Page 41 of Corvus and the Broken God

I turned back to Darryl, who stood waiting for my answer. Well, I was going to give him one he would never forget.

Pulling the energy from my toes, I pictured myself, only bigger, a feminine version of my Monster. My bones stretched; my skin darkened. Dark talons appeared on the ends of my longer, powerful fingers. My facial bones thickened, giving me fangs that peeked out from my dark lips. Cat slits took over my pupils. And my wings burst from my back, slightly bigger than the others I had used only a few times, ripping open the back of my borrowed shirt and popping a few buttons. All of this happened within a heartbeat.

Darryl looked up at me in horror. I could sense his fear; it rolled through me like a burst of power.

“Listen closely, Darryl. You didn’t listen when my friend told you the first time, and I had to bring you back from the brink of death.”

He tried to speak, his mouth flapping a few times like a beached fish.

“I’m only going to say this once. You will leave the mountain and never speak to anyone about us ever again.”

He nodded, still speechless.

“Tell me, Darryl. I need to hear it.”

“I’m never coming back. I won’t tell anyone what I saw, and I will leave you alone.”

His terrified eyes looked at a spot over my shoulder, and I glanced back. Camazotz, in his real form, complete with horns, left his spot by the wall and stepped into the light. Thankfully, he still wore the kilt.

“You can go, human,” Camazotz’s voice rang out into the corners of the room. Darryl turned and fled, his pounding footsteps fading as he reached the front of the house.

“Corvus, that was the single most remarkable thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

I spun to face him, surprised. I opened my mouth to respond, not certain of what to say, but he leaned in and kissed me, hard.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Training

My soles brushed the cool stone floor of the kitchen. A few more weeks, and it would be too cold to run around barefoot. I swung them back and forth, lightly skimming the smooth surface as I arranged my breakfast: thick peasant bread, hard Stilton cheese, salty and delicious, and seedless blackberry jam. The jam was a new addition to our pantry, and I loved the way the sugar cut the salty cheese. Coffee was already brewing in the French press, and the open window filled the room with a sliver of optimistic morning light.

By all accounts, I should have been happy, and I was, mostly. I bit through the thick bread, savoring the explosion of flavors. If only I hadn’t completely frozen the night before. He kissed me, and there was no question I wanted him to, only it had been so unexpected, especially after the emotional rollercoaster of Darryl almost dying and then surviving only to be tied to me. For good? Ugh, more questions.

“Yes, he is probably tied to you for the rest of his life.” I jumped, dropping the bread, the cheese, and the jam, landing face down on my chest.

“Jesus, you scared me.” I didn’t look at him while I scraped the sorry remains of my breakfast from my shirt. I walked to the sink and tried to dab the purple stain from setting in. If only we had a washer and dryer.

“We can wash everything down in the caves tonight. The minerals in the water seem to remove most stains better than the well water. It’s a little late for you to be scared by me.”

“Will you please get out of my head?”

He chuckled, standing right behind me. I was annoyed and turned on, and then more annoyed for being so drawn to him. And it wasn’t like I could hide my attraction from him, despite trying my best. Talk about sending mixed messages. I shook my head, dabbing my now-wet shirt with a towel. My Monster moved to the French press and poured me a cup of coffee, adding some of the Coffee Mate I bought the other day, which kept better than milk or cream.

“If you decide to stay, Corvus, after our trip, I promise to get a refrigerator up here.”

I finally turned and faced him, accepting the coffee and inhaling its rich scent.

“Do you want me to stay?”

“Why do you wish to accompany me to Mexico?” It figured, a diversion from my question.

I rolled my eyes and sipped the hot brew. “Why would you go if you know it’s a trap?”

“It’s either go and deal with it now or wait for them to come after me. I prefer peace on my mountain.”

“And you’ve decided I don’t disrupt your peace, even with my loud thoughts?”

“My own thoughts are loud and persistent enough to block yours out most of the time, but you don’t run your mouth and seem content with your own company.”