‘You should be benched for breaking protocol.’
Kade looks away.‘I know.I’m sorry.’
Riley heads for the door.‘You can question him, but walk the fucking line, Kade.I wouldn’t bend the rules for anyone but you, so don’t push it.’
‘I won’t,’ he says in a relieved rush.‘Thanks, Riley.’
‘Don’t thank me yet.’
?
Once they’re back in the Watch, Seth comes to report his sweep.
‘No trail, nothing shed or hidden.Clean entry, but no plans to get out.’
Riley tells him, ‘Good job,’ and then goes back to staring through the bars at the intruder, who is still unconscious.‘Get some rest.’
Seth doesn’t move, though.
Kade quietly says, ‘I’m really sorry about Gage.’
The eighteen deaths are considered acceptable losses, but Kade feels the weight of each one.He gotcocky.Pride goeth.
‘Yeah.’Seth is staring at the bars, expression worryingly blank.‘Thanks.’
‘Do me a favour?’
Seth looks at him.‘Yeah?’
‘We’re in a holding pattern for now.Get some rest and lead by example.’
Seth’s jaw works, but he nods.‘Heard.’
Kade watches him leave and then goes to the bars.
The intruder is lying slumped on the ground, no movement, no sound.
‘Any noise while we were gone?’he asks briskly.
Finn says, ‘Nothing.’
Kade closes his eyes.
He’s thinking of ways to get this guycontainedand safe, can’t keep him in the boss’s space for long.Tranq darts.Net gun.Tasers.Ice foam.Sonic disruptor.
None of it is guaranteed to subdue him.
For now, the only thing protecting them is the iron bars that Kade wanted to rip out when they upgraded this level years ago, but Riley had refused, said the doors must stay put, so they did.
Kade steps closer, eyeing the bare chest which showcases a massive tattoo.A large, winged demon unfurling atop a moon with Roman numerals inside the sphere.VII.
‘Hey,’ Kade says, tone clipped and clear.‘You.’
The man stirs, wakes slowly, unsurprisingly groggy, but the fog fades fast.His dark hair is thick and unruly where it falls across his forehead and spills past his bare, bloody shoulders.Dark brows frame the intense stare he levels at Kade, and his sharp jaw is shadowed by rough stubble.
‘Jules,’ the intruder whispers, voice tight with confusion and something dangerously close to reverence.
Kade frowns to himself.Jules.
