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“If that were even remotely true, you would’ve left with the others instead of staying here. You chose my sister, who youbarely even know, over your own family.” He arched a brow. “Desperate much?”

It was more than a low blow. It was a kick to the nuts. A hard one.

Travis hadn’t stopped thinking about the others since they’d left. Especially Roman. Malakai was right—hehadchosen Jewels, a Reaper he barely knew, over his own family. His brothers. His Devils. Darien, Lacey, Ivy, Jack, Maximus, Tanner… The guilt was eating at him.

Had he done the right thing? It wasn’t that he doubted his feelings for Jewels, but he doubted how she felt about him. Definitely. They’d only had one real date, and he wasn’t even sure she liked him all that much. Maybe hewasdesperate.

Maybe he just really needed to get laid.

He settled deeper into his chair with a sigh, stretched his legs out, and crossed his arms, the change in position wafting the tang of his own sweat across his face.

He wrinkled his nose. Fuck, he smelled nasty. He was long overdue for a shower—and some rest.

Delaney continued to watch him as if this were some sort of staring contest and drugs were the prize. Travis didn’t partake in it, though—he stared at Jewels instead. He was already pissing Malakai off by merely existing, so he might as well live life to the fullest and do whatever the hell he wanted. And right now, what he wanted was to look at Jewels.

She seemed to be improving, but maybe that was just his optimism speaking. Her skin was still sickly, her body drowning in that hospital gown. She looked so frail for a hellseher. Like Loren, sort of.

Yeah, come to think of it, she really wasn’t looking much better.

“Do you always creepily stare at girls while they sleep?” Malakai demanded, the question hissed through clenched teeth.

“Do you always terrorize every guy your sister hangs out with?”

“Just the ones who try to date her.”

Lucky him.

The clock ticked. Outside, the city was rocked by more gunfire, more explosions. Helicopters flew so close to the building, the windows shuddered.

The portal was growing. They had until noon tomorrow—or was it today, now, technically?—to get out, which meant they would have to travel while Jewels was at risk of suffering complications. Being a hellseher meant she’d recover from this quicker than if she were mortal or half, but being ill with the Tricking put her at a huge disadvantage.

She was too young to be plagued with this horrible disease. The Tricking didn’t usually target people in their early twenties. Usually thirties, forties… And usually people who abused their magic. People like Randal. Which, from what Travis had seen, Jewels didn’t do. He didn’t think he’d ever even seen her track anyone.

“If your dad shows up,” Malakai began, “I’m leaving with Jewels and Aspen and I’m locking you in here with him.”

Travis stiffened. “That’s an asshole thing to say,” he growled, thoroughly disturbed by the idea of that happening. Donovan still had no clue his runaway son was back in Yveswich, and Travis wanted to keep it that way. If he found out he was here…

He shivered.

Malakai shrugged. “I’m an asshole,” he stated. “What’d you expect?”

“That really is an asshole thing to say, Malakai,” chimed a female voice. Jewels was awake—and glaring at her brother. “Travis’s dad is an awful piece of shit. We wouldn’t like it if someone said they’d lock us up with Cathal, would we?”

“Who’s Cathal?” Travis asked.

She slowly slid her attention his way, the ice gradually thawing from her expression. “Our stepdad.”

“How are you feeling?” Malakai asked her.

“About the same as before. If you guys would stop arguing for longer than five minutes, maybe I could get some rest,” she quipped.

Malakai grumbled and cracked three of his knuckles.

Jewels looked toward the dark windows. “And maybe if the city would shut up…” She sighed and rubbed her eyes, her IV lines tugging across the sheet. “What time is it?” she asked around a yawn.

Travis took out his phone?—

And saw an incoming call from Darien. The volume was on silent—he would’ve totally missed it if he hadn’t looked.