His eyes cut toward me.
“Who should I punish then? You? Kylian? Trust me, I’m glad to.” He pours himself a glass of dark liquor.
I rise from my seat, stopping beside him. “You and I have had to put our differences aside in her best interest before. Are you going to be selfish now when she needs you most?”
“She doesn’t need me. Now she has you and her preciousKylian.” Jace tosses back the shot of whiskey.
Part of me feels sorry for him, but Serena was right to lie to him. And it’s not as though she did it lightly. I can feel the toll it’s taken on her. I feel everything she does, and since we’ve sealed the mating bond, it’s been magnified.
Her denying their bond—it’s as if she rejected it. And Jace is clearly feeling that strain too. I’ve never seen him look so dark. So grim. Like there’s a literal shadow hanging over him.
I choose my words carefully. “Shedoesneed you. She needs all of us.”
“Too bad.” He shrugs, pouring out another drink. I clamp a hand over his wrist.
“She never wanted this.”
“Still fighting her battles, I see.” He gives me a cocky-ass smile and patronizing clap on the shoulder before redirecting his attention to the liquor.
I lean in closer, the leash on my temper slipping.
“She is hurting right now because of you.”
“I fucking hope so.”
I see red.
My knuckles crack against his jaw. I get one moment to revel in smug satisfaction before we’re flying backwards, taking out the entire bar cart. He grabs hold of my collar and sends a sickening punch into my gut. I groan, curling around his fist as glass shatters and crunches all around us. He reaches for my throat, but I’m faster, twisting him beneath me and slamming his head into the floor. His elbow drives into my groin, and a second later, he lands a blinding punch to my left eye. My whole skull reverberates with the force, color spraying across my vision.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Both our heads snap up. Serena strides into the room, furious. Kylian is with her, leaning against the door, wearing an arrogant smirk.
Our fight is instantly forgotten.
“Get up,” Serena demands.
Jace and I shove apart, brushing off as we get to our feet. She walks up to me and drags my face into her hands, smoothing over the tender spot Jace hit. “Jesus, your eye is a mess.”
He watches from behind her, bitter jealously rolling off of him in waves.
“You cannot be doing this,” Serena scolds. “We have bigger problems than the two of you getting on each other’s nerves.”
“What’s this?” Jace sneers, nodding in Kylian’s direction. “Taking out the trash?”
“You didn’t really think she’d leave her mate down there to rot, did you, friend?” Kylian flashes him a condescending smile, shackled wrists folded over his bare chest.
Jace takes a step toward him, but Serena ducks into the line of fire.
“We are not doing this. Do you understand?” Her stare is unflinching as she meets Jace’s fury head-on. He blinks, his anger fading to a simmer as he unclenches his fists. “We’re all on the same side.”
“Are you concussed?” he asks. Serena cocks her head. “I’m asking seriously. Because if you’re not, then you are delusional for thinking we are on the same side.” He gestures between us and Kylian.
“Kylian…had reasons for doing what he did. Reasons I do not by any means condone or respect. But I promise you we are on the same side.”
“And which side is that?” I send a pointed look his way.
“The one that puts Serena’s safety above all else.” Hearing her name on his lips sends a spike of rage through me.
