Page 132 of Hymns of the Broken
“Only if you want to lose an eyebrow,” Silas mutters, snatching the gun from him.
Jace flops onto the grass, eyes glittering at the lineup of weapons.
Macee sips her coffee, side-eyes me. “Sawyer, are you turning this into a battle of the bands or a battle of grave decisions?”
I shrug, lips curling. “Why not both?”
Laughter explodes—loud, wild, too much for a morning after the world’s shifted beneath us.
But Jasper doesn’t laugh.
He’s still watching me—heat and thunder brewing in his eyes. Mouth set in a perfect, unreadable line.
Like he’s not just looking at me. He’s seeing me.
Like I’m not just part of the game. I’m the weapon.
And for the first time, I want to be.
For him.
For Riot.
For me.
For all of us.
JASPER
Dinner was chaos.
The kind I usually have patience for.
But not tonight.
Not with Sawyer in that soft, fitted tank, the neckline low enough to make my fists curl tight under the table. Not with Riot leaning across the plates, grinning at her like he invented sin. And not with Ash and Jace practically killing each other for scraps of Macee’s attention—loud enough to make the chandelier rattle overhead.
By the time we file into the theater, I’m so tightly wound it’s a miracle I don’t snap in half.
I take the seat beside Sawyer. Legs spread, arm slung over the back, drink in one hand. Her shoulder brushes mine, and my jaw locks. It doesn’t matter how close I get—it’ll never be close enough.
She’s laughing at something Macee said. That sound—Christ. It unravels me every damn time.
Riot flops into the seat on her other side like he owns the spot. He doesn’t even look at me as he tosses a blanket over Sawyer’s bare legs.
“For warmth,” he says, smug.
Then leans in close, breath tickling her ear—“Mostly.”
I shoot him a glare, but he meets it head-on, holding my eyes like he wants me to swing.
I don’t give him the satisfaction.
“You cold, Riot?” My voice stays even, flat. “Want me to grab you one of those lavender-scented heating pads you probably keep stashed in your bunk?”
He grins. “Nah. Just keeping our girl warm.”
My teeth grind hard enough to ache.
