Free Evernight (The Night Watchmen Series Book 2) by Candace Knoebel

was armed and ready for what lies ahead of us.”
    “What’s wrong, Weldon? Forget how to dress yourself?” Jezi asks as we all file into the elevator with one other Elite.
    Weldon rubs his hands down his sculpted chest and tosses a gleaming smile in Jezi’s direction. “Actually, no, Jezibelle,” he drags out. “I figured you’d need some eye candy since today is guaranteed to be a bore.”
    She turns her nose up at him. “Oh, hell no. I think I just regurgitated in my mouth a little,” she retorts with her hand over her heart and a frown on her lips.
    Weldon’s eyes rise with a shadow of a smile on his lips as he slides his arms through the top half of his suit and zips it up. “Regurgitated? What’s wrong? Catch a glimpse of yourself?” he shoots back, looking overly satisfied with himself.
    Her eyes cut to his. Lips pressed into a thin, pale line, she dares him to utter another word.
    He holds his hands up, but there’s no surrender to be had in the action. “Hey, I can go all day, baby. Keep ’em coming.” He turns up the collar of his jacket, wearing a gloating smirk.
    I cringe for Jezi, just waiting for the storm that’s sure to come. Jaxen, on the other hand, doesn’t seem the least bit surprised and, after taking a quick, surveying glance at everyone else crammed in the elevator, neither do they. Like Jezi and Weldon have always hated each other or something. Like they always pick at each other with words.
    This makes me wonder—why?
    Jezi looks over at Jaxen. Plants her hand on her hips. Taps her foot against the ground as if she’s waiting for him to say something. Anything. And I actually want him to. She’s his partner. Weldon’s being an ass for no reason. But Jaxen just shrugs and focuses his gaze on the wall, as if he doesn’t have a care in the world.
    “Fine,” she mutters murderously. She steps up to Weldon, getting in face. “You know what, Weldon Jacobsen?” She says the name with distaste. “I couldn’t care less what you think of me because I’m sure it’s not half as bad as what I think of you.”
    “All right, children,” Gavin says as the elevator doors slide open. “Let’s try to play nicely”
    Jezi grunts. “Nice? He’s a demon, Gav. He’s incapable of nice.” She struts past us all and shoves her way through a few Elites before stepping out into the morning air.
    “Not to be too anal retentive,” Weldon says, “but I just have to point out that I’m only half-demon.” He says this loud enough to make sure every eye in the building is focused on him. Every ear turned in his direction. “Half!” he says with a finger jutted up into the air.
    “Don’t you think you’re going a little overboard?” I ask. “She’s only one person.”
    He shrugs and looks down the hall, watching Jezi’s steps disappear amongst the other Elites. “I wouldn’t dish it if I didn’t think she could handle it.”
    Jaxen makes small apologies for their behavior to the Elites congregating in the waiting area, and then spins on Weldon as soon as we make it out of the building, shoving him back. “Weldon, just lay off her. It’s early, and we’re all a little stressed. Okay?”
    “Stressed?” Weldon says, stepping up to Jaxen. “Good. You should be. We’re about to face Glenda the Nice Bitch. Do you know how exhausting it is to act like I don’t know she’s faking niceness? Even that’s a mouthful.”
    Jaxen exhales loudly. Looks to the sky for guidance.
    I step in Weldon’s line of vision. “I get what you’re saying, but you don’t have to take that out on everyone. On Jezi especially,” I point out, hands on my hips. “We’re supposed to be in this together.”
    “She has a point,” Cassie adds with a pursed look. “You have a way of taking things too far.”
    Weldon throws his hands up in the air and looks at us like he can’t believe our words. “You’re acting like I said something awful to her. I did nothing wrong! It was simple jesting!”