Page 10 of Shredded Soul

“I saw Charon’s face when he walked in and saw you in the corner that first night. Even if you only have a quarter of your mind left, he wants it. That was pure love in his eyes.” Quentin fell silent for a moment. “Maybe I’m not the best judge, though. I thought Snow looked at me the same way.”

As always, Paine didn’t know what to say. Snow did love Quentin. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have done what he did. In Snow’s shoes, he probably would have done the same thing. With a few variations, of course. Paine would have agreed and then gone straight to Charon. Charon would take care of it. Quentin would have never known. Unfortunately, Paine didn’t think he should say any of that, so he said nothing and hoped. Maybe one day Quentin would find his way to Snow again, the way Charon had found him. Paine’s mind skipped a beat at his thoughts. Charon had never given up his pursuit. He never would. If he came back again, Paine would give him a shot and let the chips fall where they may. He should have died a long time ago anyhow. No one else should get to take the last of his sanity. That belonged to Charon.

Chapter Seven

His mind cleared. It had to be that way. Charon couldn’t take Paine with him where he intended to go. Paine needed to stay with Quentin. He knew Paine could keep Quentin and his little family safe. Charon had to ensure what happened tonight didn’t happen twice.

Charon waited until daylight, and he was in the air before he called the only backup he would need. Thankfully, Alastair answered on the first ring. No doubt he knew Charon would never call unless it was urgent. His first words proved his thoughts correct.

“What’s happened?”

“I need a favor, if you’re still willing to hunt.”

Alastair didn’t miss a beat. “Just tell me where to meet you.”

A smile tugged at Charon’s lips. While Alastair had been part of the Irish academy, Charon knew he would still willingly take down any leaders he found, no matter their country of origin. “Do you know where the small private airstrip is outside of Alabaster?”

“I do.”

“That’s where my plane will meet you in two hours. I’m headed there now.”

Thankfully, Alastair sounded ready to do whatever. “Let me tell Reed and I’ll be there.”

“See you soon.”

Charon ended the call and tried letting the cold calm of his training set in. Despite his best efforts, thoughts of Paine overwhelmed him. Charon swore he still felt Paine beneath him. It had been so many years since they were together, but nothing had changed. Charon recalled every detail. The way Paine kissed. His flavor. Everything. He knew Paine feared his own sanity. Charon didn’t. He would take whatever tatters were left of Paine’s mental health and stitch him back together. That was what soulmates did. They kept each other whole.

When he reached the airstrip, he found Alastair waiting. Charon tried harder to push Paine from his thoughts. He needed all his focus.

Alastair ran up the steps and onto the plane, obviously raring to go for whatever. He didn’t speak until they were closed inside, and the pilot was out of earshot. “Where are we headed?”

“Greece.” Charon hoped that one tidbit didn’t have Alastair demanding to leave.

Alastair set his bag aside, looking unconcerned about their destination. “Who’s our target?”

“All of them.”

Alastair froze in the middle of getting settled. His gaze moved to Charon and didn’t budge. “I think you need to tell me the whole of it.”

Charon hated to expose himself to anyone, especially another former victim of the academy, but this was important. He needed someone to have his back. He gave Alastair a sharp nod. “Everyone knows I moved from captive to captor at seventeen. The youngest leader in the academy's history.”

Alastair nodded. “I’d heard that.”

Charon swallowed his pride and continued. “What no one knows is why or how I untangled myself from the situation. That’s a story they would never let leave that place. The short of it is, I fell in love with another boy.”

Alastair made the appropriate sounds of horror. Every recruit knew that was taboo. It was the worst mistake any of them could make and never ended well.

Charon nodded. “They gave me a choice. I could kill him or break him.” Charon made a helpless gesture. “I couldn’t kill him. Eventually, I ran away. I am, as far as I know, the only person to ever successfully escape their compound. They’ve decided I owe them a debt to keep my freedom. I’ve decided the only thing they’re owed is death.”

Alastair’s gaze moved over Charon’s face. “What happened to the boy you loved?”

A smile tugged at Charon’s lips. He couldn’t stop it from happening. There had never been a moment—even when he thought Paine was dead—that Charon had stopped loving him with every fiber of his being. In fact, Charon wasn’t sure he could love anyone else.

Alastair smiled. “I see. You’re right, then. You’ll never be safe until they’re dead. Let’s make it happen.”

With a shared nod, they settled in for the long flight. Eleven hours was a long time in the air. Charon used the time to sleep. He needed to be well rested for the fight ahead.

When they landed, Alastair immediately started planning. “How are we getting in?”

---