Page 42 of Shadow Weaver
“There could be other entrances like that …”
“I know.”
“What are they going to do about it?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure we’ll get orders soon.”
We fell into companionable silence again for a while.
“You’re okay, you know that, Justice?” he said.
“Oh, man, are we going to get all sentimental and hug?”
He choked on a sip of his cocoa. “Like hell. A Faraday hugging a Justice? Hell might freeze over.”
“Minnie hugged me all the time.”
As soon as her name was out there, a shroud of loss fell over us, as if she were dead, as if we were grieving, which I suppose we were in a way.
“I fucking miss her,” Lloyd said.
“Yeah, me too.”
He sighed and leaned back in his seat. “I used to think you were a bad influence on her, but I get it now. I get why you’re here, and I think you were probably one of her favorite people.” He slid a glance my way. “And the fact Brady feels the way he does about you …well, that just confirms your worth.”
His words came from the heart, and they touched mine. I ducked my head. “Damn, Faraday, can you write that all down so I can frame it and look at it when I need an ego boost?”
He shook his head. “There you go, covering your emotions with humor.”
“There you go, trying to psychoanalyze me.”
“You’re not hard to read, Justice. You act all tough, but you wear your heart on your sleeve. I can read you like a large-print book.”
I turned in my seat and locked gazes with him. “Go on, tell me what I’m thinking right now.”
Lloyd grabbed the thermos and poured more cocoa into his mug and then gestured for mine. I held it out for a refill, and he topped it off.
“You wanted more cocoa.”
I gasped in mock surprise. “Youcanread my mind.”
We sipped our beverages in happy silence.
“Look at us,” he said. “Nightbloods addicted to Brady’s cocoa.”
I snorted. “It’s a real thing. There should be a support group. Cocoa Addicts Anonymous.”
I didn’t know what Brady did, but the stuff was delicious. Still, I did need to feed, though. The last time I’d fed had been two days ago, and we’d been running low on blood bags. Shit. I’d meant to report that.
“Lloyd, who stocks the blood for the barracks?”
“Shit!” He sat up straight, spilling precious cocoa onto the floor. “I was supposed to call it in.”
“Youwere?” Thank God it wasn’t on me.
“I noticed we were low last night,” he said. “Protocol is to call in, and they restock within twenty-four hours. I got distracted, though. Fuck.”
He pushed back his seat. “I best call in now. You okay to man solo for a bit?”
