Page 18 of Prince of Ruin

“Clavicle—”

His other hand slaps over my mouth, sealing it shut. “Shut thefuckup!” Even in his human form he’s strong, his grip on my wrists like steel shackles.“I don’t want to hear another fucking word!” he roars through clenched teeth. The manic look in his eyes tells me he has absolutely no control over his rage, and he’s probably actually going to kill me. “Leave me andmy dad alone. I don’t want to see any of you back at our house again, or I swear togod—”

I buck beneath him, try to wiggle free before he maybe decides to cut off my air supply completely, but he has me pinned to the bed, rage pouring off him like the lava seeping from the Heart of Faerie.

A new thunder fills the room, followed by the sound of storms and the gush of wind. My eyes fall closed, and I feel a tear escape down my temple.Thank the gods.

Clavicle whips his head around, mouth agape at the sight of the portal opening and Tarsus stepping out, their bone-white hair flailing around their antlers in every direction by the wind.

“Get. Off. My. Boyfriend.” Tarsus squeezes the words through gritted teeth.

The coldness in their voice gives me chills, even though I know they’re here to save me. As if realizing what he’s done, Clavicle rolls off me. I scramble off the bed, my heart in my throat, and fall into Tarsus’ arms, more tears springing to my eyes. They were right. Tarsus was fuckingrightabout Clavicle the whole goddamn time.

Folding me into their arms, Tarsus glares at their step-brother with stony silver eyes. “I swore not to kill you as long as you remain in the human realms,” they say. “But if I see your face anywhere near Aden again,Clavicle, you’ll be dead before you can screammy name.” Their arms still around me, Tarsus guides me back into the portal, and I have never felt so relieved by the darkness swallowing me up into nothingness, promising totransport mehome.

Clav

I have never in my life been as disgusted with myself as I am now, as I watch the seven-foot-tall toxic asshole rescue Aden…fromme.LikeI’mthe bad guy here.

But what’s really making my heart pound against my ribcage is how a portal appeared from thin air, the way Tarsus and Aden disappeared into it, and how, now, there’s no sign any of it even happened.

I lift my trembling hands and examine them like they belong to someone else. Someone violent. I’m not sure if it’s leftover from my blinding rage, or if it’s a product of what I just witnessed, but shock rolls through me, making me nauseous. Racing into the restroom, I puke into the toilet. When I finish, I rinse out my and wash up, then return to the bedroom.

Sweat still beads on my forehead, and the room spins slightly. I bury my face in my clammy hands. What I saw is impossible, isn’t it? A portal. People walking in and out of it. Did I imagine this? Was that areal fireball I downed earlier, or did Aden drug me so he and his pal could keep playing pranks on my dad?

Shit. Dad.

It all slowly comes together as I gather my wits about me. Of course Aden drugged me. He’s been in on this prank the whole time. He’s been stalling, keeping me distracted while Abaddon and Tarsus do whatever tricks they want to pull on my dad.

A panicked moan escapes me as I pull on my shirt and vest, not bothering to button either down. I’ve just wasted all this time thinking there was an actual portal that made them disappear, when in reality, they probably just walked out the door. I mean, the portal was right in front of the door, so I must have hallucinated the door swirling and turning into a black hole.

Fury infiltrates my bloodstream again as I cross the room. Blinding red rage. I grab the door knob with trembling fingers—probably an after effect of the drugs—jerk it open, and stride out of the room. There’s going to be hell to pay when I find Tarsus and Aden and their little cosplay bats in my backyard taunting my dad.

It’s dark out, shafts of moonlight breaking through the bare branches above as I drive at a dangerous speed. Nausea continues to build in my stomach until I’m sure I’m going to have to pull over to puke again. I probably shouldn’t even be drivingright now—who knows whatever Aden drugged me with—but I have to get home. Because if they’re pranking Dad right now, I need to be there to call the cops.

Goddammit, Aden knew too much not to be in on the prank. How did I not put the pieces together sooner? Of course he was stalling me. I’m such an idiot.

I roar into the gravel driveway and shove open the door. There’s no activity in the backyard, and when I step into the shed and flip on the lights, there’s no sign of life. It’s quiet in the house when I get home. A subtle chill hangs in the air, making the hairs on my neck stand up on end.

“Dad?” I call. My heart begins racing when I hear no answer. I jog down the hall, when I see Mom’s light on in their study.

“He’s already asleep, Clav,” they say, looking up from their desk. “Everything okay?”

“Are you sure?”

They shrug. “Check if you don’t believe me.”

Approaching Dad’s room, I creak the door open and peek in. A deep sigh heaves out of me.

He’s out, his mouth slightly open and some drool forming a wet spot on his pillow. He snores loudly, telling me he’s breathing and healthy as a fucking horse. A wave of relief washes over me as I quietly close the door, tears of gratitude burning myeyes. I’m staying up all night. I’ll keep an eye on the backyard, my phone ready to call the cops the moment I see those assholes out there.

Mom is chanting in their study when I step in. The smell of burning lavender infiltrates the air, setting my muscles and mind at ease. To some, the musk-sweet aroma might seem new-agey and somewhat repelling. To me it means home. A bleached coyote skull sits on the desk, next to a copper statue of Mother Earth, full, round tits hanging out over her swollen belly, which is supposed to represent her pregnancy with the earth. Posters of skeletons and anatomical art decorate the walls.

I don’t feel drugged anymore. But then, I didn’t really, earlier. Not until Aden pushed me to my limits. Then I lost it.

I’ve never lost it. Not since I hit puberty, you know, a solid decade ago. I’m usually a pretty chill dude, super positive, able to laugh at jokes made at my expense. What else would make me lose my shit like that, if not some kind of drug? Then I must have hallucinated.

But now. Now my mind is crisp and clear and I need to figure this shit out.

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