“Sai?”
“Yeah, baby?” Fuck.
Is she gonna be mad at me for calling her that? Not let me take her for coffee again?
“Can you take this one to Ezekial?” Thank whatever fucks are up there she decides to gloss over it. She’s pointing at the cup labelled vanilla, and I have to bite back a joke. “Don’t worry if you’re busy—”
“Leave it with me, Red. I’ll be your errand boy.” I grin. “Anything else you want me to take, orgive,or—”
“You’ve taken plenty already.”Kane’s voice cuts into my head.
“I’ve got one for Julien too.” Red rests her hand over the one marked honey. “I wasn’t sure if…” She swallows. “How is he? Really?”
Kane stares over her head at me.“Don’t lie.”
I set the tray on Zeek’s desk. “Sending Zeek was a good shout, Red. It helped. But… the big guy’s still struggling.”
“Struggling,” she repeats, nodding softly. “So he’s still starving himself?”
“This has happened before, Red.” I try for a smile, probably crooked as hell. “Don’t worry.”
“But why can’t he feed exactly?” She looks between us. “Can’t he just have a blood bag or something? Does blood coffee exist? I should’ve asked about that...”
“Even if they did make that kinda thing, he wouldn’t be able to drink it. His darkness won’t let him.” I want to touch her so badly, ease her racing thoughts. “We’ll get him through this.”
“But why won’t it let him?” She turns to Kane. “Can’t you help him? You control the dark.”
My eyes bulge as I stare at Kane. Red’s back to me.“Be careful, man. Don’t hurt her feelings.”
“It wants you.”
Her whole body flinches. “Oh. So, it is my fault,” she murmurs.
“Fuck’s sake, Kane.”I press my fingers to her lower back. “No. No, Red. This has happened before, it’s just this time… after you said... And remember, this isn’t your fault, but when you said—”
“His blood is mine.” She stares at the ground.
“Yeah…” I sigh. “That kinda... His darkness is pissed at him for giving what’s yours to others. So he’s punishing himself.”
“He’s harming himself because of what Isaid?” Her eyes flick between me and Kane, and neither of us has a damn clue what to say.
“I can’t see him? Can’t even speak to him? He’s just gone and I can’t even…” Her voice cracks, and so does something in my chest.
Then she walks away, closer to the glass wall and stares out at the district.
“Ah fuck, she’s breaking my heart, Kane. Say something.”
“This is what he has decided. To keep you safe,” he says, but she keeps her back to us. “I’m sorry.”
“He’ll be back, Red.” She won’t look at us. “He always comes back.”
“Is he in the Pit?” Her words echo.
We both hesitate, and when neither of us answers, she turns.
Her eyes are darker now, a rich, heavy, deep red. My easy-going smile dies, and she locks straight onto it.
“Don’t tell me he’s chained in the Pit again.” Her sudden anger is intoxicating, all my markings buzz and pulse in response. “I thought he might be at the house but then… of course not. He’s there, isn’t he? Chained like a monster.”
