Page 93 of Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones

It made a lot of sense though and she seemed happiest when she was being her most powerful self. “So why does she want my power? Or the Revenants?”

Apollo stopped pacing. “I’m not sure. It does seem excessive.”

“Unless...”

“Unless what, Raevyn?”

“The Revenants withdrew their favour. Maybe her power source is tied up with that somehow?”

“I imagine that’s it. If she can’t channel power from the Revenants anymore, I imagine that’s pissed her off. Come on. Let’s get some things together and we can head topside.”

I took his hand, enjoying the strength that I felt from him. I just hoped that I got to my grandmother before she decided to change her mind.

Chapter Forty-One

Deimos

It was fucking freezing. There was snow everywhere and I couldn’t feel my fingers. Maybe the dark haired psycho had been right after all. I blanched. How awful.

I could sense her nearby, her lavender scent travelling on the chilly breeze. My senses sharpened as I followed the trail she’d unwittingly left behind. It made me feel alive. I wanted to run, to hunt. To chase her through the woods and fuck her into the ground like a goddamn animal.

“Easy there, big guy. Isn’t that a bit much?” Casimir asked, concern lacing his tone.

“Nope. She wants it just as much as I do. You felt the quiver in her limbs when I pinned her to the door. Can’t deny that kind of reaction, love.”

He scoffed. “I am not your ‘love’”

I chuckled. The boy sounded so indignant. “We’re tied together by our very souls, if that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

He settled back down then, his presence in my mind quietening into the background.

“It’s weird watching you talk to yourself,” Nox said as he fell into step beside me. He was, admittedly, intriguing. I think the fact that he was courting fear was interesting. Most people ran from me, but this guy, despite quaking a little, was curious enough to ask me questions.

“Then don’t watch.”

“Not possible,” he said, rubbing his hands together to keep away the cold.

I turned to him with an eyebrow raised, enjoying his little flinch as his eyes met mine. “You do know you don’t have to feel the cold?”

“Yeah, but there’s something about it that makes me feel alive in a way not much else does.”

Well, colour me surprised. The little psycho had depth.

“Stop distracting the bloodhound,” the Moroi growled as he caught up with us.

If he meant to insult me, he missed his mark. It was an apt description of the task I was currently engaged in.

The two lovebirds were following behind, and I always found Korbin interesting to watch. Made me wonder what he’d be like to chase.

I turned my attention back to my task and followed the scent of my little bird. It was getting stronger. “We’re close.”

I walked us to the edge of a clearing where a little house sat. It was pretty in a postcard sort of way. Like one of those retreats people go to in order to escape reality. In the middle of nowhere with no distractions.

Nox sprinted past me and the urge to chase him kicked into gear, but I held myself back. My senses were in overdrive because it had been so long since I’d had any real physical form. I’d been trapped in the cage of Casimir’s mind, occasionally breaking through but never enough to take control. Not like this. It was freeing. Thrilling. I wanted to incite fear, hear screams with my own ears and breathe nightmares into life. There was so much to do, but I didn’t know where to start.

Nox came out of the house, a pout on his lips. “She’s not here.”

I sniffed the air again, her scent still strong here. “She can’t have left long ago. Was there anything left in the cabin?”

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