Page 160 of Gates of Tartarus

“We get that you’re concerned, Maddox. We’re trying to be cognizant of that. Neither of us is going to compromise our mission because of how we feel about Kai. But it shouldn’t be a problem because, as far as we’ve been told, Kai is kind of central to the mission. That doesn’t change that you’re in charge here. You tell us to jump, and we’ll jump.”

Walker studies Maddox’s face and sighs. “We’ve been giving you too much pushback.” Jonah makes a small sound of protest but stops when Walker holds up his hand. “We have. And we’ll fall in line. But it’s a two-way street. We promise to trust the way you run this division. You promise tolistento our concerns. And this –” he motions to Jonah and me, “this is outside of that. Nothing changes inside.”

Smith rubs his face, voice like ice, “And what about Tanaka over there? How’s this going to affect him? Because we all know how he feels about Reed, and if you guys don’t think this is eating him the fuck up, you clearly aren’t thinking at all.”

Jonah smiles sweetly at Maddox. “Oh yeah, man. We know for sure. Lachy already warned us before we left that once Kai forgives Deo, he’ll probably be part of… um... it’s not a throuple anymore? I don’t know the correct terminology.”

I choke on my water as Jonah turns questioningly to Walker, who frowns a little and mumbles, “I’ll do some research. I’m not going to be called a brother-husband or some shit. There has to be a term.”

“I’m sorry,what?” I say, voice squeaky and high pitched, like I’ve been sucking helium or something.

“I’m researching,” Walker says patiently. “We have to havesometerminology to legitimize this shit.”

“Not that!” I say, voice shaking a little. “The, um... with…”

“Hideo? Oh yeah. We all talked and kind of agreed it's cool when it happens. Sorry.Ifit happens. Your choice obviously, Kai. But… I mean… we all know you two are kind of a package deal.”

I shake my head, stunned. “You can’t just…Ican’t… you’re just assuming he’d even want… I…”

While I’m trying to form a cohesive thought, a quiet Deo speaks up for the first time, the deathly pallor of earlier replaced by a thoughtful, almost determined expression. “Of course I would,” he says firmly. “That’s not to pressure anyone, but the answer is an unequivocal yes. And I appreciate your inclusivity and won’t let anyone down again.”

Walker and Jonah both turn to Deo with matching expressions, fierce and protective all at the same time. Surprisingly it’s Jonah who says, “Well, I feel you should know that I was overruled. Lachy and Walker both voted you in, so to speak. I thought you were a fucking asshole who didn’t deserve consideration. But,” he continues grudgingly, “Smith’s explanation helped a bit. You were in a hard spot, man. I don’t envy you having to go through that.”

Deo looks oddly touched. “Walkervoted me in?” he says, voice startled.

Walker shrugs. “Eh. Don’t take it as a huge thing, Tanaka. Kai just functions better when you’re around.”

“So Kai’s just fucking you all now, and that’s how it goes? You’reinsan–”Before Maddox can finish speaking, Jonah’s on his feet and has Maddox pinned to the wall, eyes flat with fury, and I’m reminded again how quickly mellow Jonah can turn lethal.

“You keep her name out of your fucking mouth, you hear me?” he hisses, forearm flexed against Smith’s throat. “If you’re going to put that spin on it, you don’t get to fucking speak.” Maddox is frozen against the wall of the plane, as the rest of us watch, unmoving. The sheer strength it must take to pin him is unimaginable – the man is a mountain – but Jonah’s leaning in with his entire body. Maddox reaches up to pull Jonah’s arm off his throat, his face turning red with effort, when I finally find it in me to move.

“Jonah…” I say softly, and instantly his head whips around to focus on me, though his muscles are still corded with effort. “Jonah,” I say again, and he reluctantly releases Maddox and returns to sit with Walker, his jaw flexed and body tense.

Maddox collapses into the seat behind him and buries his face in his hands, before looking up, meeting my eyes. “I’m sorry, Kailani,” he says sincerely. “That was uncalled for.” I don’t know how to respond so I just shrug awkwardly and stare down at my hands.

“You fucker,” Walker says, groaning slightly. “Ah, God damnit.”

Maddox shakes his head, “I know, I know.”

“You don’t know shit,” Walker replies, anger and frustration warring in his voice. “That girl there isbarelyin this. She’s a tiny fucking hermit crab. Pulls into her shell at the smallest wave. She doesn’t feel like she’s enough, already thinks it’s all going to implode and we’re all going to abandon her, and you... Oh shit.” His eyes widen, and he looks at me. “That’s why you’re so skittish this morning.”

Jonah looks at him, confused, and Walker nods towards me. “We left without saying anything, and then all this happened, and she’s over there thinking we’ve just fucked off or something. Amirite?” he asks me. I shrug again, and he walks over in front of me, sinking to the floor and grabbing my hands, forcing me to look at him. “We had to call Lachlainn when we landed, yeah? You and I kind of… amped things up... a little last night, and Jonah and I thought it was best to keep Lach apprised that I’m full-boyfriend category now. I am, right?” He asks the last almost anxiously, and my lips twitch in the barest of smiles. He squeezes my hands and says softly enough that it’s just for the two of us, “I’m sorry. We didn’t think that part through. It won’t happen again.” He stares at me, then sighs. “You’re such a hardass most of the time that it’s hard to remember you’re marshmallow inside.”

I look at him to protest, but he cuts me off. “Marsh. Mallow.” He turns back to Maddox and shakes his head, sighing tiredly. “Are we done with this now? Just ignore this part of our relationship. It won’t affect work. We’ve already talked about it. Okay? Just don’t be fucking rude about it. If there’s a problem just tell us and we’ll deal with it.”

Maddox is poleaxed. “So we’realljust supposed to date Kai now and just… be fine with it?”

Deo sits up, cocking his head. “What was that?” he asks curiously, a strange edge in his voice.

“I’ve never heard of an entire fucking team being in a relationship. This is insanity!”

“Well, the entire teamisn’tin a relationship. So…”

Maddox blushes. He freaking blushes, which is so strange on his cut-glass face that I don’t bother to process the sudden tension in the team.

“Madds,” asks Jonah quietly. “Something you want to say to us? Do we have a problem?”

He shakes his head and roughly runs his hand over his hair. “Are we all just calling me ‘Madds’ now? Is that a fucking thing?”

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