“Good aim, Commander,” Wendy notes, lowering her weapon. “You handled that better than any rookie I’ve met.”
I attempt a smile, but the praise feels hollow. I’m not used to compliments. I glance at Isolde, who’s gathering corpses with Ry, preparing them for the acid vats back at the precinct. If she heard Wendy’s praise, she doesn’t acknowledge it.
My frown deepens.
“Thank you.”
Wendy nods. “What do you think—should we defy Wilder and send a team after them?”
I glare at the lake’s black water, still as death, taunting me like my father’s silence whenever we’re in the same room. Would my father praise me now, or ignore this victory like all the others?
These weren’t Dullahan, but that doesn’t mean they won’t return. The real threat could be waiting on the other side. It could be suicide.
I hate admitting it, but Wilder might be right. He can handle Leigh. We need to protect this city.
“Wait it out,” I order. “If they’re not back by dawn, we seal the gate. That’s what’s safest, and it’s the queen’s standing order, according to Ravi. It’s what Wilder wants, too.”
Wendy nods. “Understood.”
“Wait,” Jaxson shouts nearby. “I didn’t think we were seriously going to listen to Wilder. We are trained soldiers; we can easily send a retrieval team after them. It’ll be simple.”
I exhale. He isn’t going to make this easy, and he’s thinking too much like a best friend than a Domna. “It’s what Wilder and Leigh want. They are being rational, so should you.”
“Screw what they want,” Jax snaps. “If you’re too scared to go, I’ll fucking do it myself.”
“Stand down, Domna,” Wendy cuts in, her voice razor-sharp. “Soter’s your superior, act like it.”
“But, Commander…” Jax’s protest dies under Wendy’s hardened stare.
“Go cool off,” I say, my patience wearing thin. I get it. Our choices suck, but I don’t need Jax undermining my commands. “We’ll talk when you’re ready to listen. Remember that your personal problems aren’t what’s important right now. You swore an oath to protect this city and its people. Right now, that doesn’t include Leigh or Wilder.”
“They aren’t the only ones missing. Fynn is, too, and?—”
Wendy produces her credit card with a flick and thrusts it into Jax’s hand. “Coffee. Now. If we’re going to survive this night, we need caffeine, and you need to calm down.”
“A coffee run? Seriously?” Jax stares, incredulous.
Wendy doesn’t miss a beat, her tone cold enough to freeze the blood still pooling beneath the dead daemon at her feet. “What’s with you tonight? You’re not usually this ornery.”
Jax’s jaw tightens. “I’m fine.” He turns to leave but shoots me a glare that could kill.
Years apart, and he still hates my guts. Not even my new title can change that.
I shove my hands into my jacket pockets. Maybe a walk isn’t a bad idea.
“I’ll be right back,” I say.
My boots sink into the wet sediment as I patrol along the moonlit beach. I keep my eyes on the center of the lake, willing Wilder and Leigh to surface. It’s infuriating to stand here, keeping guard, not able to do anything because Wildersaid so. It pains me more to agree to his terms because we don’t know what awaits us in Mictlan. Dooming the city isn’t worth finding out.
How could he go through that portal without consulting me first?
“Nothing is getting past our perimeter, Soter. I think you can chill.”
I glance over my shoulder. Isolde stands with her arms crossed over her chest, her uniform stained with mud and daemon blood. She looks so distant. I want nothing more than to reach out and pull her close, but I keep my arms at my sides. She’s beautiful, almost unattainably so. I’ve longed for her since we broke up all those years ago. I’ve tried every trick I know to earn her forgiveness for putting my family first, but nothing seems to work. I have her body, but what I truly want is her heart.
I was a jerk at the Academy when I pursued her to get under Wilder’s skin. After getting to know her, though, I realized she was the one for me. She’s smart, sassy, and brave as hell, and more importantly, she doesn’t put up with my shit. I thought I had it all with her. Wilder found out about us, and she chose me, until my father issued his ultimatum: break up with her or lose my place in his family.
Desperate for my father’s approval, I pushed Isolde away. Too bad I had already fallen for the blue-haired girl who could no longer stand the sight of me. I destroyed any chance I had with her after that. My father? He respects me about as much as a thief respects a locked door.
