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Julian scowled and pushed away from the bar. “What took so long? Thought you were going to meet me at the airport.”
Declan’s eyes narrowed though he kept a smile pasted to his face. He ordered a cold beer.
“I had a visitor.”
“More demons?”
“Nope.”
Silence fell between them as Julian stared at the sorcerer. He was tight-lipped and tense.
“You gonna elaborate?”
Declan grabbed the coldie from the bartender and took a long, hard swig. “Ana.”
Julian let that information settle a bit. The vampire was not someone the two of them discussed. Not once in all the time they’d been trapped in hell had Ana been mentioned.
But Julian knew how deeply Declan’s feelings ran.
“Didn’t take long for her to hunt you down,” he said carefully.
Declan finished his beer. “Pretty easy to do considering Jaden contacted PATU and gave them a heads-up.”
PATU. Paranormal Anti-terrorist Unit.
It was the government agency run by Julian’s brother Jaxon and one that Declan had belonged to up until six months ago. Technically, he supposed the Irishman was still a part of the elite unit, but the both of them knew their journey had been altered dramatically the day they’d left the human realm.
“Jaden contacted her?” He was full of disbelief.
“Yeah; apparently she’s one of the good guys.”
Julian snorted. “Sure she is.”
Declan shrugged his shoulders. “I’m just the messenger. Ana said she’s been working under the umbrella of PATU covertly for years.”
Julian ignored his words.
“How are they?” Julian asked. “My brothers. Did Jagger make it out of the jungle with Skye?”
“Yeah. They’re good . . .” Declan’s voice trailed off. “They’re all good. Normal and fucking peachy-keen.”
The two men stared at each other. Normal was not a word they’d ever be able to use again.
Julian clenched his teeth and let the wave of pain that sat upon his chest ride over him. The tangle of scars burned, pulsated. It was a constant reminder of what he’d lost. Most of the time, he was able to ignore it; but sometimes, like now, the burn was much too intense.
If he let it, it would surely drive him mad.
“And Ana?” he asked softly.
Declan carefully placed the empty bottle on the bar. “The same.”
Julian watched the sorcerer closely, knowing the conversation was over.
“You boys want another?” The bartender drew his attention; Julian shook his head and followed Declan back into the lobby.
His heart rate slowed as his animal gathered tight. He let his senses fly, but as far as he could tell, there wasn’t a hint of otherworld; nor was there any sign of the DaCostas.
“You sure this is a good idea?” Declan sounded doubtful. “I was kinda liking the idea of working this alone. You know, Butch and Sundance, Starsky and Hutch. . . . Bonnie and Clyde.” He laughed softly at Julian’s dark look. “Of course, you’d be Bonnie.”
