Page 106 of Abundance of Obsession

“How lovely that you’ve finally arranged something for us to enjoy.” Speak of the devil. And Aiden’s right here.

I glance at him, but his eyes focus on the gory massacre before us. The sick bastard is grinning from ear to ear. It neither excites nor amuses me.

“What do you want, Aiden? I don’t think this is your place in the ranks,” I say.

“Not yet, but soon. How’s life?”

“Fucking wonderful without you. I hear yours is spent running away, digging sewers under the Pact.”

Aiden laughs at my words. I wish I could wipe that smirk off his face.

The last time I saw him was when he met my father, and I kissed Zoe for the first time. Since then, we’ve heard rumors about him, but he has been invisible to each of us. This worries me more than I want to admit.

Aiden goes on when the laughter dies down. “Are you scared, Eli? Now that you have more to lose than ever before?”

He knows nothing about Zoe. He can’t know.

It’s provocation. I know that, but it’s still fucking hard for me to stay calm and not react.

Luckily, Ryker interrupts. “I received your package.”

Every single detail of Aiden’s face is under my scrutiny.

He looks curious. Amused.

The truth is already clear to me.

He’s clueless.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Unless it’s something nice, you can thank me on your knees.”

“Shut the fuck up or get the hell out,” Ryker hisses, “since you have nothing meaningful to say.”

“Oh, I do.” That sneaky bastard grins. “Aisling sends her regards. And she says she misses you.” He turns on his heel and walks out.

Theo quickly adds, “Don’t react. That’s precisely what he’s waiting for. We’ll get him after the ceremony.”

If we get the chance.

Meanwhile, the gurgling of the last unfortunate soul choking on his own blood brings the trial to a close. Five remain alive. Five new brothers.

“Congratulations!” Ryker calls. “You’re the chosen ones who have made it to the very end. Soon, you’ll take the Pact’s eternal oath. Please bring in the baptismal font.”

The hooded brothers remove the bodies of those who have fallen, while others roll in the blood-filled font.

Ryker sighs but descends the steps to the chosen ones, nonetheless. He stands by the baptismal font, says a few more words, and proceeds with the ritual of oath and cleansing. We’ve seen this dozens of times, but James was always in that spot. Now, unfortunately, it’s Ryker.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, but I only glance briefly at my watch. Zoe.

Sadly, she’ll have to wait a little longer until this whole charade is over.

Except she won’t stop calling. The phone vibrates every few minutes.

Then an icy shiver runs up my spine. All the hairs on my body stand on end. And this feeling comes over me…

“I have to go,” I whisper to Theo, who gives me a disbelieving look. Too bad. Let whatever happens happen; either way, I turn on my heel and walk out.

As soon as the sanctuary’s threshold is behind me and the fresh air hits my face, I pull the hood off my head. Night has already fallen. On the third ring, I answer the phone.