"I appreciate that you mean what you say," she said. "Maybe, after all this is over, we'll have a nice roll in the hay. That'll be fun. I'd like that."
Before Gio could entirely pull his thoughts together, she had already turned and strode back to the Jeep.
Gio followed. It felt as if he had won the argument in the worst possible way. Hedidwant to lay her down and make love to her, a craving that was almost unbearable in its intensity. But it wasn't a mere "roll in the hay" that he wanted. It was all of her—mind and body, heart and soul—and only because he wanted to give back his own just as much.
What he wanted was the true union of souls that he believed they were capable of, no matter what their animals said, no matter what destiny said.
How could he prove to her that she was worthy of that, regardless of the things her clan had taught her?
When he got to the Jeep, Max was rummaging through their supplies. Javic was leaning against the fender, waiting. He'd put the robe back on. Although it was ragged, with flashes of pale skin and clothing showing through, it made him seem deeply sinister, as if he was about to turn to shadow and vanish into the darkness. "Ready to go?" he said.
"Yes." Max didn't look at Gio as she held out a pistol to him, not the tranq pistol but a real gun. Gio noticed with a sharp feeling in his chest that she was no longer wearing the silver necklace. "Can you use this?"
"If I have to." He was starting to feel as if he'd made the worst of all possible mistakes. He had broken the unity of their partnership at the time when they needed it the most. "Max—"
"I don't want to talk anymore," Max interrupted. "Let's just do this."
Javic glanced back and forth between them. "What'd you say to her?" he mouthed at Gio, who just shook his head.
Max, possibly having caught some of that, turned on Javic and made him step back a pace, especially since she was holding a gun. It took Javic a moment to notice she was holding it out to him grip-first. Gio was aware that it was only the tranq pistol, but it was still a weapon.
Javid looked surprised and gratified before shaking his head.
"I'm going to be a lot more helpful doing magic than shooting at anything," he said. "It would only be a distraction. I don't even know how to use one."
Max nodded and returned the pistol to her supplies. She already had the tranq rifle slung over her shoulder, a pistol stuck through her belt, a knife and a coil of rope. If things had been less tense between them, Gio would have been tempted to make a joke about going in loaded for bear, but it died unspoken before he could form it properly.
Gio now regretted that he hadn't had a chance to tell Max what he intended, but he wanted to spring a last-minute change of plans on Javic unawares. In case Javic was planning a double-cross, Gio didn't want to give him any time to deal with it.
"I think I should travel separately from you two," he said. "Instead of us all portaling in together, I'll stonewalk and meet you there."
Javic looked surprised, but not upset. Max was harder to read. Gio hoped she wasn't angry. He had no way to tell her that this was nothing to do with their argument earlier. It was, in fact, the opposite. He couldn't stonewalk with Max and be sure of having enough energy when he got there to fight, but he could get there on his own. And that way, at least one of them would be out of Javic's control.
"Easier if we all go together," Javic said. "I can get you both there easily."
"I know," Gio said. "But I'd be more comfortable if we split up."
"All right," Max said, to his relief. She gazed at him with a level expression, but it didn't look like she was unhappy or angry. Then she turned to Javic. "We do as he suggested. You and I will go together, and Gio will come on his own."
Javic blew out a breath. "If you're both sure."
"I am," Max said. "In fact, I have my own change of plan to suggest. Gio, since you're going alone, don't try to meet back up with us. Just keep going and get Elina."
"Wait," Gio began, alarmed. Now he was worried he might have just sent Max into a trap.
"It makes more sense to switch our positions anyhow," Max pointed out. "As a lion, you're faster, and you're almost invulnerable. And you can find a place to stonewalk out with her if anything goes wrong."
Gio realized there was a good chance she was doing exactly what he was—changing the plan at the last minute to reduce the chances that Javic would betray them. However, there was an important thing he didn't know if she'd taken into consideration.
"Max—I don't know if I can control my lion that well."
"Yes, you can," Max said flatly. "I've seen you. You can do it." Seeing him mustering for more protests, she added, "Splitting up was your idea."
"True," he admitted. "All right, but no side trips, for the Source or anything else. We'll clear out once we've rescued Elina—we're not a commando force."
"Fair enough," Max agreed. "I don't have anything to blow it up with anyway. I used my only frag grenade yesterday." She checked her gun and turned to Javic. "Let's go."
Nodding, the fair-haired magician raised his hands. Gio watched with interest. He'd certainly been attacked enough times by people coming out of portals, but he hadn't actually seen the other side of it yet.
