He grabbed my arm, hauling me back. “Leave it.”
“But it’s—”
“I said leave it. We need to move. Now.” He held my gaze for another beat, shaking his head as if he couldn’t have been more disgusted. “Before you do somethingelseto give away our position.”
25
HUDSON
Stone City wasn’t a city, but that’s what they called it—a mountainous region dotted with caves named for the wild gargoyles who called it home. It was all part of the Dead Claw range that stretched far to the north.
It was also where my people lived. Where I’d been born.
While Jax and Haley’d had their little…ahem… private moment in the woods, I’d headed east for a quick flyover of the homeland. Quick, because anything out in the open like that could get you noticedrealquick. But still, I needed to see it.
Between our current route and Stone City, I spotted a few skirmishes on the ground. I recognized the Darkwinter insignia on some of the uniforms—looked like they were making a push toward Dead Claw, probably hoping to find a way into Amaranth through the mountains, but they’d have to face the gargoyles too. Wouldn’t be an easy victory.
Keradoc’s soldiers were holding them off for now, but from what I could tell, the ground was soaked with just as much Midnighter blood as Darkwinter.
Whole thing was fucked.
Once I reached Stone City, wasn’t long before I started getting that feeling like I was being watched and had to double back. But I got a glimpse, which was a start. The place was still there, still just as overcrowded as I remembered. Lots of old memories, but no obvious signs of the fuckers that’d sold me out two years ago.
Not a problem. I’d track them down soon enough.
Once Haley got what she needed from Keradoc and we put her on the express train back the fuck to New Orleans? Yeah, I had some personal business to take care of here. An old score to settle. I suspected it was the same for Saint and Jax, but like I said, Midnight wasn’t a group-therapy kind of place. Whatever those guys were up to, they were keeping it to themselves for now, same as me.
It would all come out eventually, though. Always did. And the longer we stayed in this place, the more we were gonna need each other again, just like old times—thatwas a fact.
But right now, the main thing that bound us was Haley. Her mission had become ours. Keeping her safe and helping her see it through was our only priority.
I’d just gotten back when I spotted her and Jax tumbling out of the woods, looking like they’d done a hell of a lot more than roll around half-naked in the dirt.
First came the demon, storming away from her like she’d just dipped his balls in kerosene and was packing a flamethrower.
Haley stalked out next—no flamethrower, but man, did she look pissed.
Still in my warrior form, I glided down and landed in front of her. Gave her a good once-over, just to make sure she wasn’t bleeding or broken.
Then I just stared at her, waiting for her to spill it.
“I’m fine,” she insisted, even though she wasn’t.
I could wait her out, though. One thing I’d learned about Haley in our short time together? Babygirl couldn’t keep it locked up for too long. Not with me. Not when something was eating her up inside.
“Okay, so I’m assuming you saw all that?” she finally said.
I shrugged and rocked my hand in a so-so gesture.
“Just… don’t tell Elian, okay? I mean, not that you’re… talking. But… you know. Don’t leave him any notes or give him any winks or gestures.”
I cocked an eyebrow. Tried not to smirk.
“It’s none of his business what I do, where I do it, or who I do it with. Plus, he’s just gonna go psycho on Jax, and for no reason, because there’snothinggoing on between us. And even if therewas, why should Elian care? He’s the one who ended things with me. No, I take that back. He didn’t end things. He just walked away, leavingmeto tie up all the loose ends and I… You know what, Hudson? I love talking to you, but I think it’s a little early in our relationship for the post-woods, walk-of-shame, justifying-my-bad-life-choices convo.”
She tried like hell to hold on to that anger, but we both knew it wasn’t meant for me, and eventually, she gave up. Just lowered her eyes and shook her head, her cheeks blushing.
“Sorry, Gargs. I know you’re just trying to look out for me.”
