Page 36 of Rule the Night

I shook my head. “I’m just tired.”

He nodded. “It’s been a long night, a long day. You should sleep.”

I hesitated, afraid to ask the question that had been beating in my mind.

Afraid to know the answer.

“Why am I here?”

“You lost the Hunt.”

“Yeah, I get that part,” I said. “I just mean, why am Ihere? What do you want me to do?”

“There are a lot of things I want you to do.” His voice was low and suggestive, and a shiver ran up my spine. “But let’s start with the cooking.”

“The… cooking?” It wasn’t what I’d expected.

“Our housekeeper is a terrible cook, and the only thing Remy cooks is health food.” He headed for the door. “Get some sleep.”

23

BRAM

It wasafter ten p.m. when the files from Aloha finally landed in my encrypted inbox. I skimmed them, then took my laptop downstairs.

I tried not to think about the new girl — Maeve — sleeping in her room next to mine. At least, that was what I assumed she was doing. I hadn’t seen her since she’d come home with Poe, which was just as well. We brought the girls from the Hunts to cook, not to make conversation.

“Files come in?” Poe asked, pausing over the clay he was working on a silicone mat on the dining room table.

Remy was on the sofa reading, as always.

“Just now.” I took a seat at the table and opened my laptop.

Remy put down his book and crossed the room, then leaned over to look at my computer.

I glared up at him. “Do you mind?”

“Just curious about the new girl.”

“Maeve,” Poe said. “Her name is Maeve.”

“I know,” Remy said good-naturedly.

Remy never took anything personally. Must be nice.

Poe put down the clay and wiped his hands on a wet towel next to the mat.

Remy glanced at the piece of clay. “You going to start work on that one soon?”

“I don’t know,” Poe said.

Poe didn’t like to talk about his work.

“Is she still asleep?” I asked.

Remy shrugged. “I assume so. I took her a wrap and some bone broth around six and she took the tray and slammed the door in my face. Haven’t seen her since.”

“A wrap and bone broth?” I shook my head. “No wonder she didn’t let you in. Who the fuck wants a wrap and some bone broth after pulling an all-nighter in the tunnels?”