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Summer’s breath lengthens, and I reach my fingers under her shirt and slide my hand up her thighs. Her little cunt is dripping wet.

I lean down and kiss her neck, and she melts at my touch. “Did you like watching that?” I whisper as everyone else starts talking, and Xander puts the music on loud enough no one can hear me. She parts her lips and looks up at me, her eyes wide.

“Don’t worry, pretty girl, I’ll spend the rest of my life humiliating you. I’ll treat you like the queen you are in public, but in private, I’ll own you in ways Xander can’t even dream.”

I can’t wait to get these niceties over with, make her something to eat, and spend the rest of the night in bed with her. I rise and pull Summer up with me. “Well, it’s been a pleasure, have a nice night everyone.”

“So sad you won’t last past Halloween,” Bianca chides from Xander’s lap.

Summer sucks in a breath. “Why? What’s happening on Halloween?”

“Shut up, Bianca,” Wendy snaps at her.

Summer looks at me with confused eyes. I kiss her cheek and say, “Ignore her.”

Xander places his hands around his head. “No, Bianca’s right. Or have you not told her that part of it? I’m really confused how this is going to work for you two?” A twinge hits my gut. Maybe coming up here was a mistake.

Xander stares at me. “You haven’t told her, have you?”

Her eyes peer up at me. “Tell me what?”

Xander laughs as if he’s in on some cruel joke. I give him a silent glare and Xander finally looks directly into my eyes. He is aware that Mikael has returned—he saw him in the room upstairs. “Xander, not now,” I tell him.

Xander’s eyes flash. “The ReBirth Ceremony is in just over two weeks. And that’s when your boyfriend is going to fucking kill you.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-THREE

SUMMER

Iam only in my first semester of psychology, but I understand enough to know the layers of how complex Lincoln Kennedy is. The fact he claims he is incapable of feeling anything is bullshit.

He feels me just fine. He felt me multiple times this weekend—feelings were plentiful as his eyes transformed and morphed as he gazed at me. It’s confusing how someone who evokes such a range of emotions in me can claim he’s devoid of any himself.

I can’t deny that I’m slowly losing him. I can sense Mikael gradually taking control over him. It started subtly, but as the weekend progressed and I spent more time with him, I could see him transforming. The way he observed me, his facial expressions, even the way he fucked me…everything changed.

Lincoln was still there, the parts I love, the part that makes me feel safe, and seen. The part that exists because of me. There was more of him, more to him, if that’s even possible.

It’s like I was simultaneously with both of them. Lincoln and Mikael, and whatever godlike entity emerged when they were together—that’s the Lincoln I didn’t recognize.

After our house meeting with Xander, Lincoln took me downstairs and let me sleep. I could tell he wasn’t in the mood to talk, so I didn’t press him. I also didn’t want to trigger Mikael. Although, everything about me is a trigger for Mikael.

Lincoln and I cuddled all night, and it was nice and normal. I tried not to think about the other man behind those eyes, who I hate to admit I am in love with, too. I fell in love with Mikael a long time ago; it’s more of a primal, basic instinctual love, not nearly as deep as it is with Lincoln. But sometimes that unexplainable love is the most powerful. I listened to Lincoln’s heartbeat and snuggled into his warmth until I drifted into a dreamless slumber.

When he dropped me off on Sunday afternoon, he told me he wasn’t going to talk to me again until I submitted my paper, which I was able to finish late Sunday night. Luckily, I finished my readings at his house and submitted my reflection, which was two days late. I was able to dig in when I got home, as well as catch up on my other classes.

Dani was home, I saw her car; Misty was there, too, but neither of them left their bedrooms. I knocked on Dani’s door to let her know I was okay, but she didn’t answer. I texted her that I was home, but she didn’t read it.

Dani and I don’t fight—she’s never been this mad at me. I also have questions about what the hell happened between her and Xander this weekend. I need to warn her, without giving up too much, and tell her to stay out of this. I’ll give her a few days to stew. I hope when she understands how in love with him I am, she will forgive me.

By Monday night, I still hadn’t spoken to Dani. She had been out all day and arrived home late. I spent Monday night video chatting with Lincoln, and I kept the video on all night long.

He was busy and distracted, but wanted to stay on with me. When I saw Lincoln in class, he smiled but kept his distance, and I’ve spent the majority of the week working on my next paper.

Last night, we didn’t talk and I had trouble sleeping, so I ended up spending hours reading about the original killings in 1979 and analyzing all the evidence. It’s disturbing to think that my family may have played a role in every horrifying event that has occurred in this town. That my grandma Didi killed all those people. She doesn’t look like she could hurt a fly. It doesn’t make sense to me.

It’s Wednesday night, and I’m waiting for Lincoln to call. I check the class portal and see my latest paper has been graded.