Page 18 of Kings of Sherwood

“He’s not dead,” I hear Will bite out. “That’s not even deep enough to bleed out.”

“911.” That’s Rob’s voice. “Corner of Canal and Jefferson. Ambulance, some kind of animal attack. Hurry.” I hear a jingle of keys, the slam of a car door. “We’re going.”

I feel Tuck shift as he looks around, but he doesn’t let me go. The growl of the engine and the squeal of tires as Rob pulls us around.

“Get in,” he shouts, and we do, Tuck hustling me to the back. LJ, human again, in just pants, cramming in beside us, and Will riding shotgun.

I press my face to Tuck for the rest of the ride, and the next thing I know, I’m wrapped up in my bed, sheets soft around me. I wake up just enough to register the weight of a body, two bodies...I don’t know how many, just that they’re surrounding me, warm and sure and there, and I sink back into unconsciousness.

Chapter Five

Maren

“Combat training,” Rob says, “and I’m serious this time. No more fucking around.” It’s the next morning, and even the pale sunlight streaming into the kitchen is too bright for me. I squint and clasp the orange juice Tuck squeezed for me like an elixir of life.

“Do we have to do this now?”

“The training itself? No,” Rob says. “The discussion, yes.”

“Co-signed,” LJ says. He’s hunched over the table, hands on a cup of black coffee that he isn’t drinking. He’s just staring at me with a look of protectiveness slash anger that I know isn’t directed at me, per se, but just generally at the world.

“It wasn’t the best date night I’ve had,” Will says placidly, pouring out three or four liquid Advil capsules into his palm before chucking them back, “but I don’t know about worst.”

“Are you fucking serious?” LJ says. “She almost got—”

“I didn’talmost getanything,” I interrupt. “You guys were there. There was no question I was making it out of that in one piece. I wasn’t scared.”

“It’s okay if youwerescared,” Tuck says, sliding a plate onto the table. Breakfast for all of us is dry toast, probably for the best. I pick up a slice but only pinch off the corner crust, not eating.

“Iwasn’t,” I say. “I was...” I pause, thinking, “full of adrenaline, I guess, but...” I shrug. “I don’t know. I don’t get scared if you guys are around.”

They all exchange a look.

“Well, regardless,” Rob says, then shakes his head, “no,especiallybecause of that. We might not always be around, and you need to learn to defend yourself.”

I don’t let myself think about a future in which they’re not always around me, not any more than a few rooms away.

“I can,” I say, “or I can heal myself, anyway. That counts for something, right?”

“You can’t heal yourself if you’re dead,” LJ says, “or in a chokehold.”

“And maybe let’s not have it come to that point anyway,” Tuck adds. “I think this is a good idea.”

Inwardly, I have to agree.

“You’re right.” I nod. “Maybe once my electrolytes are rebalanced, or whatever, we can—”

“I’ve got a plan,” LJ says shortly. “Don’t worry.”

“I never worry,” Will answers for me, swigging some of his coffee. Of all of us, he seems the brightest-eyed and bushiest-tailed. “Neither does Robin here. We leave all the angsting to you, the kid, and big guy.”

“Hey,” Tuck protests, “I don’t worry. I just have concerns.”

“Sometimes Iamworried,” Rob says flatly. He drums his fingers on the table, staring into the middle distance. “I don’t fucking like this.”

“Thismeaning...?” Will asks.

“Meaning all of it,” Rob says. He sighs and flattens a hand on the table with almost enough force to be a slap. “All of the—Jesus, I don’t know. The criminal element.” He winces. “If what LJ’s pal last night said is right, Wheatley and his boys are sitting with their thumbs up their asses, too afraid to say boo. Meanwhile, half the county thinks the golden boy DA was some kind of murderous maniac.”

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