“Isobel won’t think to look for her there,” Kiko offered into the deadly silence. “And Riley can Jump them out when Cara gives Havoc a new destination.”
“She has to survive Sarti first,” I growled.
“She’s with Rafael,” Havoc reminded me. “She’ll be fine.”
I stared at him. “He’s ahealer, you idiot. How is he going to protect her?”
“Rafael is much more than a healer.” The Dragon’s voice had dropped to a dull rumble, and his eyes glowed. “And. I. Am. NOT. An. Idiot.”
“What shape is she in?” I asked.
Havoc’s lips twisted. “Not great.”
My arms turned black with scales, and outside, thunder rumbled.
“You two need to calm down.” Vali stepped forward, her gaze darting from me to Havoc.
“I’ll calm down when I can fly the fucking hell outta here,” Havoc snarled.
Breathe, Marcus,Iskar coached.
I tried, dragging air in past a constricted throat.
Vali stiffened and her eyes flashed. “Youbither, Havoc. You can’t fly away from that.”
The red Dragon clenched fists that hadn’t lost their curved, pointy ends. “Just watch me.”
The Dragona drew herself up tall. “Sometimes I look at you, and I see Ace. And other times—I wonder how you could have ever been born to the same mother.”
Who the frek was Ace? Did Havoc have a brother?
Did I give a damn?
Havoc’s eyes narrowed. But then he said, “I’m still fucking here, aren’t I? I don’t need an uptight Dragon bitch to tell me what to do.”
“Well, then don’t make me do it,” she sniped back at him. “If you think you can fly away from what Fate has decided for you—youareone very stupid Dragon. Yes, you’re an idiot. And you would condemn Riley to a lifetime of pain.”
The note in her voice had both of us staring at her. Her eyes were blazing, but also suspiciously bright, as though she held back tears. She turned and walked down the hall toward the bathing room. I heard the door slam shut.
Havoc’s mouth opened and closed once, before he spun and stalked back out onto the balcony.
I continued raking in deep breaths as I watched him through the door, worried he might sprout his wings and leave anyway. Without him, how would we get Riley, Rafael, and Lucas out of that cesspit of a city? But he seemed content with pacing, for now.
A series of clinks announced my own claws falling free to the floor. I bent to retrieve them, and tossed them on the table. Kiko’s eyes widened as she picked one up, but she dropped it as soon as her fingers touched it. “It tingles.” She shook her hand.
Tingles? I hadn’t noticed that.
The suite door opened, and Cara walked in. She stopped, her eyes sliding to track Havoc as he stepped back in from the balcony.
“The situation has changed,” I growled, before telling her where Riley was.
I expected the Watcher to share my initial reaction, but all she did was purse her lips before saying, “At least she’s out of Isobel’s reach.” Cara’s eyes slid to Havoc. “Although she’s now out of mine, as well.” She rubbed her temple, her gaze sliding over Vali, who emerged from the hall. The Dragona’s face was damp, as though she’d splashed water on it.
“I want Havoc and Marcus to meet me at the forest gate in the next twenty,” Cara added.
“What about us?” Kiko glanced to Vali.
Cara tilted her head as she assessed the Satyr. “You are due for special abilities class, which is in about thirty minutes.”
