Page 76 of Death Raiser

“I get why Levi agreed to this deal,” I said, pointing my finger at Levi and then at Hudson. “Everyone covets that old book, and you had access to it, but why would you agree to work with the Lord of the Veil? You’re now stuck here.”

Hudson rocked back on his heels. “It got me out of the living realm. Instead of being a lackey for my brother, I can live here and become a lord of the veil.”

“I highly doubt Levi will hand over his power.” I glanced over at our host for confirmation.

He shrugged. “You’re quite right. Hudson doesn’t want to take my power, though. He merely wishes to build his own.”

Maybe the veil allowed him to do that, but how would he sustain himself? He still needed food—something the veil didn’t have in abundance. “How do you survive?”

Hudson shifted his weight from foot to foot and glanced at Levi.

“It’s rather simple,” Levi answered. “I open a portal, send him through and then he calls one of the spirits who work for me, and they haul him back.”

“And the promise of more power keeps him from running away?” I peered at Hudson. He wasn’t a naïve nor ignorant guy, but for an intelligent human being he was making an awful lot of questionable choices. He had returned to the living realm, multiple times, yet willingly came back to the veil. Why?

“That and the blood bond,” Levi said.

I raised my eyebrows.

“I’ve tasted his blood and now I can find him easily,” Levi explained.

And I’d almost let him have mine.

Another thought snuck into my mind. Hudson had been back to the living realm. He’d returned and I hadn’t known. I jabbed my finger in the air at Hudson. “You used your limited time on the living plane to fuck with me and leave me flowers?”

Hudson jerked back. “Why would I do that?”

I froze. That wasn’t the reaction I’d expected.

Well, crap. Now what?

I’d accused almost every person in and out of my life and yet none of them had left the roses. If it wasn’t the boys fucking with me, Kang, Gregor, Steve or Hudson…who was it?

“I didn’t get you flowers, Lark.” He frowned at me. “I go in, get supplies, and get the fuck out. I have no wish to run into my brother.”

I shook my head. Hudson’s brother must be a real head case to make Hudson run to the veil and bind himself irrevocably to Levi just to get away from him. “Who’s your brother?”

Hudson scowled. “You wouldn’t know him. He’s a real piece of work and you better hope you never cross his path. He wanted me to bring you by his coffee shop, but thankfully you said no.”

Wait…coffee shop. No…No, it couldn’t be…

Chills wracked my body and my heart threatened to burst free of my chest.

“My brother’s name is—”

My whole body tensed as the cold crushed my chest. “Steve.”

He reeled back as if I’d slapped him. “How do you know that?”

“Your brother is more than just a real piece of work.”

Hudson grunted. “You have no idea.”

“Oh, I think I fucking do.”

Levi watched me intently, probably picking up every subtle shift in my emotions. Right now, he should be picking up a whole truckload of rage.

Hudson stilled. “What did he do to you?’

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