No way. But as he sat across from Slake, wildly searching his expression for signs that he was screwing with him, the terrible truth hit him like a sucker punch. It lurked right there in Slake’s seductively dark eyes. He sucked in a harsh breath and stared at Slake in disbelief. First Fayle, and now . . . this. Suddenly, it felt as if his world was crumbling. It hurt. Gods, it felt like his chest was cracking wide open and his heart had been struck by one of Slake’s sinispheres. “Tell me what the fuck you’re talking about,” he growled. “Right. Now.” Slake shoved to his feet and strode to the window, where he gazed out at the roof of the deli next door. “We didn’t meet by accident,” he said, and Raze felt a painful twisting in his gut. “I came to Thirst to find Fayle.” The twisting grew more fierce. “Why?” Slake’s shoulders rose and fell with each breath, and maybe it was Raze’s imagination, but his breathing seemed labored.
