And I went right on back to wishing he was already dead.
30
JAX
The tension in the kitchen was as thick as the Fog of a Thousand Knives, and one look at Haley and Saint told me it was probably just as deadly, too.
They broke apart immediately, but neither one of them said a word. Just kept stealing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn’t watching.
Something churned in my gut like battery acid, but I wasn’t about to name it. Not now.
“Everything okay?” Haley asked, putting on a bright smile. I would’ve loved to bask in it, but it wasn’t her real smile. Didn’t even light up her eyes, which I could see now were rimmed in red.
Fucking Saint.
What the hell had he done to her this time?
I glared at him, but one look into those eyes told me he was so far into the Black, he probably couldn’t even hold a conversation.
Ignoring him, I headed to the small kitchen table and set down my bag, retrieving the box from inside and handing it to Haley.
This time, I got a glimpse of the real smile, which made some of that battery acid evaporate.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“This,” I said, “is demon-speak for thanks for saving my ass. Something I should’ve said a while ago. But don’t get your hopes up, angel. It’s not an engagement ring.”
She cracked up. “Glad you clarified that. For a minute there, I saw a box the size of a swordfish and got excited. For a ring, I mean. Not actual swordfish. Which, come to think of it, I haven’t had in—”
“Haley?”
“Yeah?”
“Open the box.”
She let out a little squeal, then popped the lid.
As soon as she saw the dagger inside, she gasped, removing it and wrapping her hand around the bone handle, turning it to inspect the blade. “This is gorgeous, Jax.Waybetter than a ring.”
I laughed. “Yeah, well. I know it sucked when we had to leave yours behind. Soon as I saw this one, I wanted you to have it.”
“It’s perfect. Look at the detailing on the blade! And the weight… It’s like it was made for me.”
“There’s a sheath in the bag too. Should fit on your current holster, but if not, we can get you something else.”
“Thank you. I love it!”
My chest puffed up. Couldn’t be helped. “Yeah?”
“Seriously? Best present ever. Hands down.”
Her eyes were all sparkly again, her cheeks pink, all evidence of the earlier tears gone.
The fact that I’d even noticed as much? Probably a warning sign, but I didn’t care.
Haley was right that first night at camp. Ididlike her.
I watched her now, the smile curving her lips, the light in her eyes, and a feeling of rightness settled over me.
