“Fine,” Vera finally says to me. “It so happens that I was planning on sneaking out at the end of the party tonight, because I have something time-sensitive to take care of. Taking you with me might prove useful, actually.”
“I can be useful too,” Jax says.
Finally, both of us turn our attention to Jax.
“I thought you were too busy flirting with everything that moves to be of any use tonight,” I snap at him.
A lazy grin spreads on his face. “Do I sense jealousy, Phoenix? Ah, I’m flattered.”
I scoff. “Keep dreaming.”
My cheeks are burning. Jax’s eyebrows rise all the way to his hairline and his smile deepens. But he says nothing.
“Enough bickering,” Vera says with a sigh and a roll of her eyes. “Both of you are insufferable when you’re in the same room. Jax can go with us. More hands are always useful.”
Jax curtsies. “Always a pleasure to serve.”
Vera eyes him. “Yeah. Remember that later tonight. What you’re about to see won’t be pleasant or fun.” To me she says, “You want to learn the truth about your lover who you’re trying to protect? Let me show you.”
CHAPTER FIFTY
PHOENIX
We arrive at the abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Jaakii well after midnight. It’s pitch-black outside.
Vera doesn’t give us any details on why we’re here, or what’s happening. Neither of us speak much on our way here.
My stomach is in knots. I’m so wired, my whole body is taut like a bowstring. Speaking of, Vera told me to leave my bow at her studio. She said I’d be too easily recognized if I had to use it.
I miss the steadying weight of it dearly.
Jax and I stand behind the building while we wait for Vera to come back. She left us not long after we arrived. I watched her disappear behind a large metal door into the warehouse.
Jax is leaning against the wall, inspecting his nails. It bothers me how unbothered he is. Led by curiosity, I open my senses. He’s not faking it. He’s truly relaxed, as if we were on a picnic and not some weird, secretive mission of sorts.
Bristling, I shut my senses off.Motherfucker.
Vera instructed us to remain quiet and hidden, so nobody spots us. I don’t know who on earth could in this shithole, at this time of night.
But I have a bad feeling.
I glance around the corner of the building to check whether anything is happening at the entrance. Vera’s nowhere to be seen, and it’s been over ten minutes. Anxiety claws at my chest.
“Will you relax, for the love of the gods?” Jax’s voice is a whisper. “You’re projecting your anxiety onto me and let me tell you—it’s not pleasant.”
Projecting?
I straighten my back and get a hold of my emotions and shields. It’s so rare that I do this, that I can’t believe it’s happening now. What am I, fourteen again, when my hormones were all over the place and I could barely control my senses and emotions?
“Sorry,” I murmur.
Finally, Vera rounds the corner. Her lips are pressed into a tight line. Immediately, alarm bells ring in my mind.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s really, really, really good that I brought you both here tonight,” Vera says quietly. She exhales a long breath. “Phoenix, this is very dangerous, and Noire will kill me if he knew I brought you here and I’m about to ask you this, but I don’t have much of a choice.”
“Okay. That’s fine, Vera. What do you need me to do?”
