Page 317 of Shadowman

Byron pulls me inside, and they slam the door behind us. “Really?Pinched?” He gives her a teasing look. “What are you, a 1940s gangster?”

She purses her lips. “Stick ’em up or I’ll pump you full of lead.”

Huffing in amusement, my face tips around to take in the conditions of this shabby place. The room has gone quiet, and I land on a whole slew of curiously appraising gazes, aimed right at me.

“Um… hello,” I mumble to the ragtag band of ready-made soldiers, squeezing Byron’s hand.

But this time, the glares don’t all give offkill the traitorvibes. If anything, it seems more like a family’s overprotective scrutiny of thenew boyfriend.

The only person in the room I don’t know is a large, unnecessarily attractive blonde man, clutching the hand of the pink-haired dreamboat I met earlier, named Dash—this must be Kemper, then.Byron has mentioned Dash before as his friend, the prisoner who escaped Alabaster Pen and reconnected with a former guard, Kellan Kemper.

Apparently, he and his partner came back from wherever they’ve been hiding to help Velle defeat The Ivory. Just like Luthor and Ren did. The notion of such loyalty spreads warmth in my chest.

These people genuinely care for each other. Whether prisoners or guards, killers or cops, from all different walks of life… They’re ready to lay down their lives for one another. It’s as baffling as it is remarkable.

No wonder they all hated me so much… In their eyes, I was stealing Byron away from where he clearly belongs by their sides. And it’s notnottrue… I just hadn’t realized until I saw them together earlier, when Dash arrived, howstrongtheir bond is. And now I feel like even more of a wanker for isolating him the way I did—unintentionally or not.

Choosing to deescalate the situation in an overtly British way, I address Dash’s largeDaddyof a partner. “You must be Kemper… We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Trevel Fenwick.”

Ren scoots between us before I can shake his hand. “Let’s save the Alabaster Pen alumni meet-and-greet for later.” He folds his arms over his chest, serving me a vibrant blue glower. “You said a lot of stuff out there, Fenwick… Was ittrue?”

“Hi, Ren. Good to see you again,” I sigh begrudgingly. “Wereallof you eavesdropping on our conversation?”

The collective group of them nods, murmuring various versions of,duh,of course, andno shit.

Byron huffs, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes, though he seems unsurprised by his friends’ meddling.

“Did you mean it?” Dash blinks wide, hazel eyes at us. “’Cause it was… really romantic.” He bites back a swooning grin.

I open my mouth to answer him, but Ren snaps, “Not now, Dascha, you marshmallow. I want to know what this young man’s intentions are for my friend.”

“I’m certain we’re about the same age,” I rumble in amusement.

“Don’t talk back to me,” he barks. “I’m fully serious. That dude isfamily. You mess with him, and you mess with me, plain and simple. I don’t care if you’ve hypnotized him with your sexy accent, or your pretty eyes, or because you’re like the lovechild of Ozzy Osbourne and Shaggy from Scooby Doo and he thinks that’s hot for some reason. Iwill nottolerate him being used in any way, shape, or form.” Ren’s eyes flit to Byron. “He’s had enough of that for one lifetime.”

Byron is shifting at my side, his palm becoming terribly sweaty where it’s engulfed in mine. The rest of the crew appear to be equally anticipating my response, and honestly, I’m not upset, or offended, or frustrated by them calling me out.

The only thing I am is awed at how much they care for Byron. I’m so bloodygladhe has this type of support, knowing he never got it from his actual family, and I’m filled with a sudden sense of determination to prove myself. To them, but most of all, tohim.

“Guys, can you please lay off of him?” Byron grumbles. “This isn’t a job interview. It’s been a crazy few weeks, but we… care about each other. A lot, so just—”

“Baby, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I feel I need to weigh in here,” I cut him off, addressing Ren and the rest of them. “The truth is that I fully understand your doubts. I had them myself. You all haven’t seen me the way Byron has. You’ve only seen me as thevillainbecause, from the moment I arrived on this island, that was the role I took on. Many things from my past made me feel like that was who I needed to be… But most of all, it was becauseThe Ivorywanted me to be the antihero. And at first, he was the only person I had any real connection to here. But it was all fake, and I know each of you can relate.”

I witness them softening. Especially Officer Chevelle.

“He played on my weaknesses to get what he wanted, and frankly, I don’t blame him. I was an easy target. I was amess… I still am. But through all of the uncertainty, the resentment and disguising myself with darkness, there wasonething that, right from the start, feltgoodandhonest… And that was Byron.”

I glance down at him, and I’m chuffed to find him gazing up at me, a purely gorgeous, timid smile on his perfect mouth.

“I was instantly infatuated,” I go on. “How could I not be? He’sfantastic. And I’ll be brutally honest… I thought you all were bonkers for keeping him in the shadows the way you had.” Many of their faces fall with some visible remorse. Especially Ren. “Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all your fault. He certainly enjoyed being there.” I smirk at Byron, and he chuckles. “But he didn’tbelongin the dark, and it drove me mad to see him feeling so unimportant. Because he’s the most important person I’ve ever met. Hedeservesto be the star of the show, and now he is. And I’m just the late addition to the cast who gets to watch him shine.”

Lifting Byron’s hand in mine, I kiss his knuckles. “I know I fucked up along the way… A lot. And trust me when I say, I would take a million more beatings from you to prove that this is real. That I’m real, andwe’rereal, and I’m never going to hide again.”

Byron pouts, eyes shimmering as he touches the cut on my lip. “I do feel bad about that…”

I chuckle. “It’s alright, Raph. I thought it was hot.”

“Me too,” Ren hums.