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CY

“ Y ou look like someone just killed your cat. We’ve solved this, man. Tomorrow, we go in and get our bonus. Cheer up.” Maddox slapped me on the back. I was sprawled on his overstuffed couch, but I couldn’t get comfortable.

Eon and I had spent the last hour laying it all out for Maddox—the ceremony, the way the Church of Divine Light was tied into this whole mess, and how Renard must’ve had some kind of religious awakening and ripped out his Flux chip to get closer to the Light, or whatever shit they believed.

Now, with the pieces finally clicking into place, you’d think I’d feel triumphant. But something wasn’t sitting right.

Eon’s code. Where did that fit into all of this? Why had it been scribbled all over Renard’s walls like some sort of divine omen.

Eon strode out of the kitchen, three beers clutched in her hands. She tossed one to Maddox, then me, cracking hers open despite her long nails. “You look like you just crawled out of a grave,” she said, flopping onto the couch next to Maddox. “We solved it. We did the job. Now, we celebrate.”

I arched a brow, unimpressed. “This whole thing isn’t as tight as I want it to be.”

“That’s not what you said the other night.” She winked at me and Maddox sputtered his drink everywhere. She laughed, patting his back.

She raised her can. “Come on, nothing is ever tied up with a neat little bow. And I’ve drank for worse reasons with shittier company.” She tipped the can toward Maddox, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “No offense.”

Maddox snorted, clinking his can against hers. “None taken.”

I exhaled, shaking my head as I popped my beer open. “You’re real cocky for someone who was ready to pass out in a pew two hours ago.”

Eon grinned. “And yet, here I am, not being a complete wet blanket.” She kicked her feet up onto the table, taking a long swig. “You two should try it sometime.”

I took another drink. Maddox’s apartment wasn’t really meant for entertaining. It barely fit his junk, our equipment, and the three of us—but much like Eon, I’d suffered worse.

“Guess it’s a party then,” Maddox said flatly. I didn’t like the spark I saw in Eon’s eyes.

“Good, because I might’ve mentioned it to a few people.”

“What?!” Maddox and I cried in unison, but she just grinned. Perfectly timed, there was a knock at the door. She hopped up and opened it before Maddox or I could pick our jaws up off the floor.

Outside stood three gorgeous women, all very different.

“Maddox, I think you know Mercy already?” Eon said, her expression absolutely delinquent.

Mercy gave Maddox a coy wave and the poor guy turned a deep shade of maroon.

She shook out her bright pink curls and stepped into the apartment.

She was followed by a woman who was stick-skinny and at least 6’3”.

Her pale skin mimicked her ice-blonde hair, tied up into two tight buns at the crown of her head.

She was all angles and hard lines, and I heard a faint mechanical whirring that told me under her low-rise baggy pants, she was likely sporting an artificial limb.

“This is Vesper,” said Eon. “And this is Akiko.”

Now it was my turn to go a bit red as the face I knew stepped into the apartment.

In full light, she still looked good—a round, smooth face with sharp almond eyes that locked onto mine immediately.

In the few seconds our gazes met, we came to an agreement—her nodding slightly before turning back to Eon.

“You’re all off tonight?” Eon asked.

“Didn’t you hear? The club’s been shut down! Rook’s been missing, and things are in chaos,” Mercy chirped as she brazenly walked over to Maddox.

I saw Eon’s eyebrows shoot up. “Rook’s missing?”

“Yeah, no one’s seen him in days. Rumor is the Kitsune were after him,” Akiko added.

Eon’s gaze shot to me, and I took another sip. Something swirled between us, a question she wouldn’t ask, and I wouldn’t answer. At least not honestly.

She turned to Mercy. “What are you guys gonna do?”

“We always land on our feet, don’t we? We’ll chat about it later. I was told this was a party!”

At that, Maddox let out a grunt. “I didn’t know…there are some beers in the fridge.”

“Great!” Akiko was already rummaging through it.

Maddox was still struggling with what to do when Mercy plopped herself down into his lap.

“Missed you, handsome. You never called!”

“Didn’t leave me a contact,” I heard Maddox mumble, not looking at her.

“Shouldn’t have stopped you, E’s here, isn’t she?”

I chuckled at that. If only she knew the steps involved in Eon being here. Maddox looked at me, throwing a look that screamed help me , but he was on his own. I had my own manipulator to deal with.

Akiko returned with more beers for the women, and Vesper joined her and Mercy in sitting around Maddox on the couch.

I heard Eon chuckle beside me. “Mercy never could keep a secret.”

I watched as the three girls leaned in around Maddox, and the guy looked like he was trying to vanish into the couch cushions. “What kind of secret are we talking about here, doll?”

She looked at me, a sly smile on her lips. “Just some girl talk.”

I was going to press her when Mercy reached into her cropped jacket and my instincts instantly went into fight mode, my Flux flaring. But then I felt Eon’s hand on my shoulder.

“Relax. She’s going to torture him, not kill him.”

I raised an eyebrow, but saw that Mercy had pulled out a deck of cards.

“You told me on our last date you’d let me do a reading for you this time. Time to pay up, handsome.”

Maddox gave the smallest nod known to man, and Vesper leaned in.

“What are those cards really going to tell you, Mercy? I’ve known him for five seconds, and I’ve already got a read on him,” Vesper drawled, draping her arm over Mercy’s shoulders, getting closer.

