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He’d sped to get here as fast as possible, nearly hitting barricades and other vehicles as he competed with the traffic heading to and from the carnival. All of Angelthene Boulevard was blocked off for the event, the long road clogged with rides, performers, striped tents, food trucks, and thousands of people.

Max hated it. The inconvenience had ended up only pissing him off more, as if this whole fiasco with his girlfriend wasn’t bad enough.

How could he have been so blind?

“Great.” Dallas threw her hands in the air, wings rustling with irritation. “A goddamn interrogation!”

“It’s not an interrogation, it’s an intervention,” Casen said. The warlock stood beside Dallas, his broad back to a metalworking vendor. The owner of the stall observed the scene with apprehension. The Butcher added, “There are people who care about you, kid. And we’re not about to stand by and let you wreck your life.”

Dallas bared her teeth, wings snapping out, stirring up garbage scattered across the grimy pavement. “You’re one to talk, you BP-dealing piece of shit.”

“That’s enough!” Max barked. “Let’s go, Dal.” When she didn’t move, he snarled, “Now.”

She stomped past him, bumping his arm with hers.

Max resisted the urge to glare at her back. Instead, he called over his shoulder, “Thanks, Casen,” before following her.

Dallas stayed several paces in front of him as she navigated the Umbra Forum. Max fought his rage as he tried to find the right words, the ones that wouldn’t set her off and make her hightail it from him.

They had just left the market and were nearing the vehicles parked near the river when he found what he wanted to say.

“How long?”

Dallas still wouldn’t look at him. “It’s not what it looks like.”

Max worked on his breathing as he followed her beside the river. He remembered back to all those times Dallas had asked him to drive her here, playing him for a fool. “You told me you were coming here to buy enchanted stationary,” he said.

“I was.”

“Apparently, that’s not all you were buying.”

“You don’t even know the half of it, Max.”

“Then tell me.”

“No.” The word lashed out like the crack of a whip. He knew she meant for it to serve as a conversation ender.

Too fucking bad.

“I’m tired of this, Dallas. If you’re not going to talk to me, then I don’t know how this can work.”

Finally, her head turned to face him, though her feet still moved with purpose toward the SUV. “You don’t understand, okay?” There was panic in her voice. “I’m not using them recreationally, I’m using them to stay awake. My parents expect me to ace my classes and excel at the Fleet, and I’m too damn tired to do it without help.”

Max was silent for a while as he walked. Rage coursed through his veins, the force of it making his whole body tremble. He hadn’t suffered a Surge in a while, but he could feel one on the horizon. It was only a matter of time before he exploded. “Fuck your parents,” he bit out.

Dallas bristled. “Very helpful, Max. Maybe it’s easy for you to say because your parents aren’t around, but mine are, and they hardly want anything to do with me. Do you know what that feels like?”

“Actually, I do.” But this wasn’t about him. “And that’s why I say fuck your parents. They don’t deserve you.”

Dallas suddenly pivoted away. Heading away from the vehicle.

“Dallas!” he called.

She didn’t slow.

Max swore, hurrying after her. His next words were out before he could stop them. “Maybe you should quit pining for the affection of your hard-ass dad and pay attention to the people who care about you.”

Dallas whirled on a heel. Her eyes were wild, copper hair flying out around her like flames. “Oh yeah?” she hissed. “Like who?”