I could feel everyone watching me – especially Carter and Chloe. Leila didn’t realise she was asking everyone’s favourite questions.
‘Well, for one, I don’t need direct contact with an exile to strip their power and make them only human.’ I let this sink in, watching Leila’s poor attempt to hide her surprise, then I added, ‘And they don’t have to will it.’
Her eyes went almost as wide as Ray’s.
‘What rank are you from?’ she asked, watching me carefully.
‘Yeah, purple, exactly what rank are you from?’ Carter threw in. This was the first time he had heard anything like this from me. Rogues did not share.
My eyes locked with Lincoln’s and through them I felt his strength and support. As Grigori, we were partners. Despite what I tried to tell myself, that would never change.
I could feel what he wanted me to do, and I wanted it too. This was not the time to hide. I unclasped and removed my bracelets, revealing the markings that were already swirling like rivers of liquid silver. ‘My maker is one of the Sole.’
Leila dropped her fork. Ray stopped chewing, his mouth hanging open. Though I’d never admitted this to Gray, he wasn’t surprised. Lincoln held my eyes with warmth and something so much more that I had to quickly look away. Chloe looked in awe. And Carter … he spat his mouthful of gumbo all over us.
‘You’ve gotta be shitting me!’
I smiled slyly at him. ‘Now, now, Carter. Try to be respectful to your superiors.’
His shoulders dropped and his eyes narrowed. ‘Aw, hell, Gray. Tell me she ain’t that chick everyone’s been whispering about the past two years.’
‘She ain’t that chick everyone’s been whispering about the past two years,’ Gray deadpanned.
‘She’s the chick, ain’t she?’ Carter replied.
‘Yeah. She’s the chick,’ Gray said, trying to repress his smile.
‘But you and her …’
Gray cut Carter a sharp look. ‘The only time I ever tried to touch her, she broke my nose and near took my arm off.’ He looked at Lincoln. ‘I swear it.’
Lincoln knew this too now, but that didn’t stop his jaw tightening, as if merely the thought of me being around Gray for the last year – even just as friends – was intolerable.
Carter looked at Gray, before holding up his hands, perplexed, and gesturing towards Lincoln and me. ‘And what are those two, then?’
‘Partners,’ Gray said. Then, obviously deciding that it was a tell-all kind of day, he added, ‘And soulmates.’
Carter fell as silent as the rest of the table for a few beats, his gaze settling on Lincoln curiously, but I had seen how Lincoln’s shoulders had relaxed, as though hearing the confirmation of our status had helped. Finally, Carter looked back to Gray. ‘Mate, I’d be guessing you’re lucky she didn’t break something a whole lot more important.’
Gray took a deep drink of his beer. ‘I’ve considered that.’
I rolled my eyes, while Lincoln now appeared quite pleased with the conversation. Thankfully things changed direction as Leila and Ray went on to tell us they believed that the exiles’ main base of operations was down by an old deserted power plant on the river’s edge. If they had Spence in the city, that was where he would most likely be by tomorrow night.
‘We’ll stake them out at first light,’ I said. ‘Just Sal, Zoe and us. Everyone else can move over to the military accommodation and start preparing for the incoming Grigori,’ I added, glancing at Gray.
Lincoln nodded, confirming he was well aware of Gray’s Rogue activation. ‘Once we have the lay of the land tomorrow, I’ll put in a call to the Assembly to give them our green light.’
‘You might not get a message out,’ Ray advised.
I caught Gray’s eye, wondering if his text had made it, but his relaxed expression indicated he understood my concern but didn’t share it.
Lincoln shrugged, also unperturbed by Ray’s comment. ‘The navy has satellite equipment. We’ll be fine,’ he said.
We spent the rest of the meal outlining a strategy for the next day, and we even managed to have a few laughs.
Just as we got up to leave, Carter had a rare light-bulb moment, grabbing Gray’s shoulder. ‘That’s why you call her princess, isn’t it?’
Gray smiled mysteriously. ‘One of the reasons.’
When we were back out on the street, Lincoln said something quietly to Gray, who nodded and then addressed the others. ‘Let’s get back to the safe house so the others can find something to eat.’ His eyes met mine. ‘First light, princess.’
I rolled my eyes.
‘Must everyone have a nickname for you?’ Lincoln asked, a small smile playing on his lips as the others started to walk away. I took a step in their direction and returned his smile.
‘It must be because I’m so warm and fuzzy,’ I said.
Lincoln laughed and grabbed my hand, pulling me in the opposite direction.
‘Where are we going?’