asking is the Counts are particular about their ceremonies. In fact, one might say they’re outright meticulous. Shifting gears in the middle of a ritual is rare form.”
“Demetri Edinger killed my father. He doesn’t play by any rules.”
“And what about Logan? Have you spoken with him regarding the incident?”
“No.” Nor do I plan to.
“Has he tried communicating with you?”
If you call jamming his tongue down my throat a form of communication.
“No,” I say, “he hasn’t.”
“It’ll be interesting to see what he has to say for himself.”
I nod.
Oh, it’ll be interesting all right.
If I choose to listen—or believe him.
***
Days drift by. I sequester myself in my room, unable to sleep and ironically puking daily like it’s some new ritual.
Gage and I spend all of our time in the butterfly room locked in a tangle of limbs, bathing one another in hot ripe kisses.
I like it like this with Gage, free from Holden who’s driving Tad insane with his voracious appetite, free from Demetri who is busy setting up shop in Paragon while taking care of his grandfather’s estate. Rumor has it he’s a foot soldier in the army of Paragon’s finest. Apparently that’s how Demetri stays one step ahead of the law. He is the law. Can’t wait to see him roaming the streets wielding a gun of all things.
“So, tell me what happened while I was away.” I lean into his chest.
“That day you disappeared, when the bell rang and class was over, I tried to catch up with you in the hall. I wanted to know what went on with Dudley after Chloe’s outburst. Anyway, I kept calling you, and you wouldn’t turn around.”
Just knowing that a Fem took my place creeps me out.
“Did she look like me?”
“Identical. When I finally caught up to her, she looked right through me. I knew something wasn’t right. She didn’t say anything just went into the girl’s gym, never came out. When school was over, Logan and I combed through that entire building.”
“I was with Marshall. He took me to a field and told me to run while he shot arrows all around me. I think I’ll be OK as long as Chloe doesn’t ask anymore stupid questions.”
“I was more than pissed off at her. She came over to the bowling alley the next day and I just lost it. I told her off,” he lets out a heavy sigh. “I’ve never told off a girl before and, to tell the truth, I still don’t see her as one—more like a monster.”
“I second that.”
“Anyway, the night of the blood bonding, Logan came home, told me what happened. He said you disappeared before he could, you know, cut you,” the last few words come out barely audible. “Logan wants to talk to you,” Gage growls the words right into my ear.
“No,” I don’t even hesitate.
“He’ll be there tonight.”
Ellis is having a get together later, and to be honest, I’d rather not go.
“Well, then, I’d hate for him to accidentally drown in the pool.” Who am I kidding? I can’t kill Logan. Gage prophesied he’d live to be a ripe old age, like me. Maybe I should work harder at disfiguring him. “Why doesn’t Chloe like him?” I lament. “I’m so sick of all her blackmail, it’s emotionally draining. If only Chloe had a secret. We could blackmail her.”
“She does.” A male voice emanates from below. Holden pops up sporting his new Landon disguise and forces me deeper into Gage’s arms.
“Yeah?” Gage isn’t even fazed by the fact Holden is crawling into the butterfly room. “What’s her secret?”
“I don’t know.” He runs his fingers through his hair while spearing me with contempt. “You could have at least got me a halfway decent body,” he scoffs, inspecting his pale, thin arms.
“Why don’t I kill you again and we can start from scratch,” I suggest.
“You’re not funny.”
“And you’re not Ethan,” I quip.
“Look,” he barks above a whisper, “I’m friggin sorry about what happened that night at the falls.
“Demetri Edinger killed my father. He doesn’t play by any rules.”
“And what about Logan? Have you spoken with him regarding the incident?”
“No.” Nor do I plan to.
“Has he tried communicating with you?”
If you call jamming his tongue down my throat a form of communication.
“No,” I say, “he hasn’t.”
“It’ll be interesting to see what he has to say for himself.”
I nod.
Oh, it’ll be interesting all right.
If I choose to listen—or believe him.
***
Days drift by. I sequester myself in my room, unable to sleep and ironically puking daily like it’s some new ritual.
Gage and I spend all of our time in the butterfly room locked in a tangle of limbs, bathing one another in hot ripe kisses.
I like it like this with Gage, free from Holden who’s driving Tad insane with his voracious appetite, free from Demetri who is busy setting up shop in Paragon while taking care of his grandfather’s estate. Rumor has it he’s a foot soldier in the army of Paragon’s finest. Apparently that’s how Demetri stays one step ahead of the law. He is the law. Can’t wait to see him roaming the streets wielding a gun of all things.
“So, tell me what happened while I was away.” I lean into his chest.
“That day you disappeared, when the bell rang and class was over, I tried to catch up with you in the hall. I wanted to know what went on with Dudley after Chloe’s outburst. Anyway, I kept calling you, and you wouldn’t turn around.”
Just knowing that a Fem took my place creeps me out.
“Did she look like me?”
“Identical. When I finally caught up to her, she looked right through me. I knew something wasn’t right. She didn’t say anything just went into the girl’s gym, never came out. When school was over, Logan and I combed through that entire building.”
“I was with Marshall. He took me to a field and told me to run while he shot arrows all around me. I think I’ll be OK as long as Chloe doesn’t ask anymore stupid questions.”
“I was more than pissed off at her. She came over to the bowling alley the next day and I just lost it. I told her off,” he lets out a heavy sigh. “I’ve never told off a girl before and, to tell the truth, I still don’t see her as one—more like a monster.”
“I second that.”
“Anyway, the night of the blood bonding, Logan came home, told me what happened. He said you disappeared before he could, you know, cut you,” the last few words come out barely audible. “Logan wants to talk to you,” Gage growls the words right into my ear.
“No,” I don’t even hesitate.
“He’ll be there tonight.”
Ellis is having a get together later, and to be honest, I’d rather not go.
“Well, then, I’d hate for him to accidentally drown in the pool.” Who am I kidding? I can’t kill Logan. Gage prophesied he’d live to be a ripe old age, like me. Maybe I should work harder at disfiguring him. “Why doesn’t Chloe like him?” I lament. “I’m so sick of all her blackmail, it’s emotionally draining. If only Chloe had a secret. We could blackmail her.”
“She does.” A male voice emanates from below. Holden pops up sporting his new Landon disguise and forces me deeper into Gage’s arms.
“Yeah?” Gage isn’t even fazed by the fact Holden is crawling into the butterfly room. “What’s her secret?”
“I don’t know.” He runs his fingers through his hair while spearing me with contempt. “You could have at least got me a halfway decent body,” he scoffs, inspecting his pale, thin arms.
“Why don’t I kill you again and we can start from scratch,” I suggest.
“You’re not funny.”
“And you’re not Ethan,” I quip.
“Look,” he barks above a whisper, “I’m friggin sorry about what happened that night at the falls.
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