“Because you don’t care if I don’t want you to die?” Libby asked, her tone pointed.
Hope sighed and stretched out her left leg, leaning over it and wincing at the still echoing pain. “Ofcourse I care.”
“Then don’t sacrifice yourself,”Libby returned.
“I don’t think it’ll come to that,” Hope said, not really knowing whether that was the truth or not. “I’m asking if you’re okay with what happened between Paxton andme last night.”
Libby straightened up, her eyes a warm honey. “What exactly did happen?”
Hope cleared her throat. She’d never kept secrets from Libby, and now wasn’t the time to start. So she told her, holding just a few of the details back. By the end, Libby’seyes were wide.
“Wow. Go, Paxton,” she said. “Maybe his new warrior pain-in-the-ass attitude isn’t quite as bothersome as you said.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t a turn-on,” Hope protested. “But what I’ve learned with all these vampire and demon males around is if you give them an inch...”
Libby snorted. “They take the entire territory.”
“Exactly,” Hope said. “It has always been the three of us. I just wanted to make sure you were okay withwhat happened.”
Libby reached out and slapped Hope’s foot. “Of course I’m okay with it. It’s always been you and Pax. I never even considered any other possibility.”
“What if I mate Drake?” Hope asked quietly. When she was younger, she’d wanted Libby and Pax to be together if that happened, because then they’d be safe, and their little group would still be together. Now, she didn’t like the thought. Hated it actually. She didn’t want to think of Pax with anybody else in the world, which was just as screwed up as screwed up got, because she was the one considering mating Drake and becoming a freaking queen. “What about you and Pax?”
Libby wrinkled her nose. “I really do see Paxton like a brother. Even if you two don’t end up together, he is definitely not my path.”
Relief filtered through Hope. “Okay. I was just curious. It would be nice to see bothof you happy.”
Libby sobered. “Paxton won’t be happy unless he’s with you. Even though you’re all caught up in this grand scheme, there’s nobody else for him. Honestly, I’m not quite sure there’s anybodyelse for you.”
Hope would miss these talks with Libby if she actually moved away. “I think there might be better reasons to mate and marry than just love,” she said.
“Not if you look around us,” Libby murmured. “Look at your parents. Look at mine. Look at everybody we know. They’re in love, and it makes them stronger. I understand duty, and I’ve always had your back. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you. Besides.” Her grin lit up her face. “Has Paxton even asked you to mate?”
“No,” Hope said. Interesting. He never had, had he? “He just kind of talks like that’swhat he wants.”
“Hmm,” Libby said. “You might want to think about that.” She glanced at her watch. “Oh, we’re going to be late.”
Hope sat back, thinking through the last several days. Paxton hadn’t ever asked her, now had he? Maybe it was something to consider.
Either way, it was time to debrief the team.
* * * *
Paxton walked slowly down the stairs to the sublevel of demon headquarters and opened the door to the long hallway that held the cells. He had no idea where Henric and Fralep were being held now, but they were probably still at the main headquarters.
The cells here at demon headquarters were a little rougher, cut into the rock and fronted by solid, transparent glass that couldn’t be broken. He kept his thumbs looped casually in his jeans pockets as he looked inside. Paelotin sat on the floor, which was hard onyx marble that also didn’t shatter. Nothing could break that surface, and Paxton had seen groups try as part of their training. Bones broke when smashed against that floor.
It camein quite handy.
He nodded at the guards down the way, and they returned the gesture, not moving. Good. He tapped in a code on the keypad, and a door snicked open just far enough for him to walk inside. It rolled silently closed behind him.
Paelotin stood to his full height, his fangs dropping low. “Surprised to seeyou,” he said.
It was a gift not many vampires had, the ability to speak clearly and enunciate each word with their fangs extended. But Paelotin had mastered it years ago. Paxton knew that expression well. When he was a child, it hadn’t boded well for him. Now, he couldn’t give two fucks. “Had a nice talk with Zane Kyllwood,” he said, keeping his voice low and controlled, like always.
Paelotin threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, I bet that was a good one. Did he deny it? Did he deny that he’s your father?”
“Not only did he deny it, we conducted a DNA check just to be sure,” Paxton admitted.
