Shannon hadn’t been able to sleep either and read over my shoulder with drooping eyes. “Are we past the disgusting part yet?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s all three acts.” As the test went on, I could literally watch Levicy’s soul bleed out of the pages. She was probably less human than him by the end of this.
Darkness consumed her more and more each day.
Drew screeched as the next round of pain took over him. The smell was strong enough now that the entire camp smelled like a carcass had sat in the sun for too long.
“Up his morphine,” I told her.
She chewed on her lip as if she’d been thinking the same thing. “He’s at max dose.”
“You’re trying to save his breathing.” I didn’t finish my thought. She was trying to save one organ, when the entire body was failing. She already knew that.
“Yes.” Her voice broke, and I hated the way a frown tugged at her lips.
The rest of the camp had already packed up their things and were huddled around the fire, talking about the trek out of this god forsaken land. How they’d thoroughly enjoy running over this place with a steamroller.
“You should stay here.” Shannon swallowed harshly, tilting her chin toward the book. “It’s you he wants.”
I was reaching the same conclusion. He wanted the descendant of the creator of his own personal hell dead, but couldn’t because of whatever tethered us together.
Probably a safe guard Levicy made.
No. That wouldn’t make sense. She was dead, and he was fine.
I had to hope the answer was in here somewhere.
My eyes lifted from the page to meet Shannon’s gaze, communicating more than words ever could. Shame made her eyes glassy. Her view of the world fracturing in front of me. That what was right wasn’t as clear as she previously thought.
But I nodded in agreement with her assessment.
Gale stepped out of the shadows with a murderous expression on his face, making the both of us jump out of our skins. How long had he been standing there?
“How dare you suggest such a thing? Miss Fredricks I am ashamed of your lack of humanity. Just because you don’t like Talia, doesn’t mean to be so unethical.”
Guilt flooded her face. “I obviously don’t hate her.”
The need to protect her hit hard. “It was a fair conclusion. She wasn’t being hateful.”
He sneered at Shannon. “Everyone will be leaving tomorrow. No one will be left behind.”
Without another word, he walked away to talk plans with the rest of the group. We waited until he was out of our area to relax.
The screaming petered out, but it was only a matter of time before he started up again. In the meantime, the voices near the fire started planning this place’s destruction again.
He shouldn’t worry about someone who has nothing to do with him,the monster’s thought sounded clear as day in my mind, almost louder than my own. The flicker of rage boiled in my chest, like water threatening to flood over and burn everyone.It doesn’t matter. No one is leaving.
I flipped past some of the pages, trying to scan for any keywords that might be helpful.
He’s building something.
Something he disobeys me to do.
A foul nest made of bones and meat. If I attempt to approach it, he attacks me. That thing has more control over him than years of training. He’s a defect. I can’t trust him to obey if I unleash him.
Something in the magic has made him so loyal, that he forgets he belongs to me. No matter how many times I punish him after. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that it’s as he’s hitting puberty.
He speaks of his mate coming, as if he’s not the only one of his kind. That one day the perfect companion will find his offering and bind him for eternity.
