Page 97 of Glutton for Punishment

His eyes slide to Arwen, then back to me. “I assume this is about the fact that your bonded can level a building.”

Arwen shifts beside me while I keep my expression neutral. “Yes, I figured you had heard. Who told you?”

“I hear everything worth hearing.” His voice is flat. “Would’ve preferred hearing it from you before half the family.”

Fair.

“I understand it feels like I was hiding something, but—”

“Do you?” His gaze sharpens. “Because I don’t like surprises, Maddox. Especially not from people asking for loyalty.”

I nod once. “I get it. You’re right.”

Duval won’t respond to argument, only to logic. I continue before he can.

“We kept it quiet because it was the safest play. I knew they’d see her as a threat. Arwen never wanted to use her power in public. It just paints a bigger target on her back. I was trying to de-escalate the whole situation before it turned into open conflict.”

Duval leans back in his chair. “That failed.”

I add, “Amaya forced the issue. She provoked Arwen and left her no choice.”

Duval studies Arwen for a long moment, assessing her. “You don’t strike me as someone eager for bloodshed.”

Arwen lifts her chin. “I’m not, unless I have to protect those I love.”

He nods and turns back to me. “So your problem remains the same. You’re asking whether my answer has changed.”

“Yes.”

The room goes still as he stares me down, considering.

Duval was an ally I guarantee I could count on. If he’s out, we are in a critical position.

He plants both forearms on the desk. “I’m still with you.”

Relief loosens in my chest as Arwen exhales softly beside me. “I won’t forget it,” I say.

He jerks his chin toward Arwen. “And I expect to be kept in the loop moving forward.”

I nod and hold out my hand.

Duval rises from his chair and shakes it. “My men will see you out. I have actual work to do.”

We got off easy, but Duval has always been the simplest of my siblings. He sees the logic in siding with us.

We exit the building and make it halfway across the work-yard when the world detonates.

A deafening blast tears through the air. Heat slams into my side, and then I’m airborne.

I hit the concrete hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs, my ears ringing so violently that the world goes muffled and distant.

For half a second, I can’t see through the dust. Can’t think as my hands catch on broken glass to push myself up.

Then one thought cuts through the haze.

Arwen.

I shove myself upright, coughing, vision swimming as I search through the chaos. People are screaming. Workers scatter in every direction. Cargo alarms blare overhead.