This latest batch was our best yet—way more potent than the last, and it didn’t wear off as quickly either. I had no doubts that any fae who tried it, Darkwinter or otherwise, would murder his own commander for a taste.
The high was fuckingexquisite.
I thumbed at my chest and smiled again. “Exhibit A.”
“Exhibit A, what?” she asked, and I realized I’d just said most of that shit inside my head.
Before I could repeat myself out loud, the front door banged open again, ushering in what I assumed was another desperate Amaranth City soul looking to volunteer as a test subject.
The woman was soft around the edges, a little smudgy. When I tried to focus on her, she doubled in my vision.
And both of them were marching toward us like they were on amission.
“Haley?” I asked, finally recognizing her. She was just one person again, close enough to touch, so I reached out and fingered a lock of her hair. “Have you come to sing me to sleep, little sparrow?”
“Actually, I’ve come to stick a knife inthatbitch’s throat.” She beelined right for Gem. Caught her off guard, too—enough to get that dagger pretty damn up-close-and-personal.
“Give me one reason not to slit your throat,” she gritted out.
With another roll of her eyes, Gem arched a purple eyebrow, then touched Haley’s shoulder.
That was it. One touch. One finger.
And Haley went down hard on her ass, her muscles spasming.
“Ouch,” I said, remembering all too well the feeling of that zap.
Something deep inside me said I should probably be furious about what Gem had just done to Haley, but I couldn’t seem to focus on that thought long enough to bring it to fruition.
Jax didn’t seem to have any trouble with it, though. He was on Gem in a blink, grabbing a fistful of her shirt and hauling her close.
“Touch her again,traitor, and I don’t care how many devil’s trap bolts you threaten me with. I willendyou.”
“Yeah?” Gem laughed. “Let me know how that works out for you, cowboy.”
And then she stalked off to harass someone else for a change, thank fuck.
“You’d think threatening the boss would get us canned,” I said, finally realizing I should probably help Haley off the floor. She ignored my outstretched hand and got her own ass up, though.
Fine by me.
“Unfortunately for us,” I continued, “we’re too good at what we do. Job security, I guess.” I popped another pill like it was fucking candy and grinned. “Boss says we’re not supposed to steal from the stash, either. But I learned a little trick.” I leaned in closed and fake-whispered in Haley’s ear, “It’s not stealing if you say it’s for quality control purposes.”
“Control?” Haley snapped. “Interesting word choice for a man who’s clearlyoutof control. Look around you, Elian. Is this what you want? Really?”
Her eyes flashed with anger, but there was sadness there too. Worry.
More shit I didn’t need to see right now.
I shrugged as if I didn’t give a fuck. Considering the amount of next-level Black I had coursing through my system, I shouldn’t have beencapableof giving a fuck, but still, there I was.
Giving fucks.
“No choice,” I said, my words slurring. “You asked for my help getting to Midnight, and… Hell, sparrow. You were there every step of the way. You don’t need me to give you the recap of how I landedthiscushy job.”
“I know you didn’t have a choice with the job, Elian. I’m talking about…” She gestured behind me, a whole bunch of sympathy flooding her eyes now too. On top of everything else.
I didn’t need to turn around to know she was talking about the Dreamers.
