Page 3 of Swamp Kings 1

She fought back her rising panic. “What is?”

He twirled a pointer finger at her body. “The wholeyounot wantingme.”

She could only nod. “It surely is.” She forced herself to recall her early days with Handy, all the time they shared, how she’d befriended him and him her. “I said I would help you get a body. And… well, I meant it and still mean it.”

“Thisis my body.”

Her head shook as she gathered herself to right this. “But it is not,” she argued, firmly. “It’s Kaphas’ body. Surely at least part his,” she added at the stubborn look he wore. “You said yourself, youare not the same and that means both of you are in one body. You will need another body,” she reasoned as kindly as she could. “One all for yourself, that you won’t have to share. To be yourownsoldier, just like you said, like you wanted.”

“Thisis my body!” he again warned, his words coming through gritted teeth.

A foolish courage lit up her anger and she leaned right in his face. “I am not scared of you and do you know why that is?”

The hard edge in his gaze and face gradually softened. “Why?” he wondered, that softness in his voice still exactly measured.

“Because I am yourfriend. And I willalwaysbe your friend. And just like before, I will see that you have exactly what you need and want.”

“What if I want you?” he tested.

She gave him exasperated eyes. “I can't give you what no longer belongs to me, Handy. I gave myself to Kaphas. I becameonewith him. This can’t be undone any more than you can change who Handy is.” She drew back a little at seeing the anger in his gaze. “Don’t be mad at me over it,” she lightly scolded. “I’m just a human girl, doing what a human girl is meant to do. If I was meant to be with you, it would be Kaphas I’m talking to right now. I will speak to Mr. Quantum King, and he will give you a soldier’s body,” she said with several firm nods. “If it was possible once, then surely it’s possible again.”

“And what if it isn’t possible? What if I married Kaphas along with all the demons inside us? Fused us together.Meshed. One. As you call it,” he said, his smile slowly spreading dread through her. “Then what happens? OurdecadentAngel?”

****

Kaphas watched Celeste run back to the building, his limbs locked down by the iron will of Handy. There was no enemy he could not defeat, he could not protect her from, other than himself. And though Handy was not him, he was surelyinhim and stronger. For now.

Reason was all he had. Again, fornow.

Why are you doing this to her?he asked, launching that war. Kaphas waited in silence, prepared to suffer whatever came until he got an answer.

Testing.

Kaphas paused his mental warfare.Testing what?

Her.

For what?

To be sure.

Of what???

“Of her loyalty.”

Hearing the words out loud again halted everythingin him. “Her loyalty towho?”

Their knees buckled with Handy’s indignance. “Who do youthink?” he lightly cried.

Kaphas had to be sure, he wouldn’t leave it to assumption. “Me?”

Handy patted him roughly on the shoulder. “Ding fucking ding-ding. If you recall I had a plan. Thatshefucked up. Royally. But… in theprocess,” he begrudged. Something… unexpected happened.”

“What happened?” he finally asked when his brain came up clueless.

“So, you no longer have it.”

“Have what?”

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