“So I get why we wanttheirstuff,” I say. Uncle Jim told me the entire continent of Tierra Fe is rich with resources. “But what do we have that they’d want?”
Gray shrugs. “Medical supplies. Tech.”
Karra raises her bottle and waves it around. “And cases and cases of grange. They can’t make it down there.”
“In exchange, we get their glenshade,” Henley says, grinning happily.
I look over in surprise. “They give us glenshade?”
“Oh yeah,” he confirms. “And it’s the pure stuff, too. Not lab made.”
I’m not a big drinker, but I’ll always take glenshade if someone offers it. Like grange, it’s an offshoot of whiskey, but this iteration tastes incredible and goes down as smooth as butter.
Henley winks when he sees my face. He holds out the tin bottle in his hand. “See for yourself.”
I take a deep swig. The moment the amber liquid touches my tongue, I let out a soft noise of contentment. Holy hellfuck. This actually is glenshade.
“Good, right?” he prompts.
“Sogood,” I say, handing the bottle back.
Mako’s enormous shoulders suddenly tense, his expression darkening as he calls to someone across the fire. “Hey, Raven! Enjoying the party?”
The pink-haired woman’s muffled response floats toward us. “I didn’t eat your cake, Mako!”
“Do you think she ever gets tired of lying?” he asks the group.
Hiding a smile, I sip my grange, which after the glenshade tastes like warm, bitter awfulness. It burns my throat, and not in a good way.
Someone adds more logs to the fire, sending orange embers exploding in the air and carried away by the night breeze. I listen to the crackle of the fire and look up at the sky. The stars are so bright tonight.
As Henley’s companion wanders off, he drags a hand through his shoulder-length blond hair and flicks his curious gaze at me. “You got a man, Darlington?” he drawls.
The question catches me off guard. But I decide to be honest. “Sort of.”
“Where’s he at? The Point?”
I shrug, which brings a faint smile to his lips. I notice Gray listening intently to our exchange, and I don’t think he’s the only one.From the corner of my eye, I see Evlynne’s veins begin to ripple, indicating she’s using her powers. Neema’s arms start glowing, too.
“Now, now, ladies,” chides Henley. “Let’s not be rude.”
Neither woman is at all contrite. If anything, Neema gives me a smug look. Yeah. They were totally talking about me.
I shift my gaze and catch a flash of movement at the edge of the fire. Fiona is trying to lead Poppy away, but the teenager isn’t having it.
“It’s not even ten.” Poppy’s complaint drifts toward us as the two of them pass. “Why doIhave to leave ifyou’retired?”
“Enough,” I hear Fiona scold.
Once they’re out of earshot, Luisa shakes her head. “Fiona issooverprotective. I’d lose my mind if my mom treated me like that.”
“Welcome to my life,” I say dryly. “My uncle broke out in hives every time I left the ranch.”
She laughs. “That’s my worst nightmare.”
“Wasn’t fun,” I agree, and Henley chuckles.
My attention is once again diverted when a loud rustling noise echoes in the brush. I instinctively raise my rifle at the same time Saint lifts his own.
