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Yeah, I know. I look like shit. So do you, buddy.

He keeps his expression neutral and flexes his jaw. “Where the fuck have you been?”

I step closer, keeping my chin high. “Not even a hi or a how are you? Okay, I see how this is going to go.”

The rest of them snap their heads up and stare at me. I run my hands through the facial hair on my chin and try not to smirk at the peach fuzz on the rest of them. James immediately stands in front of Serena, and the other three exchange looks.

I glare at him, trying not to roll my eyes since sarcasm won’t help the situation. “Relax, Turbo. I’m not here to hurt anyone. I’m just here to talk.”

James’s stare is unwavering, and his body language is tense, which is less than ideal for me right now. Especially since I still don’t have eyes on his other dipshit friend. Serena stares at me, all wide-eyed and curious, but says nothing. Jade’s reaction is the one that surprises me the most. Out of all of them, she’s changed the most, and it’s got nothing to do with her appearance. She tilts her head and narrows her eyes at me with an expression I can’t interpret as anything but contempt.

I’m starting to regret making my presence known so soon, but I need information from them, so it’s a risk I’m willing to take.

“Where’s London?” James asks, causing Serena to wince. James seems oblivious to her reaction. I get it; London has that effect on people. Serena has a right to be jealous, but London’s mine. Like fuck I’ll let her near James. I see the way he looks at her.

“She’s safe,” I mutter, keeping my eyes locked on Jade as she jerks her head toward Thomas.

James lifts his spear as if that will scare me and squints while Thomas sits next to him.

Interesting.

“I don’t think I like the fact that she isn’t with you right now,” James says.

I lift my chin slightly. “I don’t really care what you think.”

“Is she alive?” Jade asks, causing me to shift my attention to her. The command in her voice is unmistakable in the way she says it. Jade, the blushing girl who could barely hold a conversation in my presence our whole lives, seems to be the one in charge.

What kind of question is that? And when the fuck did I become the enemy?

My lips curve into a smile. “Yeah, she’s fucking alive.”

They are quiet, all five of them staring at me, waiting for me to do something. I live for awkward silence, so I wait until they get uncomfortable enough to say something.

Surprisingly, it’s Thomas who speaks first. “Why are you here, Micah?”

I relax my tense posture, changing my smirk into a grin, but keep my grip firm on my bone weapon. These aren’t my friends. Not anymore… Not with the frostbite evident on the tips of their ears and noses.

“I came to see if any of you had a razor.” No one laughs, even though I think I’m fucking hilarious.

Thomas jerks to his feet. “This shit isn’t a joke. You both left us out here, man.” He’s eyeing me like he wants to tear me apart. “You’re looking pretty good for someone trapped outside all winter.”

Thomas could mutilate me if he wanted, so I don’t relent on my rigid stance. Thomas would win physically, but I am much quicker and could get him down if needed. But I won’t. He’s pissed at me, sure, but he’s loyal, and ultimately, he won’t hurt me.

James, however, is an entirely different fucking problem as his jaw flexes and his hands shift into fists. “Tell us where she is, Micah. I want to see her. It’s not enough for her to just be alive. She needs people in her life, man. And you’re clearly out of your mind.”

Out of my mind? What gave them that idea? I shake my head. “Not fucking happening. But you can go ahead and tell me where the others are.”

“That’s not how this is going to work, Micah,” Jade says, tossing another log into the fire, looking almost bored. It’s as if they anticipated this conversation, like they expected me to pay them a visit.

“Tell me, then, Jade, are we going to have a problem?”

They all stare at each other, having some silent conversation like a little fucking family. How cute.

James shakes his head and slides his arm around Serena. “You know what, Micah? You are the fucking problem. We get that you lost Maison, so I’ll give you a pass, but we’ve lost people, too, so apologies if your shit isn’t at the top of our priority list.”

An icy jolt hits my core.

“Nathan didn’t last through the winter, Micah,” Jade says calmly.