Page 20 of Knight’s Dominion

Mark leaned against the wall, arms folded, expression grim. “I’ll do it.”

Laney shot him a dirty look before Grace could even answer.

Grace and Mark had gone down the friends-with-benefits road several years ago. A serious mistake on her part. She’d been lonely, wanted some company. Unfortunately, they’d had zero chemistry. But ever since, he occasionally got the misguided urge to protect her. She could kick the guy’s ass from one end of the gym and back, but he’d had her under him a handful of times, so now he thought he needed to protect her.

Insane.

Infuriating.

And one of the main reasons she now avoided romantic relationships.

She fixed Mark with a hard stare. “No, you won’t.”

He bristled but shrugged. “Fine. Whatever you want.”

“That’s right.” She may not always love being their leader—the responsibility sometimes weighed heavily, especially when they lost someone in battle—but they’d needed someone, and for whatever reason, they’d chosen her.

Maybe it had been her determination—her hatred had shone the brightest, and they hadn’t missed it. Someone needed to make the hard decisions, and that’s what she did. So if anyone was going to talk to Chaos, it would be her.

As much as Grace hated…loathed the very idea, in the end, it was the best option, for everyone. There was a hellsgate demi in the hands of their enemy, who at any moment could gain her powers. Stopping that from happening was more important than her distrust and resentment toward Chaos.

“Any word from Tina?” Just saying her name made Grace’s muscles tense. The sick feeling wouldn’t go away. Tina wouldn’t just run away and leave the city. Leave them.

Heads shook and muttered noes filled the room.

Something bad had happened to their friend. She knew it down to her bones. “If you can, question the demons before you kill them. Do whatever necessary to make them talk. Someone knows something. Right, let’s get back to work before Vince pops an artery.”

“You sure about this?” Mark asked when the room had cleared.

Pulling her phone from her back pocket, she glanced up at him. “No,” she answered honestly. “But as it is, we’re getting in each other’s way. We should be fighting together.”

“He won’t go for it, and I don’t trust him, Grace. And after what happened to your family, how the hell can you even consider this?” Mark shot at her, then walked out.

Grace stood stiff, the queasy feeling in her gut gripping tighter. Would Chaos even remember her parents? Had he been the one to train them when they were in the compound, young and new to their powers? Or were they just another face in a sea of faces he thought he was helping but instead sent out into the world to be slaughtered.

Pain sliced through her, tears prickling the backs of her eyes.

She shoved her fingers through her hair. He’d never agree to her idea if she came at him like she had been, all fury and hatred. She needed to find some freaking control. She could pretend she didn’t despise him. She faked it here every night.

The coming war didn’t give a shit about her pain or her past. It was going to rise up from Hell and devour everything in its path. There was no time to be angry and hurt. Not anymore.

Scrolling through her contacts, she hit Mia’s name.

The phone rang twice. “Hey, Grace!”

“Hey.”

“What’s going on?”

“I need to get in touch with Chaos. Can you help me?”

Grace clapped her hands to get her class’s attention. "Right, time for some one on one."

The advanced class she taught twice a week had a few other possible candidates to join her crew, but no one as good as Mia and Eve, who she noted were absent today. Mia hadn’t said they were skipping class when she spoke to her, but it wasn't hard to guess why. And if she was honest, it stung a little.

She didn't force people to fight in this war. Helping someone gain the ability to protect themselves was one of the most worthwhile things she’d done, whether they decided to use their powers for killing demon scum or not.

She just hoped their overbearing males lightened the hell up and let their mates come back to her class. Because the truth was, the fight may come to their females whether they liked it or not.