were talking.

Tess glanced to her side, noting that Zan was standing very close to Liz, touching her arm. Tess touched Max's arm, turning him so he couldn't see the couple.

Max's head turned to look over his shoulder, as if he could see Zan and Liz behind him. He was completely focused on Tess but he had to pretend as if seeing Zan and Liz together bothered him. He didn't like leading her on, but he felt he had to give her some hope to get her to cooperate with him quickly and not drag their sessions out hoping to seduce him.

Tess spoke up, "I wanted to talk to you about something," she said, trying to get his attention.

He nodded, but his head was still cocked to the side. "Right," he said, distracted.

"Max," Tess purred, touching his arm again and this time putting some of her power into him. "I have something important you need to know, my King."

He felt her power and a visible shiver went through him as he met her eyes. "Tess," he said as if seeing her for the first time, "I wanted to talk to you too."

She beamed a smile at him. Maybe her powers were finally getting through to him. "Of course, Max," she said, her voice dropping seductively. "I'm ready to help you with anything," she said, as she let her eyes roam over him lingeringly before she met his gaze again, making it perfectly clear that she was his for the taking. "I'm always here for you for anything you need or desire."

"Thanks, Tess," he said, focusing on her. "You've always been there for me, even when I didn't really deserve it."

"I would do anything for you Max, you know that," she assured him. "You are my leader, my King."