Page 39

Alexiares

“ Y ou left without me,” I said with a smirk from the top of the red bricked roof, feet dangling over the side. “Ouch.”

A ball of fire shot past my head as a warning. I ducked, but it was a futile effort. If I still had more than a short buzz of hair on my head, she’d have singed it off. Another one came in quick succession, burning right through the slab of stucco under my feet. Oh. She’s pissed. Just how I liked her.

I surged to my feet, sprinting across the roof and launching myself onto the tree at the edge. The branches groaned under my weight. Flames licked at the leaves until a blast of water magic that was not mine, put it out. A rush of water crashed down, soaking me and Suckerpunch who waited at the base.

The beast let out a low, impatient whine, his massive body coiled and trembling. He pawed the ground, desperate for release on his hold. He looked up, golden eyes shining with the weight of a moment long anticipated.

“Go ahead,” I growled, water dripping down my face, uncomfortably clinging to my ragged clothes from a week out on the road.

Amaia met Suckerpunch halfway, crouching to rub the spot in between his ears. “You poor baby,” she cooed, her voice honey-sweet. “Did the mean man make you late for your trip home?”

The little mutt barked, offering her a paw, his tail wagging furiously as he licked her hand—the same hand wearing the ring caused a sparkle to catch my eye.

“Fucking traitor,” I muttered, closing the space between us.

I reached for her hand first, fingers grazing over the piece of rock that officially claimed her as mine. She sank into my chest, letting out a sigh that seemed to have been trapped for far too long. I pressed a kiss to her curls, holding on to the feeling of her small body folded into mine.

Behind her, Reina and Tomoe waited. Reina’s grin stretched wide, as smug and pleased as ever, while Tomoe’s face stayed frozen in its usual visage of disinterest. Something scowl adjacent. I closed my eyes, taking in Amaia’s presence and warmth one last time, knowing exactly what was coming my way.

She pulled back too soon, giving me one hard shove. Her dark eyes pinned me in place. “What the hell! Where were you?”

Hunter came up behind his sister, Serenity on his other side and Caleb at their backs. “Do they always make people this uncomfortable?” Serenity muttered.

“Yeah, pretty much,” Reina said with a shrug, “Ain’t it just darlin’?”

“Not as uncomfortable as you three make the rest of us,” Moe muttered at the same time.

“There was some trouble?—”

“I thought you were dead.”

“Would you prefer me to go back?” I asked, arching a brow and crossing my arms. “There are plenty of people across several territories who’d like another shot at it.”

She gave me another shove, this time a grin tugged at her lips. I caught her wrist then tilted her chin up gently.

“Careful,” I murmured, brushing my lips against hers. The tension melted between us for a moment, but when I pulled back, I didn’t let go. Those fierce brown eyes were the color of home. They locked on mine and I felt the weight of everything I’d done. And everything I hadn’t.

“We need to talk before the others arrive,” I said quietly.

I stood at the center of our sorry excuse for a meeting spot. Complimentary Hunters planning. The others watched me as I ran through the debrief. San Jose, Fresno, everything I’d uncovered—it all came out clipped and to the point.

Then I got to the girls.

I almost faltered. Almost. But showing cracks in my armor wasn’t something I’d grown accustomed to. Not unless it was just her.

“Aw, you’re we have our own little superhero,” Reina said. She perched cross-legged, elbows on her knees, hands cupping her face.

“Bite me,” I said, shooting her a glare.

“Well, guess I can’t be mad about that,” Amaia said, her voice no-nonsense though her eyes told a different story. She turned toward Hunter, features sliding toward all-business. “I don’t know how much this will sway the others, but it’s good information to have up front, nonetheless. If they’re going to fight on our side, they’ll come prepared to do so. Those we have to convince? I’m not sure breeding programs will be the make or break—as much as I hate saying that.”

She wasn’t wrong. Convincing people to care about their humanity’s long-term survival was … complicated. Sucked to say I knew firsthand that you needed something, someone you love to flip that switch back on. If they ever had it.

“Oh God,” Serenity muttered, and for the first time, she looked shaken up. Vulnerable, even. “But they’re okay? What did Memphis look like? Denver?”

I dragged a hand down my face, taking a second before answering. Giving the specifics, the details, was equivalent to pouring salt in an open wound. “Memphis was Amaia’s complexion. Shorter hair, tighter curls. Maybe eighteen or nineteen. Denver had long brown hair, tan skin. Maybe seventeen.”

Hunter snorted. “A gaze that screamed she was marking you for death?”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Yep.”

“It’s them,” Serenity said, her voice soft with relief. But it didn’t last long. Her expression crumpled when she remembered the ones I mentioned didn’t make it.

No one asked more questions. I didn’t push. Breaking their last thread of hope wasn’t on my to-do list. Caleb stared at me, green eyes sharp, not with malice, but with quiet curiosity. He glanced away after a few seconds.

“Millie,” Reina blurted out, pushing to her feet.

Amaia reached for her power, magic swirling in her hand. “Who?”

“Great Falls,” Moe said, her usual brevity intact.

Everyone stood as Millie and three others emerged from the distance, all armed to the teeth. She removed her tan cowboy hat, letting sun-kissed hair spill down her back in a loose braid.

“Reina,” Millie said first, locking eyes on her as they approached. Reina flushed, eyes darting toward the ground.

“General Amaia, pleasure to meet you,” Millie continued, her gaze sliding over to Amaia with calculated respect. Amaia shifted, her eyes flicking to the rest of us as Millie’s sharp gaze scanned our group. “You, I know.” She jabbed a finger at Tomoe. Then her smirk turned on me. “And you, I’m assumin’, must be the Bloodhound since you’re practically glued to your general’s ass.”

I bit back the urge to reply, keeping my stance neutral. It wasn’t worth it.

Millie’s attention shifted briefly to the others, more dismissive now. “New faces. How y’all doin’? Millie,” she offered as if they didn’t already know.

We went through introductions like it was a damned cocktail party and not a war council. Millie introduced her lieutenant and two soldiers who were clearly high-ranking, though she didn’t offer much detail. Their general was apparently holding the fort back in Great Falls. Smart.

One by one, the others trickled into our meeting point. Leaders and their entourages from Salem and The Expanse. Twelve from one. Twenty-nine from the other, not including Lola who had already cast a ‘vote’ on behalf of all sectors in St. Paul. We’d have two more if my mission proved successful. Nine refused to show up, siding with Covert. Still, we outnumbered them in allies, but it hardly mattered with the odds still stacked against us. We moved inside the dilapidated building behind us, an old dinner, as we prepared to get the discussion going.

The door creaked open, and in she strode.

Finley. Last, of course, making sure she was front and center of attention. All swagger and that infuriating air of superiority.

I glanced away before her eyes could lock on mine. No way in hell was I giving her the satisfaction of acknowledging her presence.

“Oh, how I loved getting this message,” she purred, heading straight for Amaia. Her steps were measured. She leaned in, her voice low but loud enough for me to hear. “Begging for my help, I thought you were above that, General.”

Amaia didn’t flinch. Didn’t so much as blink. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, a razor-sharp smile curling her lips. “If you think I’m above tearing you apart when this is done, keep testing me. I’m all for a little fucking around and finding out.”

Her hand pressed lightly to Finley’s shoulder, a deceptively gentle push to create distance before Amaia turned and stepped to the front of the room.

I followed, falling into step behind her as Hunter joined us. We stood at her side, casual but solid. A shadow at her command.

“Never underestimate a human’s desire to survive,” she kicked things off as she faced the room, standing tall, arms tucked behind her back. “All of us are proof of that.”