Page 118 of Sinful

Fifteen minutes later, there was a soft knock on the front door.

“Ready?” Ashes asked.

I looked at him. “We’re dead if Church finds out.”

“The way I see it, we’re already dead.” He shrugged and got to his feet, and went to the door.

He probably had a point. Ashes always did.

SIN

“Don’t take any shit,” Mirage instructed as he walked with me to the watchers’ house. I knew I was supposed to go alone, but Mirage insisted on keeping me company while I walked there, promising he’d leave once we arrived.

“I’ll take whatever they give me,” I said. “I don’t want to fight with them anymore.”

“This could go really bad, so make sure you’re doing what you need to do.”

I straightened my jacket. “What do you mean? What have you seen?”

“Everything has been so cloudy lately.” He let out a frustrated sigh, his rabbit ears bobbing.

“You have been quiet.”

“I’m trying to figure shit out. Bryce loves her too. Can you imagine all of us with her? Wild.”

I shook my head. “I very much doubt I’ll be able to come home, and I know they won’t let Andrews in.”

I knew what I’d seen with her and him when we’d burst into his room. She cared about that asshole too. I wasn’t a fan, but at this point in my life, if I got to be with her, I wouldn’t bat a lash at who else she chose, as long as I was part of the lineup.

Most likely, though, I was walking into a trap where I’d be beaten to death. It didn’t bother me. I was tired of the struggle and ready for it to end. Maybe it was a little depression. Who the fuck knew? I just didn’t feel happy. The only thing that made me happy was her. Siren.

We reached the watchers’ house, and I stared up at it, my stomach in knots.

“It’s going to be OK.” Mirage smiled, cocking his head to the right. “Oh yes. It’ll be fine.”

I dragged my focus from the house and looked at him.

“Love hurts, Sin, but I promise it’s worth the pain.” He looked over at me and smiled before pulling out his carrot and taking a bite.

I smiled at him. “What will you be doing?”

“Wild animals belong to the forest, my friend. I’m on my own journey of redemption.” He clapped me on the shoulder and took a final look at the house before he turned and rushed to the woods, letting out a whoop as he dove through the snow and darkness, disappearing from view.

“Weirdo,” I muttered before hauling in a deep breath and going to the door.

It was now or never.

* * *

Awkwardly,I sat on the couch, staring into the fireplace. It hadn’t been like this when I lived here. Everything was normal. Comfortable. Now, I felt like an invader in a space I didn’t belong.

Ashes flipped his lighter open and closed five times before staring at the flame and doing it all over again. Stitches’s legs bounced as he raked his fingers through his dark hair.

I didn’t want to be the first one to speak, so I remained quiet, waiting for them to tell me to say my final words.

“Church isn’t home yet. He won’t be for at least another week,” Ashes finally said.

I nodded, wondering when they were going to nail my coffin closed.

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