Page 40 of Under Dark Skies

“And then you watched them grow.” Rafe pushed through gritted teeth. Layla couldn’t take it anymore. She stepped forward and placed a hand on Rafe’s shoulder.

“Let her talk. You're going to cave her chest in.”

Rafe looked at her. She saw love, but also slight irritation. He lifted his weight off of her slightly. “Tempting.”

“We’re just doing as we’re told.” The stranger said breathlessly. Rafe frowned.

“Told by one of the Elders? Did you really think that this was coming straight from the top?”

The woman nodded. “Malcolm said Griffen changed. He knew that harmony was no longer possible.”

Rafe began laughing. It was dark and manic. Layla had never seen it before.

“Well, then you really are an idiot. Griffen would never try to start a war between shifters and humans. It’s been his legacy for hundreds of years to prevent that. Even before the Veil fell.”

“I don’t understand.” The woman looked genuinely bewildered. “He’s trained us and sent us intel for years. How could Griffen not know?”

“HE KNOWS NOTHING!” Rafe snapped. Layla felt the urge to calm him down, but didn’t want to seem condescending. The stranger had clearly hit a nerve when talking about Griffen. He was close to his heart, and then something was threatening that.

Rafe must have felt Layla quiver, because he lifted his knee entirely off of the woman. He pointed at her with a single finger. “Don’t fucking follow us. If I hear you coming, I will rip your throat apart. And say nothing to Malcolm.”

The woman stayed lying on the ground. She didn’t move, and appeared genuinely afraid. Layla took Rafe by the hand. He turned and pulled his hand away.

Layla saw him scowl at her. “What’s wrong?”

“You shouldn’t do that in front of an assassin. Now they know how important you are to me.”

Layla could barely hold in her laughter. “It's far too late for that now.”

The woman spoke, still lying on the ground. “I don’t understand how you know all of this.”

Rafe turned back to her. “It’s none of your fucking business how I know any of this. But use your brain, it's too much to be lying about.”

The woman shook, rising to her forearms. “How could Griffen not know any of this? Why don’t you use your fucking brain?”

Rafe clenched his fists, and made his way toward the woman. He stood over here, threatening with a raised leg. “Do you enjoy the feeling of being smothered?”

The woman laughed, then shook her head. “I’m trying to have a normal discussion here. I get that you’re pissed but we both have valuable information that could help us both out.”

“Why would I want to help you out?”

Layla came to Rafe’s side. “She’s right, you know. You two should talk without either one of your limbs on top of one another.”

Rafe gave a heavy sigh. It looked like his ribs were once again bruised. Sighing must be physically painful for him.

“Fine. But keep your distance. Empty your fucking pockets.”

The stranger did as she was told. One more knife flew across the room. Rafe watched it, then crossed his arms, satisfied that he was finally in control of the situation.

Thirty-Six

Rafe

"Griffen wouldn't do such a thing," Rafe snapped.

Eyeing this piece of shit under the hold of my boot, he stood there and heaved hot, heavy breaths in and out of his lungs. Then he wiped some blood from his lower lip and glared down at the wide-eyed woman floundering beneath it.

"Fuck!" Rafe shouted into the abandoned station.

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