Page 100 of Switching Graves

I give the bastard my attention again. Out of everything I’ve learned the past twenty-four hours, his betrayal has been the most impossible to reconcile. How do I connect the man before me with the killer they’re accusing him of being?

“You?” I ask in disbelief. It comes out in a broken whisper, somehow conveying all the hurt and confusion I’m experiencing into that one word.

The air feels like it’s been sucked out of my lungs, my chest aching for oxygen.

He doesn’t deny it. In fact, he doesn’t react at all. Instead, his bored stare pierces into me—through me—as if he’d rather be anywhere but here, dealing with this mess.

Is this what they meant when they said he was cursed and dangerous?

How could I have betrayed my parents this way?

When words finally form in my head, they fall out in a rushed jumble.

“Why would you do that? You know it was her who killed your brother, not my mom.” I point an accusatory finger toward my aunt, my lips twisted in disgust at what I watched her do. I have no trouble connecting my idea of her to the murderer she is.

Raze’s face falls, and for the first time since I woke up in this strange, alternate reality, he allows his emotions to play out on his face for a fraction of a second.

I’ve surprised him. I can feel his shock as strongly as if it were my own.

But there’s something else there, too.

Terror?

Why is he terrified about that?

Divina crinkles her nose in an angry scowl, swinging to face the man who I thought was an ally. “You know the consequences of spreading lies about that day,” she says through her teeth.

His mask is already firmly back in place when he responds, “I haven’t spoken a word about it in years. Rest your guilty conscience, Divina. Paranoia is quite unbecoming on you.”

I press on, hoping I can unravel her enough to find a way out of this. “He didn’t have to tell me. I know everything that happened that day. The way she pushed that boy into those violent waters. How my mother went after him and tried to save him. The way you screamed?—”

“Do not speak another word about something you don’t understand,” Divina bites out, but I purposely wasn’t speaking to her.

I was facing Raze, making it appear that I’m some lovesick girl trying to get through his stony armor.

Of course, he gives me nothing and Divina falls into the trap.

Realizing I won’t be getting anything from him again, I turn back toward her with a sigh.

“You knew they killed them—your best friends and family—and you still choose to partake in this sadistic cult?” If I can get her confused and spiraling, I may be able to negate all her credibility.

Divina shrugs, her tight features relaxing as she registers the change in subject. She’s had time to prepare this mask. “I was out-voted and your mother refused to keep her mouth shut. I tried for years to get her to let up and she only pushed harder. It was out of my hands.”

“You’re a monster,” I accuse, shaking my head.

“I did what I had to do!” she screeches, pointing toward the spot her heart would be, if she had one. The three men beside her wince at the shrill sound of her voice, then exchange irritated looks.

“She knew what she was risking. And I’ve spent the past decade reaping the consequences of her actions. Trying my best to protect you and Poppy, but you two were just as dense as she was.”

That has my blood boiling. “Fuck you. We were trying to find a way to survive in spite of the impossible circumstancesyoucreated for us.”

“And where has that gotten you?” She opens her arms, gesturing behind us. “My daughter is gone because ofyou.” Her voice breaks on the last word. “I told you that I’d find out if you were behind her odd behavior.”

I scowl. “What do you mean, she’s gone?”

Divina’s gaze flicks to the two men standing beside her, then toward the ground. She even bites her lip, as if to stop herself from saying more.

My heartbeat ramps up in my chest.

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