“Going somewhere?” I asked.
“We’ve got a witch to save, you dick.” He kicked my thigh. “And by the way, since I’m pretty sure you and I are both going to die tonight, I might as well tell you I’m halfway in love with her. So fuck you for that, too.”
The admission tore a fresh hole in my heart, but I’d known it was coming. I could see it in his eye that night he fucked her in front of me, and again when he’d come out of the room later and found me in the hallway. It wasn’t just vengeance, wasn’t just some twisted shit to pour salt in my wounds.
He’d already fallen under her spell. And I was pretty sure the feeling was mutual.
It killed me to even think about it, but deep down, I had to accept it. I just wanted her to be okay. To be happy, if that was even still possible. And if Jax was it for her, I’d accept it. Support it, even.
Not that I was about to admit it.
I dragged my ass to my feet, still leaning back against the wet stone for support. The Dream had settled me a bit, smoothing out some of the tremors, but it hadn’t yet dropped me into the numb haze I knew was coming. It was like the calm before the storm—a brief moment of clarity and okay-ness before it sucked me in deep.
“Yeah, well, you’re an asshole, Jax,” I said. “You’ve always been an asshole. And as much as I’d love to murder you for falling in love with a woman you should’ve had the decency to stay far away from, I can’t, because I still need your help getting her out of this hellhole and eviscerating the purple-eyed freak who took her.”
“Same page, dickhead. Same page.”
The words felt like a promise. An alliance, and I let them bolster me.
“The plan is still the plan,” I said firmly. “Assassinate the warlord. As far as getting his blood for Haley? That’s a lost cause at this point.”
“Agreed.”
“Once she’s out of danger—”
“We’re taking down Gem and the guards.”
I nodded. “So you got my back on this, demon? Come what may?”
This time, he didn’t hesitate.
“Blood before roses, you sick fae fuck.” He smacked the back of my head, then gripped my hair, holding tight as he glared at me, and I could see from the ferocity in his eye how much he meant it this time.
How much he’dalwaysmeant it, despite all the shit we’d put each other through. Shit I still couldn’t even bring myself to confess.
A knot of emotion tightened my throat, but I swallowed it down. Buried it.
“Whatever happens tonight, brother,” I said, “we’re getting her out.”
“We’re getting usallout.”
I shook my head, adamant. “Haley comes first. That wasalwaysthe deal, and nothing’s changed on that front.”
He let out a heavy sigh, but then he nodded, and once again I trusted it. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, the demon wasmorethan halfway in love with her. He’d do whatever was in his power to keep her safe, just like Hudson would.
“Any ideas where our gargoyle might be?” I asked, fresh worry chewing through my gut. Hudson was fierce and I knew he could look out for himself, but it wasn’t like him to no-show when we were in deep shit. Something was definitely wrong.
“He’s not here,” Jax said. “If he was, he would’ve been the first one storming that throne room the second trouble hit.”
“Let’s hope he’s in a better place than we are.”
“Hope isn’t a viable strategy, Saint. Chances are, we’re looking at another rescue mission. That’s if he’s still—”
“He is. And we’ll find him.” I blew out a shaky breath, knowing our chances were slim to none on all fronts, but we had to fucking try. “Once we figure out how to bust out of here, I want you to head up—”
A new commotion from outside the main door cut me off—sounded like the guards returning. Arguing.
Suddenly, the door heaved open, bathing the dungeon in torchlight that had Jax and me wincing.
