Page 38 of Dirty Little Saint

“Fuck you,” I snap.

He laughs. “Point and case.”

“Back off, Atlas.” Maur whips around to my defense. “He’s been driving all night while listening to you two chatterboxes the whole time.”

Why is she fucking defending me after I just bit her head off? She’s just as toxic as the rest of us. “Stay out of it, Maur.”

She rolls her eyes. “Whatever.”

Riot stretches his arm out, curling it around her from behind so he’s hugging her and the front seat. “Relax, baby. We’re all on edge.”

She practically purrs at the sound of his voice in her ear, almost coming from just the weight of his arm across her heaving chest. She closes her eyes and sinks back. “Mmm.”

Atlas laughs again. “He’s right, Maur. Val’s always like this after he sees his father.”

Fuck.

The engine roars as I step on the gas. Beads of sweat form on my forehead. I need to get the fuck out of this car. Away from everyone so I can fucking think without this feral ache between my legs distracting me.

With each sigil, it gets harder and harder to drown them out. Our bond grows deeper with each one. Fuck, I was obsessed with her before her first sigil. Now she has four. Even her scent consumes all the air inside the car, filling up our lungs with its potency.

I unzip my jacket and roll down all the windows, locking them in place so they can’t roll them back up.

I ignore their pleas and grumbles as I drive faster. I don’t dare look over at Maureen who is cursing up a storm. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her dark brown stands blowing ferociously around her head. Goosebumps pebble her skin.

Spring may be on the way, but it’s still cold as fuck. I can’t help but smirk as I get off on torturing them. I push the pedal all the way to the floor and close my eyes. The sigil on the back of my neck flares to life, taking over.

Three ravens flap alongside the car hysterically as they lose the battle for sight. I take over, using their eyes to guide me. Their squawking is lost in the wind, lost over Maureen screaming at me to open my eyes.

“He’s got this. Calm down,” Atlas yells.

She’s in a state of panic as she tugs on my sleeve. “What the actual fuck are you trying to do, get us killed?”

One of them yanks her away from me. “He’s using the ravens, Maur,” Riot shouts.

“But there’s a cliff up there,” she screams. “We’re going too fast to take the turn.”

“Then we’ll go over. Consider it a shortcut,” I snarl while gritting my teeth.

We call it Devil’s Yard. It’s a hairpin turn that’s seen a lot of blood. I’ve driven it a hundred times with my eyes open. But I have no intention of taking it today.

“You’ll need all of us, Val,” Riot calls out over the howling wind.

Atlas puts his hand on my shoulder. “Fucking hell. Let’s fucking go. I’m so hard right now.”

“Are you all fucking crazy?” Maureen cries. “Let me out right fucking now.”

I laugh and shake my head. “We won’t make it without you.”

She squeezes my thigh. “Then slow down, Val. You don’t have to do this.”

Riot rests his hand on my other shoulder. “Fuck it. Maur, focus. Envision us going over the cliff and landing safely on the ground below.”

“What? No. It’s not possible. We’re gonna fucking die.” She’s shrieking now. The terror in her voice sends my adrenaline coursing through my veins. It’s so palpable I can almost taste it.

“Do it, pretty girl. Help us get over that cliff,” Atlas coos. “You’re the dark queen on the chessboard, remember?”

The edge of the cliff nears, sending my pulse racing as fast as this car. “Time’s running out. Everyone needs to focus.”

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