Page 149 of Facade

“We were on a mission for Evanee,” I said through a narrowed glare.

“What’s going on, Malachai?” Brax asked, attempting to dust off the flour and whatever else had gotten on us from that unclean, excuse of a cooking space.

“They say there’s a sea beast trailing us.”

“Seriously?!” I squealed.

Malachai smirked, “Surely after facing skurs, you’re not afraid of a little sea monster, are you?”

“No,” I gulped. “Course not. But I’d better go warn Evanee about it. Where is she?”

“She’s below deck.”

With the big bastard, no doubt.

“Lyra, give them a minute—” Malachai started.

“No time!” I shouted over my shoulder as I’d already shuffled off.

The shouting above was distant as I walked the hall below. Tip-toed, more like. I didn’t know which door was his, so I put my ear to each one until—

“—to be friends. If we can.”

Oh no. Not that bullshit. After the sizzling peppers I'd seen in his eyes when he looks at her? That big bastard wouldn’t know how to be her friend even if her life depended on it.

The door creaked with more of my weight pressed against it. Honestly, Thaddeus was a cheapskate. Embarrassing for him, really.

My breath caught in my throat as I strained to hear…

“Evanee…”

My jaw went slack, my brows furrowing like two caterpillars about to rumble.

Oh, hell no. He dropped the whole “let’s be friends” bit, then says her name like that? In that oh-so-not-subtle let’s go roll around in the pig pen sort of way?

I never liked him.

I raised my fist:

Bang, bang, bang.

“Sorry to disturb!” Not. “The captain said you need to see something, Evanee!”

I pressed my ear to the door. Silence.

Huh.

“Sounds pretty serious!” I insisted. A growl answered me from beyond, and I shot the door a nasty look. That’s it. I’m going in—

The door swung open, and I fell into Evanee, but not before I saw her eyes shining. The asshole looked pained and was bleeding. Good, I hope she caused that. Friends my ass…

She pushed past me, but I didn’t move until Ryker made eye contact with me. I shook my head at him, my gaze narrowed, plastering on that same disapproving look Mama used to give me when I played ‘hide the stinky cheese in the house’.

Those bright eyes bore down on me, flashing silver. Lucky for Evanee, I’m immune to his stupid eyes and brawn.

I almost let him be. I was just going to turn around and mind my own business. This was between them after all, and Mama always said if two beings were in a kerfuffle, be like the dandelion seeds blowing in a breeze, and move along.

But the big bastard just had to open his mouth.