I turned from Zayne, not wanting to say what was going on, but they needed to know. “His skin is no longer like a Warden’s. It’s like a human’s.”

“Like yours,” Zayne called from behind me.

I ignored that. “And he hasn’t had any time to figure out what that means and how to work with it.”

Layla stepped toward us. “How is that possible?”

“It’s a long story,” I said, not really wanting to get into our super personal business. “But I want him to stand back until we know what’s inside.”

“I can still fight,” Zayne said.

“Yes, you can. We’ve already discussed this, but the moment they realize that your skin is as soft as a baby’s butt, they’re going to exploit that,” I reasoned.

“She has a point, man.” Roth’s gaze shifted to Zayne.

“Would you sit out while Layla went in there?” Zayne demanded.

“Well, my skin would never be as soft as a baby’s butt, so no.”

I threw up my hands, exasperated, as I glared at Zayne. “You cannot go in there.”

“Hold up.” Layla jumped in, turning to Roth. “If something happened that made you more vulnerable, would you really put yourself in danger out of some backward caveman need to protect me? Even when I clearly don’t need you to protect me?”

Roth opened his mouth.

“Think really hard about how you answer that question,” she warned, holding up a hand. “Because you and I are going to have a very uncomfortable evening if you say yes.”

Roth closed his mouth.

“I totally understand why you don’t want him in there,” Layla said to me. “I wouldn’t want Roth to be in there, either, if something had made him more vulnerable. You’re not in the wrong here, but you?” She pointed at Zayne. “You are in the wrong.”

“Excuse me?” Zayne responded while I smiled.

“Would you be okay with Trinity going in there if the shoe was on the other foot?”

“Actually, the shoe—”

“Not the same thing,” I interrupted, pinning him with a glare. “I know what my limitations are. I know how to work around them. You don’t know your limitations yet.”

A muscle ticked along his jaw.

“You wouldn’t, Zayne. You would not be okay with her doing it. Not only that, you’d be so distracted with worry about her that you’d also be vulnerable,” Layla went on. “Is that what you want her to be? Distracted while dealing with Shadow People and who knows what else?”

His lips thinned as he shook his head, his narrowed gaze finding me. “No. I don’t want her distracted.”

“Then you can’t go in there,” she said, her voice softening. “I know it’ll kill you to stay out here, but that’s better than getting hurt or being the reason she gets hurt.”