“Why?”
He bites his lip, indecision colouring his scent. I wonder if this is his line in the sand.
I raise my eyebrows and tap my wrist.Tick-tock.
“They don’t believe me,” he says quickly. “But I know that fucker’s involved. Me and Beck went to their house for a meeting, and I overheard Fox talking to someone on the phone when he thought we’d left.”
“What did he say?”
“Something about a new addition to the programme. Something extra special that’ll get the crowd going.” He grimaces. “Beck thinks I’ve got it wrong, but I know what I heard.”
It has to be Morgan.
“Is it one of your people?” His gaze flicks between the five of us, cataloguing who might be missing. “Where’s Morgan?”
The question catches me off guard. I’m too slow to school my reaction and he fucking sees it for the admission it is.
Grey frowns. “Humans don’t fight in the rings.”
“Not as far as I’m aware, no.”
I can almost see the wheels working in his head. Before he can get any ideas about turning me in to the council, I do something I never thought I’d do. Despite all the shit they’ve done, I’ve never once considered ratting them out to the council. But biting Morgan erased any shifter loyalty I felt towards the FBs. I don’t give a shit anymore. “Birch bit him. Then fucked off with him in a van.”
That shocks him.
Grey stares, opens his mouth, then closes it again. “Let me come,” he says finally. “I can help you.”
“How?” Jet sneers before I get the chance.
Grey’s expression softens ever so slightly, like it always does when he looks at Jet. I feel I should tell him he’s got no fucking chance there, but he can find out the hard way.
“The fight rings are run by humans,” Grey says, attention swinging back to me. “I’m assuming you’re not going to ask them nicely?”
Jet snorts, but I’m all fucking ears. “Go on.”
“I’m a hunter. I have sway with the council. If you kill anyone, anyhumans, then I can explain the situation and make sure they don’t punish you for it.”
It all sounds too good to be true, which means it probably is. He might be one of the better hunters out there, but I still don’t fucking trust him. “And why would you do that for us?”
He sighs and runs a hand through his hair before shooting another glance Jet’s way, like he just can’t help himself. Fortunately, Jet’s attention is elsewhere. “As hunters, we did some bad things in the past?—”
“No shit.” Jet’s gaze is fully focused on him now.
Judging by the scents coming off him, Grey’s not sure how to react to that. And Jet’s wicked smirk tells me he knows it too.
“We have a lot to make up for,” Grey says, focusing on me, like I’m the safest option. “I want to catch those running these fight rings as much as you do.”
“I really fucking doubt that.” I think of Beth, of Bale, ofNico, and barely hold back a snarl.
“Yeah, maybe not,” he acquiesces. “But I want to stop them, and this is the best chance of doing that.”
I could put this to a vote. Ishouldput this to a vote, but I have neither the time nor the fucking patience. “Don’t get in the way,” I growl and turn to get on my bike.
“Wait,” he says, and I turn to look at him. “Where are we going?”
Yeah, there’s no way I’m giving him that information upfront. “Someone go with him.” It’s not an order, but I’ll make it one if I have to. We need togo.
Both Jet and Beth get on their bikes and roar off towards the gates. Not a surprise.
