Page 59 of Priest and his Anarchist

Popping open a drawer in my dresser, I loop the rope of my Calvaria around my wrist. “I almost killed her.”

Evie’s smile drops.

My eyes darken. “Multiple times.”

There are no longer any more questions.

***

I’ve never been able to feel the cold. I used to find it confusing, as if I lived in a universe with muted sensations. Tonight, however, was crisp enough for me to feel the whistle of winter over the tattoo on my neck.

Soft whimpers sound through the trees, turning me to Vaden. “They’re late.”

He shrugs. “There’s a first for everything.” He’s both right and wrong. They’re never this late. I need to call him. I’m about to reach into my pocket when footsteps pad over fallen leaves.

“Sorry, we’re late.” Moses Dale and his sidekick appear behind a tree, moving branches out of the way. “Kind of thought he might change now that you have the gavel.”

“Told you I wouldn’t.” I glance at Vade. “We don’t stop until it’s done.” Everyone silences as leaves rustle across theforestland. I’ll wait for one of them to say it first and then jab them in the fucking throat.

Moses’s laughter catches in his throat when the light from his phone illuminates across his face.

He looks between me and his phone. “No breadcrumb trails this time?” His fingers pinch at his screen. “What’s the stopwatch mean?”

“You and I know that’s not how this game works.” I keep my eyes level on his. They may be called the Gentlemen, but there’s nothing gentle about how they work, and I’ll never turn my back on a snake. Lost in the middle of a treaty formed by our parents and grandparents, Moses and I have come to a mutual understanding over the years, but that’s not to say we’re amicable. One second inside a room we’re all in, and a nine wouldn’t even be able to blow a hole through the tension.

Vaden’s particular beef is not so simple. Judging by how shifty he’s been tonight, I’ll go ahead and say his nights partaking in the Hunt are numbered. For their convenience, not ours. Unless you count scrubbing Gentlemen brain matter off my ten-thousand-dollar Jordans. There are stories that circulate about why Vaden feels the way he does about the Gentlemen and why they hate each other so much.

None of which is the truth.

“Who have you got with you?” War asks, his eyes shifting from me to Moses. The more time he spends with my sister, the less I can tolerate him. I don’t need either of their morals spilling over the EKC. Thank fuck she’ll never—ever—have any say in how this gavel is slammed.

Vaden’s shadow emerges from behind War, his lip twitching. The lollipop he’s sucking on slides over his pierced tongue. “Or by all means.” He smirks. “Please break the rules.” His words stop me.

Moses folds his arms in front of his chest. “Trust me. I have my own reasons why I won’t and why I agreed to do this.”

My muscles ease as I glare at Vaden. Thought I’d enjoy his brand of crazy after the ritual, but it turns out he’s more like a wild animal that I’ll have to retrain. The ritual consisted of three steps.

The first kill.

The burning of said kill.

And the ignition of the curse. It hits one member after punishing us for our ancestors’ mistakes. Everyone always assumed it’d hit me, but it’s become obvious that it landed on Vaden. He’s now someone we have to watch. Keep an eye on, until he goes full dark and tears ours out. Pretty sure I’m the only one who has noticed, but War isn’t too far behind. He’s smart if the equation didn’t involve Halen.

Moses shuts off his phone. “How often do you want this done? I thought you were joking all those years ago, but times are different now. Aren’t you busy runn?—”

I step into his space. Moses isn’t small by any means, but he and I know that my size is the least threatening thing about me. Leaning down, I whisper, “As many as it takes.”

He backs up beside his right-hand bitch boy. Once he’s a safe distance away, he tsks. “Maybe it’s gone for good. Ever think of that?”

The muscles in my jaw harden when my teeth clench. It’s not until they’ve both disappeared through the trees that I push the words away and turn to War, who looks extra fucking annoying tonight.

Pushing past him, I make my way through the ragged path.

“You sure about this?” War calls out from behind while following my steps.

Ignoring War has become easier as time goes on. I’ll always appreciate what he offers, but loyalty has never been there on his part the same way it has with Vaden.

“Just shut up and follow my lead, War.” I drag my eyes off him and slide into my car.

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