MINE TO BULLY
Easy, careless laughter, the same kind Jace had produced a hundred times over the years without ever once feeling what it actually did to the person underneath it.
Something in his chest went white-hot.
"What did you say?" Jace's voice came out low, flat, nothing like the version of himself that usually filled a room.
The guy blinked at him, still grinning, clearly not registering the shift. "I said Monroe's a joke. You know him? Senator's kid, total...."
"Watch your mouth."
The grin faltered. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
Mason materialized at his shoulder out of nowhere, a hand landing on his arm. "Jace. Hey. Let's just...."