Chapter 26
Reid
Talon is pacing like a wild animal when I find him, muscles corded, nose flaring like a bull about to charge. There’s murder in his eyes. I’ve never seen him this angry.
“What the fuck was that?” I ask as he carves deep grooves into the ground. “What the hell were you fighting about in front of our guests?”
“He started it.” His voice is a harsh exhale, low and rough.
“Who threw the first punch?”
He doesn’t answer. That tells me everything I need to know.
“Damn it, Tal. You’re supposed to be the smart one.”
“He was talking shit,” Tal snaps. “He’s always talking shit.”
“And you’re always letting it slide. What made this time different?”
He shrugs, sharp and angry, like the motion itself offends him. “Maybe I didn’t feel like letting it slide anymore.”
That tells me everything and nothing. “Was it about Sierra?”
He jerks like I slapped him, glare snapping toward me, pissed that I’ve seen too much.
“So it is about her,” I say. “Damn it, you two, this is exactly what I didn’t want. That’s why I told you both to stay away from her.”
He doesn’t answer, just keeps pacing.
“Tal. Say something.”
“I did,” he mutters. “I tried to stay away, but—” He drags a hand over his face, glancing toward the shed, something conflicted flickering across his expression.
That’s enough. Something happened in there. Something he regrets—and doesn’t.
A flash of anger hits me, sharp and unexpected, but I push it down. Getting pissed at him or Luke won’t help, and it’d be hypocritical as hell.
I’m no better.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, tension tightening along my spine, then force out a breath.
What’s done is done. Now we deal with it.
“How’s your eye?” I ask. It’s already swelling, bruises forming across his jaw and cheek. Luke must’ve really gone at him.
Talon lifts a hand to his face like he forgot it was there. “It’s fine.”
“Right. No more fights with Luke. He might not look it, but he’s strong and mean.”
“I could’ve beaten him if I wanted to,” Tal mutters, sounding like a pissed-off kid.
“I’m sure you could have. Go get it checked anyway.”
“I’m fine. I’m going for a walk.”
He doesn’t wait for a response, just heads straight into the forest.
I consider following him, then decide against it. He needs space. Hell, I need space.
I stand there for a moment, thinking through what comes next. We owe our guests an apology. I’ll track Luke down and make sure he delivers it properly once he’s calmed the hell down.
And Sierra…
I exhale slowly. I don’t even know what to say to her. I saw her face before I broke up the fight. I can’t imagine what she’s feeling right now.
I should go to her.
But first, I wait. If Tal comes back, I need to get him to the infirmary before he does something stupid with whatever herbal nonsense he keeps in that shed. Last thing we need is an infection.
After thirty minutes, the forest is still silent. No sign of him.
Fine. I’ll deal with everything else first.
I head back toward the main building. Some scuff marks from the fight are still there, along with a few drops of blood in the gravel. Nothing that a few minutes with a rake won’t fix.
Sierra’s face flashes in my mind.
I need to go to her.
Most of the guests are back in sessions, so I pull out my phone and call Luke again. No answer. I try a third time. Still nothing.
“Damn you, Luke.”
He’s either sulking in his room or getting wasted in town. I check his room first.
It’s a mess. Clothes everywhere.
That’s not a great sign.
Luke only gets like this when he actually likes someone.