Page 80 of Presence

“I lied to you before,” he says casually. “It was you who created the evil Claire, not me. I was a fan of that actually.”

My eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“Wait… what?”

His laugh is a low rumble, echoing off the damp, unpolished walls of the cavern.

“Well, it was more like a team effort,” he says, his voice laced with dark amusement. “But the idea was yours. You gave the intention, and I just added a bit of power to make it real.”

Intention? No way. My intention doesn’t work in here anymore. Besides…

“You can’t be serious,” I say. “When would I ever intend something like this? No, you’re lying. You’re just bored and messing with me. That—that evil version of me—it’s your creation, not mine.”

“Why?” He tilts his head, a sly smile forming. “Can’t believe that using blood as lube came from your twisted little mind? Don’t underestimate yourself, Clarity.”

My eyes widen, and for a moment, I’m speechless. Then, something unexpected happens—I start laughing. The sound of my laughter fills the room. It’s light, airy, and completely out of place, but I can’t stop.

He didn’t just say that…

Echo raises a brow, tilting his head again like a curious animal, his mouth open as he watches me. His whole body tenses on the bed as I clutch my belly, trying to catch my breath.

“Wow, yeah,” I finally manage to mutter. “When you put it like that, I must be really fucked up somewhere inside, huh?”

His surprise melts into a slow, predatory smile again.

“I happen to like fucked up.”

And just like that, my stomach fills with butterflies—no, more like a wild horde of moths, fluttering so fiercely they leave me weak.

But as soon as that weird surge of happiness hits, so does anger. So does the betrayal. The humor vanishes in an instant.

This demon, this wretched being, has destroyed everything I’ve ever held dear. He’d do it again without a second thought. Laughter? I should be drowning in tears.

But no tears come.

Only moths. Only angry, angry moths.

22

Walls Closing In

The air is heavy with the smell of damp earth, blood, and moonlight. I stretch my body, feeling the cushions below me mold to my shape. Damn, when was the last time I slept this well?

Soft sighs slip from my lips as I savor the moment, trying to hold onto this feeling a little longer. I sink deeper into the bed, the silky sheets caressing my skin, and a smile spreads across my face. The ache in my body has melted away, leaving only a sweet satisfaction. I don’t feel anything except it as the moment drags on deliciously.

What more could a girl ask for? Peace, quiet, and comfort, I muse to myself. That is, until I slowly open my eyes and nearly have a heart attack.

A cocked head with two soulless eyes is inches from my face, staring right into me. Thick black hair spills down, tangling with mine.

“Oh, shit,” I mutter, tensing in the bed and clutching my chest. My heart pounds, ready to burst from my ribcage. “Echo…”

“Hello, my Little Soul,” he purrs, his gaze turning hooded. “It’s news to me that you can sleep in my realm, just like in the human world.”

My breath hitches as I take in his appearance. He towers over me, dressed completely differently from the last time I saw him. Last night, he wore only sleek, shiny leather pants, no shirt. Now, he’s even more scantily clothed—downright freaking slutty.

His main piece is a pair of tight, black leather pants that hug his muscular legs like a second skin. Dark silver accents trace the seams, catching the scarce moonlight filtering in from the second cavern. Multiple straps and buckles secure the pants, and his upper body is nearly bare, adorned only by an elaborate harness that winds around his chest and shoulders.

He looks unhinged, but damn, he also looks fucking sexy.

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