Page 130

Lilith spotted, then snatched her glasses from the ground. “He’s from Reave. The last time I saw him was the night Neir found me.”

Maybe there was reason to kill him after all. “What did he say he’s doing here?”

She shrugged and raised her voice. “How about it, Aarin! What are you doing here?”

“I… Can you…”

Lilith flicked a hand in the air, and Jarek obeyed. The Serpent’s shadows faded to smoke. Aarin didn’t scramble into a run, instead stood warily.

“What are you doing here? And working for Caiven fuckin’ Caspen no less?” he spat. “Planning on single handedly ruining another operation?”

Lilith matched her anger to his own. “You’re damn right. And I’d better not see you there tomorrow!”

“Why do you have it out for me?” he asked, dusting himself off. “You put yourself in this hole, death licker. You should be thanking me for trying to pull the shovel from your hands.”

“Enough!” Jarek grabbed and shoved Aarin backward until he collided with the wall. “It sounds like you’re more trouble alive, so you’ve got one chance to convince me otherwise.”

Aarin grabbed at Jarek’s grip on his collar, pulling at his hands, but he wouldn’t budge. Sleeping in stasis for so long didn’t lend Jarek’s physique any favors, nor did his Diseased nature’s generous gift of strength encourage him to gain back all of the muscle he lost. Aarin was heavier than him and, under normal circumstances, would’ve been stronger too.

Aarin gave up with a groan and thrust his hand out. “I’m here because of her! She ruined everything!”

Jarek pressed Aarin harder into the wall. “Quiet,” he hissed. If he was from Reave, he knew about the war. Now wasn’t the time to divulge that information to Lilith. Too much relied on her having a clear head tomorrow.

“It’s okay.”

Jarek stilled, glancing at her sidelong.

“I already know,” she said, lowly. “Kyer told me before I left.”

Jarek’s fury died as he focused on the misty color of her aura. There was sadness, but she wasn’t completely broken at the thought of what was going on in Reave.

She was stronger than he thought.

He turned back to Aarin. “How did you find her?”

“The only job I could get was working for that fucker. I’ve been stationed in the building for months. I recognized her voice and followed her after the transport dropped our shift off.”

Jarek tilted his head, and Aarin’s terror crawled right back where it belonged. “The honesty is appreciated, but I am not convinced.”

“Look. I haven’t said anything, and I don’t plan to.”

“You’re Rin.” Jarek and Aarin glanced at Lilith who was leaning into her hip, arms still crossed, and rolling a piece of her hair between her fingers. “That’s what the girls call you, right? They like you. Said you were ‘respectable.’”

Jarek groaned. “Whatever you’re thinking—”

“I’m thinking,” she interrupted, strolling toward them and peeling off her gloves, “that his death should be my decision, shouldn’t it?”

The fear overflowing from Aarin’s body was equal to what he could do when the Serpent spilled from his. The thought sped blood through Jarek’s veins and stole all the moisture from his throat.

“I suppose…”

Lilith smiled. Not one he’d been thinking about, but a calculated, almost sadistic smile. “Great! Can you hold him still?”

Jarek broke his stare, turning to Aarin pushing against his arms like he could melt into the wall. He did as she asked with no further questions, not believing for a second she would actually kill him.

But even his heart skipped a beat when she outstretched a hand toward Aarin with no hesitation.

“Lily! Please!”