I spared him a bare glance on my way out. “Do I have another assignment?” That’s what I needed. A distraction. A reason to hold my knife to another throat. A reason to spill more blood. We’re nothing if not the justification of death. I was a living,breathing example of that. One Malachi liked to deny time after time.
It took him a second to respond, and I assumed it was because he was taking in the carnage I left in my room. “Yes. We’re finding you a partner, Azrael. Someone to help you control these urges.”
“I don’t fuck men.”
“Not a sexual partner, and we’re finding a female counterpart. I want to find a female counterpart for all three of you.”
Meaning not Greyson. Why would he need one? The monster inside of him looked too much like a teddy bear to need a babysitter.
“I think it would do you three well to have someone…maintaining you.”
“And here I thought that’s why you kept our pet around,” I stated chillingly. “Otherwise, what is the point of dearkindGreyson?” Hadn’t he realized by now that nothing could control us? The best that would come from these little birds would be either death or our influence shifting them into becoming so much like us that Malachi will have achieved nothing but giving us exactly what we wanted; moreShadowsas he called us.
Malachi gave me a look. “He has his own assignments. What I’m talking about is a permanent partner. Someone you might be able to learn from.”
“I respect women, just not when I’m using them to fulfill my needs. I do what they want me to do; it’s not my fault they weren’t aware of their desires and what those desires entailed in order to be truthful with me.”
“I’m sure they didn’t want to die.”
I shrugged, checking my silver pocket watch. Half past midnight. Hmm. I snapped it shut and slid it away. “I wouldn’t know, they usually lose consciousness before they tell me.” Another batch of Initiates would be graduating today. Iwondered how many survived this time around. Last year, it was a little less than half. Dearest Malachi stopped coming to me for advice about his little training program, which was a mistake on his part. Things always needed adapting. The times change, and so do the people. What worked nine years ago wouldn’t work the same now, which was why I was so much better than the others.
I always continued to adapt. They couldn’t kill a snake that never wore the same scales twice.
“Azrael.”
A muscle in my jaw feathered and turned to face him. “Is there something important you wish to discuss?” There were far more important things to do than speak to ourleaderabout getting a babysitter. For instance, where was Greyson? I know how much he loved early morning visits. I hated disappointing that dear, soft-skinned boy.
He watched on with a quiet rage that not many could see. I could see it though. I could always see it. As the years went by, that rage in his eyes became quieter and quieter, yet more volatile. I hadn’t quite figured out why he was filled with such rage, but I would. Eventually, I would.
“Your next assignment is one we both decided would be for your own good.”
Oh, this did sound interesting.
“We’re putting you away,” he revealed.
My smile began to grow. “That took longer than I expected.” Away? Howfun.
His eyes dried. “For the next year, while we search for someone willing enough to be your partner, you will be placed into a high security asylum. One you cannot escape, so please don’t try. It’s for your own good.”
Saying it twice didn’t change the truth. They wanted someone else to break me of all of my less desirable habits. If only theyknew that there was a difference betweeninstinctand habitual tendencies.
“It’s in Russia.”
I hated the Russians. Shifty little minxes, all of them, but nothing I couldn’t handle.
“You’ll be there for the entire year. 365 days, no more, no less. I hope that when you return, you will have gained some…sanity.”
I chuckled. “Oh Malachi, my sanity doesn’t come from the mind, that’s why none of you can ever read me. It’s my greatest weapon.”
“And now you can use that weapon in Russia. Go, Beckett is waiting for you in the car.”
I straightened, looking down my nose at the one they called ‘father’. “You’re all rabbits to me, Malachi. Do with me what you will, but that will never change.”
He nodded as if he understood. As if he felt bad about my cracked mind. If only he knew that it was their minds that were cracked.Theywere the broken ones. Not me.
Never me.
He gestured for the hall. “Please.”
