Page 371 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

A dork?

‘Fuck you.’

No thanks, the weirdo would murder me, and I want his blood so I can get the fuck out of bed and help you kick ass tonight.

Kade hugs him again, can’t help it.

‘I love you, Lucozade.’ Luca pats him on the back, makes a little humming noise. ‘All right, strap in so I can tell you the rest.’

✴

Breakfast is French toast, bacon and scrambled eggs with coffee.

Lachlan seems to have already devoured several plates of his own.

‘Nothing about this looks quick.’

‘Breakfast is important. How’s Luca?’

‘Awake, actually.’

‘That’s really good.’

‘He said you offered Riley your blood?’

‘Last night while you were reading, I went to speak to Harker.’

Kade sits down and digs in without hesitation.

‘Oh?’

‘We talked about Roman and upgrading his security. I gave him my assessment of the Tower’s defensive weaknesses.’

‘Of course you did.’

The first bite of French toast with a fold of bacon on top is so fucking good his vision briefly turns blurry.

Lachlan grins. ‘Nice?’

‘Thogood.’ Kade swallows. ‘What else?’

‘I told him he didn’t smell right.’

‘Oh my God, what?’

‘Exactly what I just said.’

‘You told him… why? Why would you do that?’

‘Look, I don’t know him, but my senses are massively heightened at this point and I can tell something is… off.’

Kade sighs around a wince. ‘And how did he take that?’

‘He told me to go fuck myself.’

‘Great.’

‘I was genuinely concerned.’