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Fin shrugs. “I’d say the punch was called for.”
“You didn’t know Lainey,” I reply, but Fin shakes his head.
“Regardless. Dead means you don’t insult,” he says. “Do you want to talk?”
“Not to you,” I say, rubbing my face. “I think Cevon and I need to hash this out.”
Griffin nods. “He and Voss are outside. I’m going to head up to bed then. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I nod and head outside, following the scent of lion and fox. They’re sitting on the steps, neither talking, but both notice my approach.
“Can we have a minute?” I ask.
“Why?” Cevon says, looking at me with a smirk. “Want another punch?”
I sigh. “No. But I think we need to clear the air a little. If not for our sake’s, for Nora’s. She needs us to be able to remain in the same room without fighting.”
“Don’t insult Lainey, and you’ll at least remain conscious.”
Voss snorts but hops to his feet. “Have fun. I’ll go check on our girl, and then I’ve got to head out anyway. I’m still monitoring things regarding the hunters.” He turns to Cevon. “Anything you want to share regarding Nora?”
Cevon shakes his head. “Honestly, I don’t know much. I see the big shit and don’t tend to deal with the lower people.”
Voss sighs but nods. “I thought as much. Does the name Sebastian, or Seb, ring any bells? He’s a snake?”
“I thought we ruled him out?” I ask, interjecting.
“He’s still on my radar,” Voss says flippantly.
“Not that I recall,” Cevon says. “But if he’s not one of my names, I don’t really care.” Voss nods. “I’m in the office on Thursday. I’ll see what I can find out, as long as it doesn’t impact my goal.”
“Cheers,” Voss says before heading back inside.
I sit down where Voss was, and Cevon sighs.
“Why are you here, Mal?”
“We were friends.”
“No,” Cevon says, shaking his head. “You used me to befriend Atticus. All you ever wanted was to be my brother’s number two.”
“Are you kidding me? That was your position,” I hiss. “And, sure, I want it now, but only because the fucking bear doesn’t deserve it.”
Cevon snorts. “Orson’s more capable as number two than either of us ever would have been.”
“Maybe,” I say, not really believing it. “But that doesn’t change why I’m here. We were friends, Cev. I loved you just as fucking much as I loved Micah, but you fucked me off as soon as something better came along.”
Or something worse if you ask me.
“I fucked you off?” he demands, whirling to face me with a gaze full of anger. “I needed my brother. I needed you. But you ditched me and went onto Atticus’s side, pressuring me to stay. It was my fucking future, man, and you couldn’t sacrifice your own selfishness for my happiness.”
“Happiness?” I say, rolling my eyes. But then I sigh. Fin’s words of not insulting the dead come back to me, and I bite my tongue. I want to tell him how terrible Lainey was.
How miserable he’d have been.
But I don’t because I do actually want to move forward.
“She’s gone,” I say instead. “And I’m sorry about that. I’m sorry she’s gone.”
