Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“Unless Santa’s possessed, no.” I held up the box. “The meeting’s this weekend, it looks like you’re going to just have to grin and bear whatever else is in these vials.”
“Maybe this is part of the test.” His eyes looked unfocused, blurry. “How bad do I really want it? How far am I willing to go?”
“I hadn’t really thought about that.”
He lifted a shoulder. “It would make sense. It’s something a sinister person would do.” He nodded toward the box. “That gonna fix it or make it worse? That’s the question.”
“Both?” I guessed. “Can you feel worse?”
“Well, I sure as hell could feel better if I had you wrapped around me.” He took a step toward me. “Hands are used for touching.”
“Nope.” I shoved the box in front of me.
“Fix it,” he groaned. “Whatever demon you summoned, un-summon it.”
I dropped the box onto the table, reached in for the next vial, unscrewed the cap, and held it out. “Bottoms up, husband.”
“Maybe it really will stop it."
He hesitated, eyes flicking to mine. “What if it’s worse?”
“Then I’ll bury you in the backyard and say you died with honor. Drink it, Louis.” I was exhausted from the day. I knew he was too. We just needed to put this behind us and focus on the meeting.
Everything would be fine then.
It had to be.
He took the vial and lifted it up to me. “Cheers wife, let’s hope all body parts stay on.”
“I only care about one,” I teased.
He choked. “Which one?”
“Your brain?” I suggested. “Did it taste funny?”
He shrugged and dropped it back into the box. “Everything feels the same, I’m not sure I should be relieved or anxious for what’s to come.”
And within seconds, the wild flush in his skin began to fade. His breathing slowed. “I think I’ll go lay down now.”
“Good.” Guilt gnawed at me so swift I almost reached for his hand and said something stupid like thank you. I almost asked if he was okay. I almost did a lot of things. Instead, I tried to channel my aunt and uncles. I wouldn’t be afraid. I was just making sure nobody found out an idiot Vescovi stole some state secrets from me about the family. Now I never had to worry about it. Glorious.
11
LOUIS
The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution. -–Hannah Arendt
Icouldn’t sleep.
Couldn’t stop sweating either. Every breath felt like it came through a furnace. My skin itched with heat and restlessness, like my nerves were trying to claw their way out.
I grabbed my phone.
Louis
Cassian, what the hell, man? Did you really need to take it that far? Is all of this really necessary?
No response. Thirty seconds… a minute…then finally—
Cassian
I never said the game would be easy, besides you were the one who volunteered for this.
Louis
Under duress!
Cassian
Please, you’re just as intrigued as I am. How is it? How is she?
I kept all details to myself.
Louis: This weekend, then?
Cassian
You like her.
Louis
I tolerate her. I’ll be ready for the meeting. Don’t try anything stupid. It’s my ass on the line and hers—and your only way for the truth.
Bullshit! He knew I didn’t stick out my neck because I wanted to—I had no choice, and vengeance was a powerful thing.
Cassian
There are rules. They’re going to test you.
Cassian
I need you to figure things out.
Cassian
She needs you to look like the hero protecting her at all costs.
Cassian
I don’t see how any of this is a problem.
Except—it was.
I cringed.
I was using her. And she, with all her arrogance and sharp retorts, thought she was the one in control. That she had the cards. When really?
She was the one getting fucking played.
I texted back.
Louis
Fine. Just tell me it gets better?
Cassian didn’t hesitate.
Cassian
You and your damn morals.
Cassian
You could’ve just found relief with your wife.
Cassian
God knows you’re going to need to at some point.
Cassian
Especially when they give you a choice.
My pulse slowed.
Louis
What choice?
Cassian
You’ll see. We deal in secrets, lust, power, gore. You gotta pay to play, man. Get some rest.
I tossed the phone across the bed and dropped face-first onto the mattress.
I’d barely sunk into the sheets when the door clicked shut behind me.
“You alive? Or are you humping the mattress?” Tempest’s voice drifted in, full of that dry amusement that somehow made everything worse. “I mean—as long as it’s not a stuffed animal, I think we’re safe.”
I flipped her off without lifting my head. “You could solve all of this by just telling me what’s so damn important about infiltrating the family, maybe I already know what you want. Then again, I imagine it’s longer than finding out a riddle.”
She didn’t answer.
Typical.
“Anyway,” I muttered, dragging myself upright, “I’m almost looking forward to the next and final vials.”
She gave a snort. “You’re insane.”
“I’m hopeful,” I said. “I’m rooting for sociopath next round. But hey—zombie’s still in the running. If I start drooling, just catch it. I don’t want to stain the hardwood.”