“Hey,” he said, looking down, that curl of dark hair over his forehead.
“Hey,” I said, and brushed it back. “Everything okay?”
“It is.” He looked toward the door. “Or will be.”
“And are you going to tell me what’s about to happen?”
His grin widened. “I’m not yet sure what’s going to happen.”
But I saw the spark in his eye—and the hunger.
I put a hand on his face, rubbed a thumb across his lips, then leaned up and kissed him, nipping at his lip. “Go kick his ass.”
He brushed his fingers against mine. “We fight for each other,” he whispered, and walked into the bar.
Connor joined his family at the front. I took a spot with Alexei and Dan on the side.
“Any predictions?” I asked.
“Not a lick,” Alexei said, and squeezed my hand. “But it should be entertaining.”
The interlopers were at the back of the room, standing shoulder to shoulder. Joe had no expression. Breonna’s bravado was fading, and she looked slightly sick. Cade looked defiant.
Gabriel stepped forward. “I’ve returned from the dead,” he said, voice booming across the bar, which erupted in cheers. “And since I’ve heard some bullshit was spreading while I was gone, my disappearance had nothing to do with vampires, and everything to do with a demon. That demon was captured by the work of many, including vampires and my son, and Cadogan House returned to Chicago. Anyone who tells you otherwise is a filthy liar.”
That had the crowd looking around for the interlopers, whose expressions didn’t change.
“I learned a few things in those days I was gone. I learned not to fuck with demons.”
The crowd chuckled nervously.
“I was reminded vampires don’t give up.” He gave a smile to me. “And I was reminded that there are those who want to lift the Pack up and those who want to bring it down. Cade Drummond,” he said, the name a command that echoed magically through the room, “attempted to issue a challenge while I was gone. He hadsome grievances—shit he didn’t take to his local leaders, shit he didn’t offer to help correct—and instead decided the best way to address them was to get the Pack arrested for public intox.”
He settled his gaze on Cade. “I’m sure I heard that wrong, Drummond.”
A line of shifters opened in the crowd between the Apex and the interloper, but Cade made no response.
“I guess not,” Gabriel said. “And when Cadogan House disappeared—and with it allies to our Pack—instead of joining those who were fighting to get us back, he tried to dethrone me.”
The rumblings of the Pack grew louder now, harsher.
“I think it takes a particular kind of coward to issue a challenge like that. What do you think, Cade? Are you a particular kind of coward?”
Cade’s lip curled. But he didn’t move. I wasn’t sure if that was stubbornness or the power of his Apex’s magic.
“Connor didn’t accept that challenge—how could he? He wasn’t Apex. I sure as hell hadn’t given up the throne, and I don’t think the Pack convened to make changes. So what could he do?”
Gabriel’s gaze grew hotter and angrier, searing Cade from across the room. “You tried to hurt the Pack in order to boost yourself up. Fucking reprehensible is what that is. But here’s the thing, Cade Drummond.” He hit each consonant like a drum. “Being in that House, in that nothingness, for several days reminded me of something. I like sitting back with a beer and my family, with my brothers and sister and nieces and nephews, with my son and his girl. And it’s time I spend a little more time doing that.”
“Oh, shit,” Dan said, magic building in the room at the Apex’s pronouncement.
“I’m not saying I’m retiring today. But it’s time to begin the end.” He looked at Connor. “And pass the throne.”
The magic was buzzing now—with surprise, concern, excitement.
“Because of that, I’m inclined to give Connor the choice you didn’t. Con,” his dad said, “what do you think we should do with this miserable excuse for Pack?”
Connor stepped to his father, and they embraced each other. And something Connor whispered had Gabriel’s smile widening.