Page 8

Alexiares

“ γ αμ?.”

Amaia slowed in her steps and narrowed her eyes in the direction that had me cursing. “What? That means fuck, right? Who is that?”

We were back to the area I’d met her in earlier. A dark, hooded figure leaned against a tree with their back turned toward us. The hair on my neck raised at the sight of danger. A Covert soldier would be a welcome surprise at this point. At least then I could get some of this frustration out.

“Lola,” I said, coming to a walk a few steps ahead of Amaia.

She caught up, curiosity written all over her face. “So what’s the problem?”

“If she’s here, it means she wants something.”

The relationship I had with Lola was … peculiar. She scratched my back, I scratched hers. Sure, there were moments where things seemed familiar to say the least, but I never lost sight of what the base of it all: reciprocity. I gave Lola what she wanted.

“It’s not like we have anything to give her,” she mumbled with a shrug devoid of all hope. “First my home, then my family and my people. Next up, my sanity.”

“Not sure you ever had that one, Princess.” I smirked.

“How can you be sure that’s why she’s here?” She kicked a rock up the path as we got closer, her hand falling to a place of comfort at my waist. I leaned into her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, appreciating the warmth radiating off her even though it was hotter than hell out. “Maybe it’s just to help.”

“We don’t help people for free. No one does.”

“We?” She grinned, nudging into me. “Go on. Enjoy a few minutes before we have to do business. If I had the chance to see Prescott again, I’d do the same.”

Lola tilted her head and studied Amaia a few feet from our approach. Amaia’s face lit up despite what she knew was coming her way. They had gotten along relatively well. Lola wasn’t exactly the warmest person in the world, let alone to newcomers. My woman pushed to the tips of her toes and I leaned down, letting her kiss that spot on my cheek that made me want to kick my fucking feet like a school girl. She brushed past Lola, greeting her in passing, then made her way back toward North Gate.

Silence passed between us. The only sounds being the insects that decided to repopulate the earth thanks to Riley’s gifts. Gifts that weren’t particularly a favorite of mine. I swatted away a mosquito as Lola strolled toward me with open arms. Admittedly, the sight of her made me a little happy. I’d genuinely thought I’d never see her again after leaving St. Paul. Even if I didn’t die in this war, it was rare to see someone you crossed paths with in another area unless it was intentional.

“Mi chiquito, Sabueso.” The nurturing she was capable of came out full force with a kiss to both my cheeks.

“Claro.” I rolled my eyes, still keeping up the ‘I don’t give a shit’ act on the off chance anyone was out here lingering. “That’s enough.”

“Imagine if I had welcomed you with the same disdain,” she said, stepping away and taking me in.

“Imagine,” I jested as she looped arms with me, guiding us for a walk around the outside of The Compound.

I wasn’t sure how Amaia would feel about that. If she would assume ill-intent on Lola’s behalf, or if she simply trusted my judgment. That and the simple fact that stepping outside these walls had no guarantee on your return now. Especially for an extended period.

We weren’t sure if it was Pansies or general dissent, but people who checked out had about a 1 in 10 chance of returning. With the influx of people, it was probably for the better, as much as everyone refused to think such a morbid thought. But I couldn’t see how we could keep up with demand at the pace we were growing. Lola had no fear, though. A flaw by design, but it worked out for her so far.

“?Cómo van las cosas?”

“Lola,” I tsked. “Skip the small talk. I know you better than that.”

“Sí, sí. What is the plan here, Sabueso?”

I glanced down at her. “Plan for what? War’s over. Done with.”

While Amaia was definitely up to something, she’d stuck to her usual MO. If there was a plan, no one knew of it other than to keep our heads down and act normal. Thing was, there was nothing to act abnormal about.

“?Te parezco una tonta?” Lola scolded. The Lola I was used to showing her horns. “That girl will never lay down like a trained dog. She is a fighter. I expected her to give us a good show.”

The eagerness in her tone. The smug grin on her face. It all rubbed me the wrong way. This was something we would have humored over in the past, but now, the thought of Amaia fighting front and center made me sick. Crazed. All the shit we’d gone through during that battle was enough for a lifetime. I wished it were all over. For good. But Lola was right. Amaia wasn’t the type to roll over and play dead.

“There’s nothing left to do. Ronan gave us his terms. She chose the safety of her people. As you would, need I remind you.” I side-eyed her, not so subtly defending the woman I’d grown to respect. To love.

Lola removed the hood of her long linen hoodie. A bead of sweat against her ivory skin. Dark coal lined her unsettling black eyes. She kept her gaze forward, her grin unfading. Unbothered. “Tell me I didn’t waste my time coming here just for you to have no plan.”

“No one asked you to come, Lola. You’re welcome to stay, but there’s nothing going on here but rebuilding.”

Her arm fell away from me along with her body. “Nonsense, I was guided down this path for a reason.” With a step back, her temper flared at my secrecy—she’d always known when I’d put on a front. Dark smoke the color of night hovered in her hands as she murmured. Raw magic shot toward the well-kept path ahead of us. Hard work from the earth elementals gone to waste with the rot of Lola’s magic. What was once green and brown earth was now a pit of tar and black mold. Decay slapped me in the face, the smell strongly unbearable. I bit down the urge to gag at the sight of amusement in her eyes.

“You invite me to stay as though you determine who comes and who goes,” Lola chided, smug ass grin still present as she approached me and motioned me closer with two fingers.

Signaling for gossip , as Reina explained when I asked her why she was giving me that look in the middle of a crowded room of council members and leaders of The Compound. We fell back into step, her playful tone not overlooked.

“Guess I kind of do,” I said, wondering when the hell that had happened.

So much had happened in such little time. I didn’t know where I stood here. When Amaia or Riley disappeared, the questions ended up at my feet. Now Amaia and I were playing house with no real conversation about that either?—

“Ah, you popped the question already?” Lola interrupted my spiraling thoughts with a knowing pinch of her brows.

I choked on air. The very thing responsible for keeping me alive, damn near took me out. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“Oh sure. You mean to tell me there isn’t a coffin-shaped ring you’ve kept?—”

“Lola,” I snapped, glaring at her as I yanked us to a stop. “Do I need to remind you of the sentiments I hold toward being watched?”

The mock forest around us fell silent at the power radiating from Lola. Her gaze turned stone-cold at my grip but she kept her darkness to herself. “It would be dumb to offer favors to someone who won’t live to repay me.”

“Estás mal de la cabeza,” I muttered, continuing on and ignoring her silent warning. I trusted Lola, I did. But the way she was talking—her track record—trusting her with my life was entirely different from trusting her with Amaia’s. Her being here meant something.

She wouldn’t waste the trip unless she had seen an outcome that played to her benefit. Her people were already here, doing what she had promised and using their dark magic to enhance ours. Lola, while having taken many trips throughout The Expanse, had not crossed the line to any other territory since the war.

“I’ll stay,” she said as I attempted to hide the regret of my offer. “But only because you and I both know that girl understands how dangerous it is not to have a plan. Dare I say, more dangerous than compliance with a man who only speaks the language of violence.”