I shot him a warning look, letting him feel how much their fighting was causing me distress, which thankfully made him pause. Still seething, he closed his eyes for a moment and then his shoulders droop. The shadows that had been clinging to him, dissipating.
“Very well,mi lobo.” Kyren placed his hand on top of mine on his chest. “I am sorry to have put you in the middle of our squabbles. But you are right. We have learned nothing of importance that would lead us to her attackers.”
“What we need is that note,” Julian said interrupting our soft moment.
“Note?” Kyren asked, his brow raised.
I’d forgotten Kyren hadn't been around when everything went down and didn’t know that Jack had basically been lured to her death.
“Jack got a note, I’m assuming during lunch or something, but she didn’t say,” I explained, finally feeling confident enough that they wouldn’t kill each other to lower my hands.
“It had to have been earlier during the evening, because she snuck out of bed to go meet them.” Julian leaned against the counter and crossed one leg over the other, his eyes focused on the floor.
Kyren cocked his head to the side, his eyes quizzical. “But she has gotten notes before, has she not?”
“Those were mostly warnings. Or vague invitations from some well-intentioned witches.” Julian shook his head. “This one was very specific.”
Kyren's lips twisted to one side. “And what did this note say?”
There was a moment of hesitancy before Julian replied. “I haven’t seen the note, so I don’t know all the details. However, we do know it was a taunt for her to meet them alone if she wanted to save her family.”
“And you let her go? Alone?” Kyren snarled, flashing his fangs. “She almost died. If you had seen her on my doorstep, if I hadn’t been home…” He shook his head and huffed. “Some partner you are.”
“I did notlether do anything,” Julian snapped, shoving off the island once more to prowl forward. “Jack did not follow protocol and went off half-assed on her own. Like always.”
“Maybe if she had a better partner, then she wouldn’t feel the need to put herself in danger.”
“Maybe if someone was still watching her like a creepy stalker, then she wouldn’t have gotten hurt in the first place!”
I blew out a breath, realizing we weren't going to get all our issues out in one go and be a big happy family. Julian and Kyren were both too alpha to be the bigger man and focus on our objective without sniping at the other.
A laugh almost escaped me.
I’d spent so long fighting against being the leader. Against being the one everyone relied on and, here I was, about to do just that because neither of Jack’s other lovers could pull their heads out of their asses long enough to get what needed to be done.
If only my dad could see me now.
Without a word, I stepped back from between the two of them. With me no longer in the way, they were inches from each other’s face as they yelled and cursed at the other.
I was a bit sad that I was being completely ignored, but figured it was better this way. I walked out of Julian’s apartment. Pulling my phone out, I sent Jack a text.
Me: hey pretty girl. I miss you.
Jack: you just saw me.
Me: that was over 24 hours ago. And you ended our date early.
Jack: No. I think themurderended our date early.
I chuckled, maneuvering through the hallways of the academy while texting her back.
Me: Well, then I demand a makeup date.
I waited, watching the little dots while she typed a message and then stopped before typing again. Though I rode with Kyren, I still had my car parked in the academy parking lot. By the time she answered, I’d already reached it.
Jack: tbh. I’m not really up to going out. Sorry
I smiled.
