I let out a snort of laughter. “What’d she do?”
“According to the police, she orchestrated everything that went down at Camp Dogwood.”
Chapter
Thirty-Six
Ishould have known better than to think we could all get out of this unscathed. Though, if I’m being completely honest with myself, I don’t entirely disagree. Yawning, I peel a wrapper off another cupcake, eating mostly to help stay awake and to hopefully avoid feeling hungover from the sugar crash tomorrow.
It’s later—or early?—and the sun will be up soon. Theo and Xavier should be back any second now, and there’s no way I could sleep until I talked to them. Right when I think I’m losing my battle and I’m tempted to lie my head down on the cold, marble counter, they come home.
“Did you frame Larissa for murder?” I ask as soon as I see Xavier.
He doesn’t try to hide it. Instead, he looks at his brother and they both smirk.
“We did,” he answers. “Along with those inbred hunters Randall and Dale.” My mouth falls open, but no words come out. Because what the fuck do I even say to that? Part of me thinks it’s brilliant and she got what she deserved. But then…it’s wrong.
“I made you a promise that I wouldn’t physically harm her,” Xavier reminds me. “And I haven’t.”
“I…I…I don’t know what to say.”
“You could start by saying thank you,” Theo quips. “I personally wanted to string her up and say the cops had missed a body hanging in the forest, but your husband has some unique ideas from time to time. He can see the long game when I just want blood.” Theo smiles, fangs already drawn. “I have to say, it was quite fun planting evidence.” He chuckles. “It was not hard to make them look guilty, but we had to do it right and leave just enough DNA to make it look real. And then with all the weapons in Gavin’s car at the time of the arrest.” He raises his eyebrows and laughs.
“The Order is going to be so pissed.” I slowly bob my head back and forth. “I wish you had told me your plan. So I could have watched Larissa get carted away.” We all laugh, but I’m really internally torn. The woman treated me like shit. She was mean. Jealous.
And dangerous.
She could have killed Mabel for no reason other than for being my friend. People like Buck, Gavin, Randall, and Dale shouldn’t be allowed to own guns, let alone have a literal job where they’re supposed to go out and hunt monsters. The lines blurred for people like them a long time ago, and monsters went from being actual monsters to anyone they feel is different from them.
Xavier extends a hand for me to take. “Let’s go to bed, love.”
I tossa handful of Cheerios into the pond, watching the fish eat them. It’s a little overcast today and not as hot as yesterday. I’vebeen outside for the last few hours, writing down all the spells I’ve used and altered into the back of the Book of Shadow. My phone dings with a text and, without even looking, I shake my head.
Leo and Antonio have been blowing my phone up all day. They’re mad about Larissa and insisting I “do whatever needs to be done” to get her out of jail and back home to them. I’ve repeated the same story over and over: I had nothing to do with this. It’s true, and the less I know, the better. Letting out a sigh, I pick up my phone.
Toni: We need to talk about this
Me: I have nothing to say.
Toni: She didn’t do it and you know it
Me: Good. If she’s innocent it can easily be proven in court.
Toni: Are you for fucking real right now?
Toni: Wren. Come on.
I set my phone down and let out a breath. Antonio and I always got along pretty well growing up. He’s my big brother and I annoyed him, of course, but he took his role of protector seriously. Which means he’s feeling protective over Larissa too, and she’s his actual flesh and blood sibling.
Antonio calls, and I send it to voicemail. A second later Leo calls. I send that to voicemail too. Antonio calls twice in a row, and I answer on the next call just to hopefully shut him up.
“Hello,” I say pleasantly. “How are you doing, my sweet brother?”
“Wren, come on. We’re family. Grow up,” Antonio snaps.
“I did grow up. I’ve done a lot of growing up in the last few weeks and one of the things I’ve learned is that sometimes shitty things happen to shitty people. And also that it’s okay to cut out toxic family members and being blood related isn’t the be-all, end-all.”
“You promised he wouldn’t go after her.”
