Page 161 of The Curse Trilogy

I click them together, and I ignore the shiver caused by his unrelenting eyes.

“In phase two. He was at three another time that I can’t divulge right now,” I murmur while shifting my eyes to Clay, and he tightens his lips at the question he knows he can’t ask.

“Why wasn’t he marked sooner?” Clay asks, his eyes expecting the answers my lips can’t give him.

“His documents burned at Heddlebrook during that freak fire. He was turned loose not too long ago from Romine which we all know does very little to document hybrids passing through, and he didn’t know what was happening to him due to the lack of the unaligned attention he received,” I lie. “He needs to be marked, and then I’ll let him demonstrate what he can do.”

“Very well. I’ll take him and the girl for marking, and I’ll let them stay in the room together so as not to provoke his gift.”

“I don’t want to show them, Araya. What if she can’t bring me down again?” he worries.

“She won’t have to. You’re like Hale… I mean… Captain Banner. He has to use olophine before his power to ensure his savage doesn’t come free. Trust me. I haven’t steered you wrong yet.”

Hale stands, and Clay joins him. He calls a man to come take the newbie and the soon-to-be-newbie to the marking room.

“Will you come with us?” Angelica asks hopefully.

“Of course,” I say reassuringly, and Hale walks up to be almost touching me.

“How far until the change do you estimate for her?” he asks softly.

“A week, maybe two if we’re lucky.”

“Really? I thought I would be older,” she gushes, and I elbow Hale for asking me such a question in front of her.

He purses his lips, and then I turn to comfort her.

“You wouldn’t have been so hypnotized if you weren’t close to your change.”

“Tell me more about this fight,” Hale insists. “Were you hurt? What happened to the lieutenant who defied your orders?”

“I don’t feel like talking about it right now. I need to grab a drink. Do you mind if I-”

“You know where everything is,” he interrupts, and his eyes scold me for even asking.

It’s not like he and I are together. He doesn’t even act the least bit warm toward me. It’s as though he’s torn, and it doesn’t make sense unless he has found someone else.

Oh fuck. Please no.

“She was a bloody mess, but Nicholas stripped the pompous full blood of his stripes before banishing him from the compound. I’m surprised he did such a thing to one of his own. He told Araya nothing like that would happen again,” Grayson says to answer, and I’m wondering if he deliberately meant to exclude Brazen’s details.

“So you found another full blood?” Hale scoffs. “I’m sure Brazen is thrilled about that.”

“My father loves my mother, Sir,” Angelica snarls. “He and Araya are friends because she helped to lock away a slew of dangerous men who were on the brink of going free. He wouldn’t take advantage of such a situation, and he wouldn’t hurt my mother.”

“Father?” Hale gasps.

“Nicholas Hawkins is a full blood who kept his hybrid daughter. His rare case includes love for his human changeling,” Clay murmurs too casually, almost crudely, and tears whelp up in Angelica’s eyes.

“I think that’s about enough,” I admonish, my voice raising. “Nicholas is a damn good man, and she’s very right about his love for her mother. She’ll be joining them soon.”

Angelica’s eyes seem to show relief, even gratitude, while Hale looks at me curiously.

“Brazen was there for Araya,” Grayson pops off with a dismissive tone. “He carried her up when she couldn’t walk.”

“You were hit that fucking bad, and you didn’t call me?” he snaps, his voice raising now.

“Why would I? The last time I saw you, it was made clear you were done with me,” I blare.