My stomach clenches.
A cold image of the man—smiling as Tex bled out at his feet—flashes across my mind.
“This is your opportunity. Get in. Get what intel you can. If you can stop the transfer, even better,” Lucian continues.
Noah leans forward. “Do we have shoot-to-kill clearance?”
Lucian pauses, looking at all of us. “Only if you’re in direct danger. The priority is containment and disruption. We need to know who he’s working with. Not leave a crater.”
“Got it,” Luca says, already rolling his shoulders out, adrenaline humming under his skin.
Maeve sits beside me on the edge of the conference table, worry knitting her brows. She can’t come but I know that doesn’t mean she isn’t afraid.
I reach over and squeeze her hand.
“We leave in twenty,” Lucian says. “Gear up. Dakota, you're the team lead. Bring them back.”
Dakota gives a single nod, then turns to us. “Let’s move.”
“Be safe.” Maeve pulls me into a hug.
“Always.” I hug her tightly. It’s comforting that she has two Guild members keeping an eye on her. I wasn’t taking any chances. It would be like Daniel to have someone do something to her while we’re occupied elsewhere.
“I’m excited to be going out with you.” Dakota smiles, falling into step with me.
“Definitely, it was fun over Christmas break.” I give her a small smile.
“Iz.” Jace’s voice stops me as I turn around to look at him.
“I’ll catch up with you in a bit,” I say to Dakota and she gives me a nod, giving Jace a look I can’t read.
“I’m sorry you can’t go with us,” I say when we’re alone.
“It’ll be hard to stay here while you’re all out there,” he replies, his jaw working.
My eyes move to his sling. “Hopefully you heal up quickly.”
He nods, but his eyes are stormy, like something’s on his mind.
“What’s going on, Jace?” I sigh.
His eyes roam over my face before he leans in and kisses me. It’s sweet, gentle.Nothing like the hunger that usually simmers between us. My fingers brush his sleeve, careful of the sling.
His breath stutters, and I feel the tension under my palms. He rests his forehead against mine. “I don’t like this.”
“You don’t like what?” My thumb brushes his skin.
“Not being with you. When you’re in danger, when you’re not. All the time. Especially right now, with so much at stake.” His voice is rougher now.
I exhale, smiling. “You’ll survive a few hours without babysitting me.”
The corners of his mouth curve, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’d be happy to just watch you.”
He kisses me again with more force behind it. I can’t decipher what he’s trying to convey to me but there’s something he’s not saying and I can feel it.
“Jace—”
“Promise me something.” His hand comes up, cupping my jaw with such tenderness, my heart skips a beat.
