Page 151 of Entangled

It’s just... rude.

“Sparring.” He looks over my pants and boots, and nods in approval. “I’ll get you started. You should learn some self-defense.”

“Absolutelynot.”

Good lord. I can’t even imagine what that would do to those infernal weighted beads.

His gaze sharpens on me. “Come on, pet. We have women in their seventies with more grunt than you’re showing.”

That stings, hitting just a little too close to home, but I stay silent as he gestures to the scene behind him. Reluctantly, I step around the tent to see two dozen people sparring in pairs behind him, including Ethel and Ida at the end. The civilians look... better than I expected. They move rhythmically as Beau looks on, calling out instructions, moving arms and adjusting hands as he walks along the line.

Surprisingly, he seems to be getting a few cold looks too, like the ones I received as I walked over. Iknewit wasn’t my imagination.

But why on earth would they be cold toBeau?

“Are things this serious?” I ask quietly.

This camp is a storm of activity. They’re wasting no time, and I know why. It’s not hard for me to imagine Sam up on that rock, talking about their new era. Theirwar.

That’s what this is.

We’re preparing for war.

“Yes.” The answer is like a pill, no sugarcoating. “We start rationing as of today. Any food approvals go through Lucky.”

I bite back my grimace. Guess I won’t be looking for extra food. I’ve been hungry before. I would rather face that than having to sit through Lucky apologizing to me for falling for Jasper.

“All the more reason,” Dom continues, “for you to start out here. I’d feel better if you knew how to defend yourself.”

I stare at him for a moment, trying to pinpoint how many times his words actually made my stomach flip.

But finally, I shake my head. “Actually, I was looking for Jayk. Have you seen him? I need to talk to him.”

Dom pauses, and something like regret passes over his face.

“Right.” Dom runs a hand over his hair. The motion shoots his biceps right into my field of vision. “Look, Jayk’s not here. He left early this morning with Sloane, Ava, Akira, and Kasey to start fixing and relocating the cameras. We need to get this place defensible and functioning as soon as possible. He volunteered.”

Despite the commanding nonchalance of his words, the sympathy in his eyes is enough to send my heart tumbling sickeningly to my feet.

“Jayk isgone?” Panic—and a flare of anger—lights my chest. “No. No, no. He can’t be gone. He wouldn’t just leave without talking to me.”

I stare imploringly at Dom as my words become shaky, waiting for him to agree. When he doesn’t, I flick my gaze to Heather, who gives me a pitying look.

“I don’t think you want my opinion on that.”

My throat becomes hot. “Why would he justgo? I was right here. I’ve been with him fordays, and he didn’t say a word to me. I don’t understand this at all. How could he just... leave me behind?”

They don’t answer—there’s no point. Because I do know why. Jayk is throwing up his defenses again, and I am being shutout.

I take a deep breath, trying to get a handle on myself, but it pushes the plug deep inside, and I gasp as the uncomfortable pressure rips through my anger. I don’t think I like it right at this moment. It’s not rewriting as pleasure.

Stressed, strung out, I press a hand to my too-tight chest.

“Darlin’? You okay?”

Beau shoulders past Dom, not even glancing at him. He examines my face, and I can only hope it’s not as flushed red as it feels. I’m hurting, and angry, and unwillingly aroused and this damn plug is only making everything so much worse.

“Did you hear that Jayk left?” I demand. “Justleft, without saying a word. I know he was angry, but it’s hardly as though this was a surprise. I told him I had feelings for you as well. Several times. Aftereverything, how can he just?—”

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