Page 24 of Psycho Pack

Then again, I can help mine.

I'm a selfish asshole for centering myself right now. Another flaw to add to the list. She deserves the kind of pure devotion she's clearly getting from Wraith. The way he looks at her like she didn't just hang the moon, shemadeit.

The kind I'm not sure I can give.

I've spent too many years building walls, hiding behind my mask and clinical detachment. Even now, I maintain my distance. I tell myself it's to avoid contaminating her with my darkness, but really, I'm afraid.

Afraid of letting anyone get too close.

I take a deep breath, ignoring the stench of decay that fills my lungs. One foot in front of the other. Focus on the mission. Push everything else aside.

I've done it before.

I can do it again.

Even if it means watching from the shadows while the others protect our omega. While they earn her trust, her affection, her...

No. Those thoughts lead nowhere productive.

I step through the curtain of water, letting it soak through my clothes. What's a little more contamination at this point? I've already lost everything that made me who I am.

My control.

My purpose.

Might as well lose my dignity too.

The tunnel opens into a vast cavern, and my training kicks in automatically. High ceiling? Risk of collapse. Multiple branching passages? Potential ambush points. Limited visibility due to sparse fungal lighting. The spores could be deadly. Could make us hallucinate and turn on each other. I've never seen mushrooms like these.

"The blood trail's getting fresher," Thane mutters ahead of me. "We must be getting close."

I nod, though he can't see me in the dim light. The Knight's dark blood stands out against the pale stone, still wet enough to reflect the ghostly blue-green glow. We're running out of time before the whole facility caves in, but I keep my concerns to myself. If Ivy wants to chase this monster into the depths of hell, I'll follow.

It's the least I can do to make up for failing her before.

A distant crash echoes through the tunnels, followed by the groan of straining metal. More debris rains down from the ceiling, forcing us to dodge. Wraith curls protectively around Ivy, shielding her with his bulk. The sight sends an unfamiliar ache through my chest.

"Watch your step," I warn as we pick our way through the rubble. "The structural integrity is compromised. One wrong move could bring the whole place down."

"Thanks for the obvious observation, Doc," Whiskey grumbles beside me. "Got any other pearls of wisdom to share?"

"Oh, he's got pearls," Valek slurs from my other side.

"Shut the fuck up," Whiskey and I say at the same time.

Valek barks a laugh. "I see the odd couple is already finishing each other's sentences," he says in his usual mocking tone. Guess he's getting back to normal.

For now.

When I get my answers, I'm going to give him a complimentary lobotomy. God knows his head injuries have been stacking up and having the same effect. Might as well finish the job.

Then I'm going to stick a brand new chip in the back of his neck, which has clearly been pre-carved for me. I'm actually shocked he managed to dig the chip out without killing or paralyzing himself.

It makes me wonder if he had help.

I can put two and two together. His disappearance with Ivy, the things they've been saying, the fact Ivy clearly explainedsomethingto Wraith or he'd be disemboweling Valek with his bare hands for kidnapping her…

Did she help Valek escape?

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