AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Darien nodded once, and Tanner shrugged away from the door.
The Red Baron left. The room descended into quiet once more.
And then Dallas was hurrying into the hallway. It didn’t take long before Max was following her.
Darien stayed where he was, but he listened, his Sight allowing him to sense that they were only several feet away, the Red Baron stilling midstride at his daughter’s words.
“Why?” Dallas’s voice might’ve been too quiet for mortals to pick up on, but not for hellsehers—not for immortals.
Roark said nothing, nor did he turn.
As Dallas persisted, Darien kept listening, ensuring no one said anything that might damn what they’d just discussed. “You could tell us.” About the Arcanum Well, about the Phoenix Head Society. She tried to address her father with a respectful tone, but Darien heard the hint of betrayal that forever colored any words she said to, or about, her father. She added, “I know you could.”
The hallway grew quiet. If Darien didn’t have the Sight, he might have thought everyone had left.
Then Roark said, “You’re a smart girl, Dallas.”
That was it. And then he was gone, his polished shoes tapping with his brisk departure.
And Darien might have been the only one to pick up on the words Roark didn’t say, the words that would’ve added so much more to that simple statement, had he merely voiced them.
Figure it out.
Max shut the door to Loren’s room. He faced Darien, who used his own magic this time to cover the walls, ceiling, and floor with spells that would mask their voices. They were alone in here, Dallas and Tanner having given them space to talk, as per Darien’s request.
Max waited until the black in his friend’s eyes faded away. And then he said, “We’re leaving. Aren’t we?”
Darien studied him for a long moment. Try as Max may, he couldn’t read his expression. And then Darien said, “I will be leaving.”
The clock on the wall ticked as Darien’s words sank in.
“Fuck that,” Max bit out. “If you think for one second that any of us are going to let you go alone—”
“Of course not.” Darien’s voice was softer than it had been in nearly two weeks, and Max sensed that he was trying very hard to control it. “I’ll be taking Jack, Ivy, and Tanner with me. Joyce too, if she’s willing.” Darien drew a breath, the arms that were crossed over his chest tensing. “God, I hope she’ll be willing, because I need Loren—” He paused, his throat shifting with a swallow. “I need this to work.”
Max’s head spun. He might’ve blamed it on a lack of sleep, coupled with the stress of these last few weeks, but the truth was, he didn’t know what to think, how to feel. He’d been working at Darien’s side for so long that the thought of him leaving made him feel…lost, if he wanted to admit it.
“And what about me?” Max asked, his words choked by emotion he suddenly found impossible to control. He’d managed to keep himself together since the Blood Moon, but now he could feel himself splintering, the glue that held him together finally snapping. “I’m your Second, Darien.”
“Which is exactly why I want you here. I’m leaving you in charge of the Devils and Hell’s Gate. You need to look after the others while I’m gone, make sure they don’t get into any trouble—keep them safe, the way I’ve always done.” The order was firm. Darien added, “And I want you working with Delaney—he’ll be handling the other houses in my absence.”
“You haven’t even talked to him.”
“I know he’ll agree,” Darien said. Max saw his next words coming before they were out. “I want you to find Maya, Max.”
Max didn’t know what to say.
“You’ve been a fucking amazing friend,” Darien continued. “A better friend than I’ve deserved. I want you to find your sister.”
Max wanted that too. He’d been fighting the urge to go looking for MJ since the night Blue had revealed to him that she was still alive. She might be known as ‘Scarlet’ now, but she was still his sister, and she was out there somewhere—had been out there this whole damn time. All these years, he’d believed she was dead, that she had died in a house fire—a drug lab explosion, really—a bunch of corrupt cops had decided was an accident.
But…Darien was Max’s brother in his own right. They were family, and if Darien needed him, he’d be there, no questions asked.
Max swallowed. “Darien—”
“I’m not asking, Max. I’m telling.”
“Fuck you,” Max snapped.
