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“Thank you,” Jewels said, her breaths puffing in the air. “For saving him.” She slid a hand across Travis’s knee and gave it a light squeeze. Her touch warmed his icy blood. “If it weren’t for you, he…” She swallowed. Quickly, she took her hand off his knee, as if she hadn’t realized she’d put it there, and interlocked her fingers in her lap. “Well, I wouldn’t have a brother anymore.”

“I did it for you.” The confession slipped out before he could stop it.

Her green eyes lit up, and maybe it was the darkness playing tricks on him, but he swore he saw a dusting of blush on her cheeks. “I figured.”

The jerk they spoke of was still dazed, his body still in the process of eliminating the poison from the Harpy’s talons, but he looked to be improving. Slowly. Aspen was busy stitching up the nasty wound between his neck and shoulder, which she had—wisely—insisted on disinfecting first with the emergency kit she’d found in the boat.

“Hold still,” Aspen scolded for the fifth time since leaving the Black Market. She was kneeling beside Malakai on the bench, fighting to keep the needle steady as Malakai fidgeted and swayed and did anythingbutsit still. “I saidhold still,”she repeated.

“Iamholding still,” Malakai grumbled.

“If you really believe that, I’m concerned,” Aspen said. Dominic chuckled.

“It’s Reacher’s driving,” Malakai said. Louder, he said, “He’s ass at driving a boat!”

“You’re one to talk, Malakai,” Max fired over his shoulder. “You drive like you’re drunk.”

“And you drive like a five-year-old!” Malakai shot back.

Travis snickered and shook his head. “At least he’s feeling well enough to argue,” he whispered to Jewels.

Jewels gave a soft laugh. “Agreed.”

They were heading to the House of Violet—the Darkslayer House that belonged to the Sylphen—to clean up and get some rest. Travis wasn’t fully convinced they should be trusting the members of another Darkslaying circle, especially when these people worked for Donovan, but…apparently, they were friends of Malakai’s. The same friends he’d mentioned in the recent past, who used to work as Wyverns for Cerise Brinton but had broken away and started their own circle. Malakai claimed they were trustworthy, but… Well, after the events of this evening, Travis had good reason to doubt him.

Regardless, he needed sleep. He was exhausted and soaked to the bone. If the Sylphen killed him in his sleep…well, whatever. It wasn’t like he had much longer to live, anyway.

“My brother wasn’t really down there for weapons,” Jewels whispered, “was he?”

“No,” he replied. “He wanted Venom.”

She sighed. “Gods, he’s an idiot.” She could say that again. “Did he end up getting any?”

He shook his head. “Alfie was still cooking it when the Harpy attacked us.”

“Good,” Jewels said. She looked her brother’s way again. “At least he won’t be tempted to take any, then.”

“Agreed.”

As they made their way to the House of Violet, Travis found himself thinking of his family. Darien, Jack, Ivy, Tanner, Lace. Roman and Pax.

Wherever they were, he hoped they were okay.

Wherever they were, he hoped they were safe.

88

The Umbra Forum

ANGELTHENE, STATE OF WITHEREDGE

“What’dyou do to your hand?” the Butcher rumbled. He placed a joint between his lips, sparked a lighter, and lit up.

Where he sat across from Casen in his tiny office at the Umbra Forum, Darien settled into a more comfortable position and kicked his booted feet up on the desk, crossing them at the ankles. Even with the door shut, the roar of the audience watching the fights was so loud, the walls and floor quaked, a mug that was stuffed with pens and knives rattling on the desk.

“Got it caught in a car door,” Darien replied.

Casen winced. “Ouch.” He took a drag so deep his stubbled cheeks hollowed out, then blew three smoke rings at the ceiling, the skunky smell of Boneweed tarnishing the air. His chair creaked as he tipped back, balancing his weight on the back legs. “You want any?” He offered him the joint, the cherry glowing.