Page 50

WREN

Music blared from the speakers at Arcane, old-school rock that had people singing along or heading for the makeshift dance floor.

We weren’t officially open, but we might as well have been.

The man of the hour was nursing a beer, his arm around his new girlfriend.

Plenty of folks from the gym dotted tables and stools at the bar, along with their partners or people they’d brought along for the celebration.

My mouth curved as I watched Clyde pull Dina out onto the dance floor. She blushed as he spun her into his arms.

“Interesting,” Puck said, dropping his chin to my shoulder as we studied the pair. “Does love bloom eternal?”

I chuckled. “Maybe. I can see the two of them together. She keeps him on his toes.”

Puck straightened, spinning my stool and stepping between my legs. “Happy?”

“The happiest.” My hand fisted in his tee, and I pulled his mouth to mine.

Puck kissed me with a mix of heat and comfort, his tongue stroking in. I moaned into his mouth, and he pulled me closer.

A catcall sounded, making me pull back and send a glare in Juan’s direction. He held up both hands in surrender. “What? I can’t appreciate a friend getting herself some?”

Kingston smacked him upside the head. “Stop being an idiot.”

Juan laughed, jogging off in search of either liquor or a lady friend.

King strode over to us, a gentle smile on his face. “Thanks for making us do this.”

“Hey, I didn’t force anyone.”

One corner of King’s mouth tugged up. “You know we’ll do anything to keep you safe.”

I threaded my fingers through his, squeezing gently. “I just don’t want us to lose sight of what we’re fighting for.”

I scanned the room, taking in my friends, both old and new. Nothing about the night was over-the-top. It was simple but filled with so much joy.

King dipped his head and pressed a kiss to my temple. “You reminded us. And I think we needed an excuse to let loose a little.”

An older woman tried to pull Locke onto the dance floor, but he shook his head. I couldn’t help but laugh at the slight panic in his eyes as he tugged himself free and made a beeline for us. When he saw my face, he scowled. “It’s not funny.”

“Just a little funny,” I argued. “You don’t want to dance?”

“She’s been following me around, throwing out cheesy pickup lines,” Locke groused as he straightened his glasses.

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” I assured him.

“I’m counting on it.”

Puck chuckled. “It’s those boyish good looks. The ladies love it.”

Locke turned his glare on the Brit. “She’s old enough to be my grandma.”

Puck held up both hands. “I’m not here to judge.”

King chuckled. “You need a beer, Locke? Ease the panic?”

“Sure,” he mumbled.

King reached behind the bar, grabbed a bottle from a bucket of ice, and handed it to Locke, who popped the top.

“There are too many people in here,” Brix muttered as he strode in from the back hallway.

I grinned at him. “Don’t be a curmudgeon. We’re celebrating.”

Brix looked affronted. “I’m not a curmudgeon. It’s just loud.”

“He might as well be screaming, ‘ Get off my lawn ,’” King said, amusement lacing his tone.

Brix let out a huff. “Is it so bad that I prefer the quiet of home?”

I patted his shoulder. “No, but it’s good for you to get out once in a while. Remember, there’s a whole world out here.”

“The whole world’s stupid,” he mumbled.

I laughed, my gaze scanning the room. I didn’t know what I was looking for until I landed on him. Ender stood against the far wall, expression stoic and arms crossed. Our eyes locked, and I couldn’t look away. He looked so damn lonely.

The emotion snaked out, reaching across the room and grating my skin. But loneliness was an emotion that would always return if the person didn’t take steps to remedy it. Even if I took the heaviness into me, I could do nothing to keep it from coming back.

“It’s his choice,” Brix said softly. “We can’t force him to jump. I know he’ll do it; he’s just taking his sweet-ass time.”

I hoped Brix was right. Hoped that Ender was just finding his way toward us. The path might be winding, but it would eventually get there.

I pushed off my stool, forcing the guys to give me room. “Who wants a shot?”

“Oh, shit,” Locke muttered.

King leveled me with a stare. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“We need to live a little, remember?” But I only made it two steps toward the back of the bar when the sound of glass shattering had me whirling around.

Flames. Some sort of bottle with flames had been thrown through the window. Ender moved, trying to stamp it out, but more windows shattered, explosions sounding around the room. And then there was fire everywhere.