But she is in control, not me. Reluctantly, I take astep back.
“Where do we stand?” I repeat, regaining more control, pushing the darkness and the impromptu nickname away.
She didn’t hear it. Couldn’t have. Especially not in this state, this flustered, breathless, needy, desperate—
Her darkness slams into my chest. It forces me to step back, just enough to let her break free. She darts past.
“I thought I was the coward.”
She freezes, deciding whether to turn or keep walking.
Then she storms on, with renewed vigour, and a middle finger raised high.
Chapter 20: Sai
Last night was rough.
It took all three of us to put the big fucker to sleep, or rather knock him out.
Kane contained some of his darkness, Zeek was in his mind, and I threw every trick I had to drag our big guy back to the surface. Past memories, pain, even tried a little Faeish. That seemed to crack his bloodthirsty shell for a few minutes, but we couldn’t keep it up.
In the end, another dose of Henbane finally dropped him.
Julien’s just too weak in this state to fight it, but he’s already becoming more immune. Every dose has to be stronger, and we’ve got to drain him near-empty before we risk trying to stick him with a needle.
So when he eventually passed out, Zeek left to stay next door to our girl, and I didn’t even argue about it. Pretty sure I just collapsed.
Next thing I know, Kane’s waking me, saying it’s morning.
Which means I get to see Red, and that helped drag me out of there. Knowing Kane would stay with Julien was the other reason. Because I’llneverleave Julien alone. He can snarl at me, make threats, try and rip off my arms—doesn’t matter.
Never.
Now it’s been three days, four nights, and there’s no hint of him breaking through.
We’re all so fucking tired, and we’re running out of ideas.
And the one person I always turn to for help, the one constant in my life, isn’t here.
Because he’s in the Pit.
Fuck.
All I want is my mate back.
“Sai?”
But she’s here. Her voice a fucking drug, so damn medicinal after a night with Julien’s snarls.
“Sorry, Red. I’m just—”
“Exhausted. I know. I can feel it.” She gives me a small,sadsmile and I hate it.
Of course she can feel it—fuck, I’m so fucking stupid. And if she can feel that, she can probably feel all the other sad, mopey shit I’m slogging through too.
“I’d really like to see him, Sai,” she says,again.
Third time she’s said that to me. Not counting how she asks Kane every morning, and Zeek every night over text.
