My blood runs cold. I throw myself over him, shielding him with my body.
"I'm warning you, valkyrie. Coyote." Her voice is steady, merciless. "I'm not here to kill them, but if you force my hand, I can put this bolt through both."
Astrid freezes mid-swing. Jace snarls but backs down, his shifted body trembling with restraint. Winston lowers the shotgun, jaw tight with fury.
"That's better." Darlene's tone drips satisfaction. She gestures with her weapon. "Clear the place."
The remaining civilians scatter fast, stumbling out. Even the cop, after one helpless glance at Astrid, turns and bolts. Smart man. He knows this fight isn't his.
Now it's just us—our fractured, cornered group and Darlene's mercenaries, fanned out with precision.
"Well, well." Her gaze roves over us. "Didn't expect to catch the entire enclave together. But no matter. We came prepared."
"There's a truce, Darlene! Darius promised!" I yell out, raw and desperate.
"And your husband shattered it. You saw the photos." Her eyes gleam as she twists the knife. "That was Johnny. And Konstantin. Or what's left of them. Along with half a dozen others in that building."
My chest seizes, horror crashing into me. Johnny. Konstantin. Gone.
My pulse thunders, choking. All I can force out is one question: "Where's Kayden?"
Her eyes narrow. She doesn't answer. Instead, she flicks two fingers.
Two mercenaries step forward. Hard grips close around my arms, yanking me upright, tearing me away from Asher's unconscious body. I thrash, kicking and snarling.
"Be nice," Darlene says, her crossbow never wavering. "Unless you want to lose your second husband as well."
I freeze, the words slamming into me with a painful force. My muscles lock, breath caught. Slowly, stiffly, I let them wrench me down, forcing me to my knees on the floor.
"Let it be known that you attacked first. Every time," Darlene says coldly.
"Wouldn't need to if your boss understood the wordno," Winston growls from behind the bar.
Her eyes narrow. "What's between Darius and Sage is their business. You barely know her."
Astrid spits the words like blades. "If you're trying to play thegood guys, you just fucked it up."
"Wearethe good guys. But patience has limits. However, this deal will show just how generous we are. While your side butchered two of our top people, and more besides, I'll only require one of you in exchange." Darlene's gaze sweeps across us like a predator deciding which prey to take. "The question is—who?"
"You can't be serious!" My voice cracks raw. "No!" I thrash, but the mercenaries twist my arms harder, pain ripping up to my shoulders until my knees slam the floor.
Darlene's crossbow drifts slowly and deliberately from Astrid to Jace.
"The young one," she says, voice like ice, but laced with grief. "For Johnny."
"No," Astrid snarls, stepping forward—
Crack.
The butt of a rifle smashes into her skull. The sound splits the air. Astrid collapses, her blade vanishing as she hits the ground, blood trickling from her temple.
"No!" My scream tears out, but my body's wrenched tighter, forced down to the floor.
Asher is still unmoving beside me.
Gods,please.
"Take your shot," Jace growls, shifting back to human, clothes torn, body trembling but his voice steady. "Do it."
