Hayden was by far the most annoying person I had ever met. His reluctance to tell the truth had more than pissed me off, but the second he said Xander’s name, Liora had frozen. I saw it ripple through her. Shock. Confusion. And a thousand questions she had even asked yet. She stared at him like she didn’t know who he was anymore. And the truth was that she didn’t. Ace prowled inside me, restless just beneath the surface. He wanted to take care of Hayden, and I was extremely tempted to let him. But I couldn’t do that. Not to Liora. When Hayden didn’t provide any more information, and Liora was still shocked into silence, I stepped forward.
“Explain,” I demanded. My voice came out low and steady. The kind of steady that meant I was one wrong breath away from tearing him apart. Hayden rubbed