“Mysterious, broody, a little tragic—but in, like, a hot way,” she added, grinning at Maddox like she wanted to eat him. She probably did.

“That’s just the surface, Vesper. The cards reveal what’s underneath.”

“Maybe we aren’t big on reveals, sweetheart,” I said. He was my longtime partner—I had to at least throw him a lifeline.

“It’s fine,” Maddox interrupted. Lifeline ignored for some gorgeous pussy. Couldn’t say I blamed him. “I’m not scared. It’s just…nonsense.”

“Nonsense?” Mercy gasped dramatically, clutching her cards to her chest. “Handsome, this nonsense is ancient wisdom! Now, stop being boring and shuffle these.”

Maddox muttered something under his breath but reluctantly took the cards. He shuffled them like they were explosives, tossing them back to Mercy like he couldn’t get rid of them fast enough.

“Perfect,” Mercy said, laying out a spread with flair. “All right, let’s see what we’ve got. Oh—this is interesting.”

Maddox sighed, rubbing his temples. “What now?”

“Hmm…” Mercy tapped a card. “Knight of Swords. Someone ready for the fight, whatever the consequences. Smart but headstrong, maybe a little too willing to shoot without asking why. Sound like you?”

Maddox grunted.

Eon leaned against the counter, hiding her smile behind her beer can. I caught her glance toward me, and I smirked.

“What?” I asked.

“Just thinking about how much you’d hate this if it were you,” she said, her tone light but teasing.

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I leaned a little closer, watching the way her eyes flicked up to meet mine. “Making me squirm.”

“Maybe,” she admitted, her lips quirking. “But I think you’d be a terrible client. No patience for fate.”

“I make my own fate,” I murmured, my voice dropping.

Her smile faltered, just slightly, like I’d caught her off guard.

Mercy’s voice cut through. “Oh, this is juicy,” she said, grinning as she tapped another card. “The Lovers! What are you hiding, big guy?”

Maddox groaned. “I hate everything about this.”

“You’ll thank me later,” Mercy said, winking. “Now, let’s talk about what you’re avoiding.”

Eon snorted, clearly enjoying Maddox’s torment.

I leaned closer to her again, whispering in her ear, “Should I be worried?”

“About her reading you?” She raised a brow. “Definitely. Mercy would eat you alive.”

I chuckled, leaning back but keeping my eyes on her. “Good thing I’ve got you to protect me, then.”

Eon didn’t respond immediately, but her gaze lingered on me a moment longer than necessary, something unspoken passing between us before she finally looked away.

“Good thing,” she murmured, almost too softly to hear.

Mercy gasped dramatically, but I saw a frown cling to her lips.

Maddox leaned forward, resigned but curious despite himself. “What now?”

Mercy flipped over the next card and laid it down with a flourish. “Five of Swords.”

“Meaning?” Maddox’s expression was a mix of disbelief and irritation.

Mercy smiled gently. “Five of Swords asks us to look long and hard at what we’re fighting for. Is it worth it?”

Maddox and I locked eyes, tension thickening the air, until Vesper butted in. “That’s not fun Mercy. Do another.” She grabbed the next card and flipped it over, then grinned. “That seems more fitting.”

Maddox’s eyes dropped. “The Fool? Are you calling me an idiot?”

Mercy’s plump red lips curled again. “No, don’t worry, handsome. The Fool is all about new beginnings. Trying out new things.” She exchanged glances with Vesper and Akiko, and they all grinned. “Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Maddox just grunted. “Thanks for the unsolicited fortune-telling.”

“You’re welcome,” Mercy replied, grinning as she gathered the cards back up. “And hey, if you ever want a follow-up session, you know where to find me.”

“I’d rather not,” Maddox muttered.

“Aw, don’t be like that.” Mercy shifted in his lap, and I knew the big guy was never going to win this.

Eon chuckled, her gaze still on the living room as Maddox fell further and further into the clutches of her friends.

“Well, that was entertaining,” she said, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter again.

“Entertaining?” I echoed. “You mean watching Maddox get roasted alive by your friend wasn’t the highlight of your evening?”

“Hmm.” She tilted her head, pretending to consider. “Night’s still young.”

I smirked. “Lot of time to do something stupid, huh?”

“Don’t push your luck.” Her tone was light, but there was something warm in her eyes, something she couldn’t quite hide.

I leaned in just enough to make her breath hitch. “Who’s pushing?”

Eon rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile. “Careful, or I’ll have Mercy read your cards. She’d have a field day.”

“Doubt it,” I replied. “She’d just pull the Tower and call me a disaster.”

Eon laughed, the sound light and genuine.

“Maybe,” she said, her smile lingering as she looked at me. “But I think you’d surprise her.”

And just like that, the air shifted again—something sparking between us.

Whatever it was, it was more addicting than anything I’d ever felt.

Her eyes swirled as her Flux rose under her skin, and mine did the same without me even realizing.

It would’ve been so easy to reach out and touch her, to pull her to me, to give in to this thing we’d been fighting for so long.

I wanted to taste her. I wanted to feel her come apart around me.

I wanted her to look at me and see every part of me—and not look away.

Light shone on her Vysor, and her face dropped immediately. “Sorry, I’ve got to—” She fled to Maddox’s bedroom to take the call, and I was the one who nearly came apart.