The stronghold entry was quiet, empty, but I could feel my target up ahead and made a straight line for him where he hid in his quarters. Max might be pining away for his lost love, but he was going to answer for this.
You betcha.
I hit his door with power, only to come face-to-face with Jiao. She tried to fight me, body twisting while her inner dragon pushed back, but she was no match for me. With a cry, she fell back at last, and, unrelenting and uncaring, I shoved her aside and crossed to Max.
He turned, slow and ponderous, tears on his face, shock replacing sadness as I hauled off and smacked him with all the strength in my arm, power behind it. I took him by surprise, sending him staggering back a half step before he could recover. And while I'm not normally a violent person with my friends, I wanted to hit him again, damn it.