“What’s the word, Gem?” I asked. “I’m hearing whispers that Keradoc’s losing his touch. Can’t keep his territories.”
She glanced around the pub, then nodded, leaning in close. “Darkwinter’s got himrealtwitchy these days.”
“Darkwinter?” Haley’s eyes widened, her neck turning blotchy.
“Are you familiar with the bloodline?” Gem asked her.
Adrenaline spiked in Haley’s blood, mingling with a hint of fear. I could smell them both, souring her.
What the hell’s got her so worked up about Darkwinter?
“Somewhat familiar,” she replied cautiously. “My allies and I recently fought some of them in Blackmoon Bay. They’d been working with human hunters to hybridize supernaturals and create large-scale magickal weapons.”
“Fuck, Haley.” My gut clenched, guilt surging anew, reminding me just how much of Haley’s life I’d missed.
Did this fight have anything to do with her debt to Melantha? With the reason she was here now?
“It’s all good.” Haley shrugged, forcing a smile. “We nailed the bastards and shut down the entire operation, but… Yeah. Darkwinter left a bad taste.”
“Well, we’ve got ourselves an infestation here,” Gem continued. “They’ve been spilling over our borders like bog roaches, mowing down Keradoc’s troops faster than he can keep up. I just heard they took the Hanging Lake and the Road of Silence.”
“Seriously?” Jax asked. “How’d they manage that?”
“No idea. They’re allegedly moving in from the sea, too. Got some kind of crazy powerful ships.”
“You think they’re poised to take over?” I asked. “Turn this place into a Darkwinter satellite realm?”
“If I were Keradoc?” She nodded and lifted her glass. “That’s what’d be keepingmeup at night.”
We shot the shit a little longer about the perils of Darkwinter, the festering lands of Midnight that were quickly falling under their control.
But Haley had gone completely silent after her comment about the fight in the Bay, her heart still fluttering like a trapped bird.
I leaned in close. “You okay? You don’t look so hot.”
“What?” She turned to me and plastered on a smile. “No. I mean, yes, I’m fine. I’m just… You know, I think I’ll head back to the apartment. I should probably… practice some of my spells.” She rose from her chair and nodded at Gem. “Nice to meet you, Gem. Thanks again for finding us the apartment.”
“Anytime, hon. You need help getting back?”
“I’ll take her,” Jax said.
I didn’t want to make a big deal about her leaving, but what the hell? After the fight she’d put up about coming with us, now she was ready to call it a night?
Something was definitely going on with her, and I was pretty sure it had to do with Darkwinter and the shit she’d gone through back in the Bay.
Shit I should’ve been able to help her with, but couldn’t, because I’d fucking bailed on her to come to this hellhole and…
I blew out a breath. “I need another drink. You good?”
“I could use one too,” Gem said. “But let me get it. You stay here, Mr. Low Profile.”
By the time she fought her way through the crowd at the bar, Jax had returned.
We settled back into the Darkwinter convo again, but then out of nowhere, she said, “So, Jax. You gonna look up Oona while you’re here?”
My heart almost seized in my fucking chest.
“Gem,” I hissed. “Oona… She died.”
