“Still breathing,” she drawled, the amusement dripping from her words. “Thought I’d be ash by now.”

  Kain watched her, the remaining sparks crackling faintly along the edges of his armor. Every muscle in his body screamed for rest, but he wasn’t about to show it. Not in front of her.

  “Yeah, well,” he grunted, flexing his sore hands. “Killing you would’ve been too easy.”

  Maw’s grin widened, her fanged teeth flashing. “Mercy from the great Seth? How quaint.”

  Haley scoffed, crossing her arms, though the torn edges of her sleeves and the faint bruising along her jaw gave away the effort it had taken to put Maw down. “Mercy? No. You’re just worth more to us breathing.”

  “Bounty hunting, then.” Maw’s tail curled lazily, her golden armor scuffed and dulled. “And here I thought you two were aiming for something noble. But money—it always brings people like you crawling out of the dirt.”

  Haley crouched, eyeing her with a cold glare. “Pot calling the kettle black, stuff it we’re not interested in your lectures and don't forget you two jerks came after us first. But since you’re feeling chatty, why don’t you tell us what Rico's planning?”

  Maw’s forked tongue flicked out slightly, a snake’s reflexive gesture. “You think you’ll get answers that easily?”

  “I think you’re tied up,” Kain said, tapping the rope that held her arms and tail firm. “And I think you’re smart enough to know we’re the best chance you’ve got at walking away from this.”

  She tilted her head, the amusement never quite leaving her face. “Oh, I don’t doubt you’re capable. But asking about Rico? About La Sombra?” Her eyes gleamed. “That’s like poking a storm and wondering why you got struck.”

  Haley’s jaw tightened at the name. “So it’s true. Rico’s not just some thug. If he really is La Sombra, that means he’s not just a lieutenant, right?”

  “Much more,” Maw purred. “California, Oregon, Baja Norte—every back alley and border town that matters. All of it under the shadow of the Ashen Covenant and Rico runs these parts for them.”

  Kain kept his face unreadable, but the weight of it settled in. He’d suspected Rico was dangerous, but this? A whole network, stretching across half the coast? That wasn’t something you dealt with by knocking a few heads together.

  “And you?” Haley pressed, her voice low. “Where do you fit in? What’s your role in all this?”

  Maw’s smile curled slyer. “A contractor. An entertainer, if you will. Rico hires those of us with particular… talents. My partner and I? We handle problems. Loose ends.”

  “You mean assassinations,” Kain corrected flatly.

  She didn’t deny it, her grin only deepening. “Names on a list. Dead or alive. It’s all business, just like yourselves.”

  “Then tell us,” Haley snapped, stepping closer. “Where is Leo, and what does Rico want with him!?”

  Maw sighed dramatically, the illusion of helplessness dripping from her every move. “That’s not how this works, darling. You don’t get a map and a neat little ‘X’ to mark the spot.”

  Kain narrowed his eyes. “Try me.”

  Maw held his gaze, something flickering behind her gold irises. “If you’re so determined, follow the scraps. Bakersfield’s full of ‘em. Smoke that stains the air long after the fire’s out. The kind of thing that clings to a place. You’ll smell it soon enough.”

  Kain’s stomach knotted. A vague riddle wrapped in just enough truth to keep him guessing. He hated games like this.

  “You really think we won’t figure it out?” Haley growled. “We’re taking you in, Maw. You and your oversized battery pack of a partner. Whatever Rico’s up to, he’ll lose more than a couple of lackeys when we’re done.”

  Maw chuckled darkly. “Good. I hope you do find it. Just remember…” She leaned forward, the chains around her wrists rattling. “The Ghost walking next to you, might just send you to the afterlife after all little lizard. You don’t know who he really is!”

  *Thud* Kain stood, Fist tight, jaw clenched. He’d had enough of her.

  “Let’s get them turned in,” he said, his voice low. “I’m done listening to snakes.”

  Haley didn't smirk, cracking her knuckles. “Could’ve fooled me.”

