Page 121 of Ashes of Honor

I glanced at Yasmin, catching the flicker of discomfort that passed through her as Riley spoke, but she bit it down.

“Jax’s timing was impeccable, as always,” Reina said, cutting through the tension with her usual flair, sending an extra ripple of happiness through the room.

“Yeah, I wonder why,” Tomoe muttered with the roll of her eyes. “Thank you, Moe, for saving our lives, says no one. Ever.”

“Jax and?—”

“Jax and Mohammed,” Yasmin corrected, her voice soft. “They got you out. I remember.”

The mention of Mohammed hung in the air. The room grew quieter, the tension thick enough to choke.

“Fun times, right?” Reina said, flashing a grin that could melt any awkwardness away. “Anywho, Abel, I think this party needs a little music. Shall we?”

Abel’s grin was quick to return, and he stood, helping her to her feet with a dramatic flourish. Reina linked her arm with his, and they made their way toward the door.

“Be right back, my little love bugs!” she called over her shoulder, her voice practically singing with excitement as she led the way. Abel followed close behind, shaking his head with a chuckle.

The room was still for only a moment before Hal spoke. “Should we be concerned about that?”

“Yes,” Alexiares said without hesitation.

“It’s never fun when they scheme together,” Tomoe muttered, his brow furrowed. “The boy knows exactly how to block me out.”

She drummed her fingers absently on the table, her brow furrowed as though she were trying to work through a problem no one else could see. If there was anyone who could get under her skin, it was those two.

“Not a fan of surprises?” Tomás asked, his lips twitching in amusement.

“A surprise from my sister can go one of two ways: you wish you could disappear into the void, or?—”

The door slammed open. Reina and Abel burst back in, lugging what appeared to be a cobbled-together speaker system.

“Woo! Let’s party, people!” Reina announced like she was letting us know she’d single-handedly saved the world.

“Don’t worry,” Abel added with a grin. “I picked the music this time.”

Tomoe froze, her inky eyes narrowing with the slight drop of her jaw. “Is that my record player?”

Reina smirked, the picture of innocence. “Yeah. You like it?”

“We made it,” Abel said proudly. “I screwed everything together while she micromanaged,” he said with a shrug, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder.

Elie stepped up, curiosity lighting her face. “Cool.”

Tomoe’s restraint ticked away, about ready to explode but Tomás took advantage of the moment, holding out a hand. “Dance?”

She snatched her hand back with a hiss and an accompanying glare that reminded me some looks could in fact kill. Emma and Elie weren’t having it. They pushed her forwardand over to the only clear spot in the room by the door, grabbing her arms and forcing her to dance. Tomás followed with a grin.

Reina grabbed Adelaide, spinning her in an exaggerated twirl. “Clean versions only, pinky promise,” she called to Hunter, hanging out her pinky finger.

Hunter put a matching one out in front of him and Serenity leaned into his shoulder with a small, but noticeable grin as she watched on, “Pinky.”

The night slipped away and I let my gaze drift around the room, taking in the rare moment of peace. Yasmin and Riley were deep in some conversation I wasn’t even going to try to understand, while Jessa and Serenity were actually getting along with Hal and Caleb—surprising, to say the least.

Hunter stood off to the side, watching Reina and Adelaide, his face caught somewhere between longing and frustration. Yeah, I knew what he was thinking.Seth.I could practically hear it in the silence around him.

“You good?” Alexiares’s voice broke through the quiet.

I met his gaze, his expression softer than usual, waiting. I gave a curt nod, something inside me finally letting go. “Yeah. I think I am.”

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