Page 60 of King of the Unsightly

She looked down at me like some deranged devil as her smile extended across her face, pressing the cold blade against my cheek.

I thought we grew a little closer last night; apparently not.

But it made me feel somewhat sane to know there was someone crazier than me. I mean, I looked tame in comparison to her.

“In my defense, you were sleeping like the dead,” she said with no remorse as she leaned away, sliding the sharp edge of the blade off my skin. Did she get off on tormenting people or something?

I rubbed my eyes again, stretched my legs and arms then rolled away from the center of the bed, and shot up to my feet.

I glared back at her. “I am human. We do tend to need our sleep, unlike all you psychos who thrive off ... what ... three, four hours?” I said mid-yawn.

“Five, and it’s not that weird.”

“Like I said. Psychotic.”

Ryas tilted her head. “Where has my sweet, sobbing Addy gone?” Ryas batted her lashes, taunting me.

I shook my head. “To her senses.”

Ryas sighed dramatically. “Boringgg.” She closed the switchblade and shoved it in her pocket. “I don’t trust you like Kaschel does, despite the mark, and if you so much as cross him ... I will make you wish this was the worst of it.”

The gravity in her tone was unmistakable, and my whole body shuddered in response. She meant each word, and it reminded me again—I needed to be wary of these people.

My eyes caught the all-black outfit and combat boots placed on the dresser, and I slipped them on once she stalked out of the room. Other than the pants being a little long and tight, they fit well enough.

I brushed my hair and it automatically puffed up, so I quickly pulled it into a ponytail.

Gren beamed at me as I stepped through the door. He sported a tight-fitting cream shirt and black pants with boots to match. It was an outfit more suitable for hiking than his previous one.

His wavy ebony hair unwound right above his scar; his sharp features complemented his athletic physique.

Yeah, staring at him now—I didn’t think I’d ever get used to this new form.

Gren’s dark eye dropped to my stitches and narrowed. “Who—I mean. I’m glad you got those taken care of.” He smiled.

Gren didn’t need to know Kaschel was the one who did it. Especially when I asked him to stay in a separate room. It felt like a betrayal if he found out, and I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea. Not that it should matter; he didn’t own me, despite having half my soul.

I looked down at my bandaged wrist. “Yeah, it doesn’t hurt too much tod—”

“Move. They’re waiting.” Ryas shoved past us, aggravated by our conversation.

We reluctantly trailed behind her in the endless corridor. The place looked haunted; each portrait we passed was more archaic and eerier than the last.

My sight fixed on one of a nude man underneath a waterfall at dusk with black flowy hair and crimson irises ominously following me as I scurried away from it.

My hands stuck to the sides of my pants, turning hot and sticky as I grew more anxious. I hated not knowing where it ended or what potentially awaited us.

Looking down, I fiddled with my hands when I slammed into Gren’s back.

He eyed me with concern. Then he seized my hand in his and squeezed it. His cool touch calmed my jittery nerves but the feeling waned on and off until my thoughts warped to chaos.

He perked an eyebrow as he straightened himself. “I wonder how many times I have to tell you everything will be fine until you actually believe me.”

My lips pulled into a thin smile. I really wanted to be stupidly optimistic, but it was easier said than done.

I didn’t glance in Gren’s direction and kept myself focused, fixating on how the cracks in the ceiling splintered in all directions. “Until all of this is over,” I muttered, clenching one fist and hoping my restless mind would simmer down soon.

Gren chuckled. “Fair enough.” His husky voice gnawed at my ears; a stark difference from his old one, and it caught me off guard.

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