  Maw's body slumped as Kain stepped away, her laughter lingering like the last embers of a dying flame.

  The dust was still settling. Twisted chunks of metal and scorched debris lay scattered across the cracked pavement, the aftermath of the fight painting a bleak picture. Stormbound and the Gilded Maw weren’t going anywhere anytime soon, not with the Itunal officers hauling them off. A few lingering arcs of electricity crackled across the ruined street, reminders of just how close things had gotten.

  I was still catching my breath, hands braced on my knees. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving a dull ache in its place. Across from me, Haley stood with her arms crossed, her torn jacket hanging loosely off her shoulders. She was worse for wear, bruises darkening her arms and a thin scratch running along her cheek. But it wasn’t the fight that had her fuming.

  “Okay,” she finally said, voice low. “I’ll bite.”

  I didn’t have to ask what she meant. The words were practically written across her face. Suspicion. Unease. And under all that? That damn seed Maw had planted.

  “Haley—”

  “No,” she cut in, stepping closer. “You don’t get to smooth-talk your way out of this one. She said you’re a ghost, Kain. No records. No past. And she's not wrong who the hell are you? And don't give me that B.S. about nicknames again!”

  Her eyes locked onto mine, fierce and unrelenting. She wanted an answer. Hell, she deserved one. Problem was, I didn’t have one to give. Not one that wouldn’t make things worse.

  I shifted, jaw tightening. “You really think I’m working with them?”

  “That’s not what I said.”

  “But it’s what you’re thinking.”

  She didn’t deny it. The silence between us was heavier than the wreckage around us. Even the Itunal officers in the distance seemed like background noise. Just Haley and me, standing in the shadow of everything we’d just torn apart.

  “I don’t know what to think,” she admitted. “But I know how this works. People like Maw don’t just talk for the hell of it. She wanted me to doubt you.”

  “Yeah, well, she’s good at what she does.” I ran a hand through my hair, the static still lingering at my fingertips. “But you’ve been with me since the Bazxar. You’ve seen what I’ve done. If I was some pawn for Rico, why the hell would I be fighting his people?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

  She was relentless. I could respect that. But damn, did it make this harder.

  “I’ve never worked for Rico. and I sure as hell am not one of his goons.” My voice was steady, even as the knot in my gut tightened. “You want to know why there’s nothing on me? Because I don’t exist. Not the way they think I should. You think I chose that?”

  Haley’s gaze didn’t waver. “Then what are you choosing, Kain?”

  That question hit harder than any punch I’d taken today. For a moment, I wasn’t even sure how to answer. Not because I didn’t know, but because the truth was complicated. Messy.

  “I’m choosing this,” I said finally, motioning to the empty street. “The fight. The people Rico’s got under his boot. I’m choosing to stop that. And yeah, maybe I’m not who I say I am. Maybe I never was. But you know what I am right now?” I stepped closer, my voice low. “The guy who had your back. The guy who faced down a lightning freak and a snake lady without thinking twice. And the guy who sure as hell isn’t walking away now.”

  Her eyes searched mine, still unsure. But something shifted. Maybe it was the stubborn resolve in my voice, or maybe it was just the fact that I hadn’t tried to sell her a perfect lie. Either way, the tension in her shoulders eased — just a little.

  “You’re a pain in the ass,” she muttered, though the sharpness was gone.

  “Yeah,” I shot back. “But now I’m your pain in the ass Captain.”

  A long beat passed. Then, finally, Haley exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. “Fine, but after we bring Rico down I want answers. Seriously you’d better be worth the headache.”

  I grinned.

  She didn’t smile back, not fully. But the fact that she wasn’t storming off was enough. For now, that was a win.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she said, her voice gruff. “Before the officers start asking too many questions.”

  “Good call.”

  We both moved our hands toward the necklaces, but I could still feel her gaze on me. And even though she wasn’t saying it, I knew the doubts were still there. They weren’t going anywhere. Not until I gave her a reason to believe otherwise.

  The problem was — I wasn’t sure I could.