Page 78 of Legacy of Chaos

“Like that time you got jumped by six Nightlash demons, and they tried to peel you like a grape?”

She snorted. “Yeah. Like that.”

That had been a clusterfuck. But this was worse. Blade knew it too. The intensity in his expression, the worry in his eyes…it said a lot. Mace knew the guy well enough to know that, right now, he was regretting not spending more time with their Uncle Eidolon. Blade had chosen to hone his fighting skills rather than his healing ones, and times like this made him kick himself for that choice.

Blade reached over and took Scotty’s hand in his, giving it a comforting squeeze. She flashed him a grateful smile.

And right then, for the first time in Mace’s life, he felt the stirrings of jealousy.

Shocked and irritated beyond belief, he stimulated her pituitary gland and sent a rush of pain-relieving endorphins through her. She rewarded him with a grin, and his jealousy melted away. It was stupid to be jealous of Blade. They’d sworn a blood oath long ago that neither of them would ever hook up with Scotty. Not ever, under any circumstances. She was a friend. Their best friend. And no way would any of them fuck up their friendship.

“You guys are both so awesome,” she said, almost drowsily.

“We are,” Mace agreed, grinning down at her.

She swatted at him, but he easily caught her wrist. “Nice try, Princess,” he said, using the nickname they’d used to annoy her when they were kids. Her father liked to say she’d been a tomboy from the cradle, and being called a princess was the ultimate insult.

“I take back what I said about you being awesome.”

“ButI’mstill awesome, right?” Blade asked, cracking a smile for the first time since the contact with Stryke. It was a sign that he felt better about Scotty’s injuries.

“For now,” she said. “Until you do something stupid.”

“I give him an hour,” Mace said.

Blade shot him a give-me-a-break look. “I giveyoufive minutes.”

The door swung open, and Stryke and Cyan burst inside. Blade’s smile slid off his face like butter off a hot knife.

Stryke nudged Cyan toward the holographic images hanging near a couple of destroyed windows, his intimate, gentle touch so discreet Mace would have missed it if he’d blinked.

He’s fucking her.

Interesting. Also, what the hell? She’d brushed off Mace’s flirtations for years, but she was doing Stryke?

Wait, it actually made sense. They were both Type-A brainiacs. They probably solved math equations as foreplay. Really, Mace had dodged a bullet.

“Finally,” Stryke said, sounding relieved. He looked them over and then quickly scanned the room. “Where’s the equipment I asked for?”

The shadows flickering in Blade’s eyes grew agitated as he shoved to his feet. Uh-oh. Mace and Scotty exchanged shit’s-gonna-start-up glances.

“Oh, hey, hi, Stryke,” Blade said, sarcasm and anger dripping from every word. “I must have missed your thank you. Also, yeah, we’re all okay, except Scotty was almost disemboweled anddismembered while coming to save your sorry ass, but thanks for fucking asking.”

Mace wasn’t sure if he should cringe or laugh. This would either be the worst or the best assignment ever.

Chapter 18

Oh, hey, hi, Stryke. I must have missed your thank you. Also, yeah, we’re all okay, except Scotty was almost disemboweled and dismembered while coming to save your sorry ass, but thanks for fucking asking.

Yep, this would be fun.

“Scotty?” Stryke glanced over at her as she sat on the carpeted floor, her shredded clothing dripping water and blood onto the already-soaked surface. “You okay?”

She nodded and accepted a towel from Taran. “Blade was being dramatic. All the equipment you asked for is in the boat.”

Stryke gestured to Taran, who took off to gather the equipment before the sea demons got a hold of it.

“How thick is the fog?” he asked, his gaze flicking between the three DART agents.

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