Page 76 of A Token of Blood and Betrayal

“Alex,” I said.“His name is Alex.This is Carrie.And John.”

Alex’s brows rose as she shook too enthusiastically.I semidiscreetly slapped her arm, and she let him go.

Carrie’s hands went to her hips.“You’re lucky you showed up tonight.I was seconds away from submitting an application to your sex resort.”

“Oh, God no,” I said, exaggerating my genuine horror.I freaking missed her and the guys—missed this life—but I also accepted that my future had taken a sharp, abrupt left turn.I couldn’t have this.I’d tried to distance myself, but I’d done it too quickly.This breakup would have to be gradual and intelligently timed.

“Come sit,” Carrie said.

“I’ll grab another chair,” Alex said, ducking into his apartment.

The breezeway was exactly as it had been when I’d lived there, less shared walkway and more hodgepodge campsite.The same four canvas chairs were opened up and facing each other, and the old side table we’d found last year by the dumpster still sat in its usual spot, although it looked like it had a few more water rings than before.

A smile tugged at my mouth when I noticed the decorated railing.Carrie had gone full summer mode on it, twisting faux greenery through the bars and hanging clusters of plastic lemons and tiny metal suns.She’d even tied little pinwheels to the rail.

I headed to my usual chair.Carrie and John did the same, and Alex reemerged with one of the folding chairs from his kitchen table.

“Have a seat,” he said to Thordis.

“Ooh, hotness and manners,” she said.“I like you.”

Alex laughed.“Thanks.I think.”

A crumpled-up paper ball hit his temple.

“Don’t be so welcoming,” Carrie said, a mock glare on her face.“Kennedy’s trying to replace us with friends from work.”She opened the cooler beside her, took out a beer, and handed it to Thordis.“No offense.This is all on Kennedy, and I’m sure you’re…” Her gaze flickered down to Thordis’s boots, then up to her loose black tank top.“Fun.”

“The funnest,” Thordis said with a grin that stretched across her face.

“You’re from work?”Alex asked.

“Kennedy is my best friend’s employer.”She opened the can, lifted it to her lips, and drank.Alex and John watched her way too closely.

I cleared my throat.“Are we sitting?”

The guys blinked, then nodded in sync and much too quickly.Carrie’s gaze met mine, and we both smirked.Thordis was sexy and exotic in a way Carrie probably couldn’t describe, but I definitely could.I just hoped deadly didn’t get added to that list of adjectives tonight.

Alex sat across from me, John across from Carrie, and Thordis set her folding chair facing us in the exact center of the breezeway.It also happened to be between me and the staircase, which I was sure wasn’t an accident.

John reached inside the ice chest and took out two beers.He held one out to me.

“No, thanks,” I said.“I’m driving home tonight.”And if a Valkyrie and elemental weren’t enough of a deterrent for Canyon, I wanted to have a completely clear head.

“What?”Carrie gave me a sad face, then looped her arm through mine, almost pulling me out of my chair.“Noooo.You have to stay.Please?You need a break.Alex needs a break.You can go home first thing tomorrow.”

“She can leave if she wants,” Alex said.

“Yeah,” John agreed.“It’s fine if we’re not cool enough to hang out with anymore.”

“You know that’s not it.I’m—”

“Busy,” all three said in unison.

“Come on,” Carrie continued.“You need to relax.”She cocked her head, and curious speculation swept across her face.“Unless you’re getting enough relaxation at The Rain?”

A laugh burst out of Thordis.“Sheshould, but she isn’t.”

Heat rose to my cheeks.Whether it was from irritation or embarrassment, I wasn’t sure.