Page 105 of Lust

“But you contacted him. Last night.”

Cody’s face twists up. “Sort of. I channeled some information, and then he basically took over my body to help Alexei. But that was a struggle for both of us. And that’s why I think the messages are so vague—like when I just saw your silhouette initially. I had a hard time understanding everything I was receiving. We need to be more attuned to the Rift so I can translate better.”

Despite my reservations about this Guide, after what happened, I accept he’s the reason I killed that thing. And not only did he give me the answers I needed, he must’ve known I had the ability to heal from the burn. He’s the reason we’re all alive right now, and that’s not nothing.

“Now can we talk about what we’re gonna do about the cop situation?” Seth asks.

My eyes widen. “Cop situation?”

Seth winces. “You didn’t think they were just going to be totally chill about the naked guy covered in goo in a pile of ashes in the middle of the night, did you?”

“We’ll figure that out,” Brad snaps. “You’ll sit in while they talk to Luke and help them along, right? Didn’t have any problem doing it last night with a friend you vowed never to use it on, so should be easy with them.”

Seth and I exchange a glance. His expression’s rife with guilt.

“Brad, I told him to do that. If you had intervened, you would have died senselessly and I would’ve been fine.”

Brad blinks a few times. “Sorry, Seth. I just… That situation messed with my head. I know you were only trying to keep me from…” He doesn’t finish, doesn’t acknowledge that he was willing to die to save me.

“I am sorry,” Seth says, and it’s one of the few times I’ve seen him when he’s let his guard down, shown something other than being a total dick around me.

“I know you are,” Brad says.

Seth nods. “I can figure out the cop thing.”

“And there’s one more thing,” Brad tells me.

“More?”

“Your uncle’s on the way here.”

“What? Why?”

“The cops wanted to contact your parents, and I mentioned you had a guardian and that I’ll let him know. So I found him online and sent him an email. He called me, and we’ve gone back and forth. He’s on a flight from Maui now.”

“Fuck…” Of all the people I would rather not have to worry about this, he’s top of the list. “I need to call him.”

“He’s on a plane, Luke. He won’t be in for another three hours.”

“I’ll send him a text, then. He can get it through the Wi-Fi.”

But fuck, I hate that he dropped his Maui trip just to come make sure I was okay.

“Fuck, is my phone even—”

“Incinerated,” Cody says.

“Of course it is. Brad, can I—” But he’s already passing me his phone.

“They’re gonna want to keep you here for observation,” Brad says, “do you want me to run by the dorm and grab some things? Clothes, your laptop maybe?”

As much as I want him to stay here with me, I could use a little time to myself to digest everything.

“Honestly, before you go, I could use some water.”

“I’ll get that,” Cody says.

“And I’ll check with the nurse,” Brad says, “and then maybe pick up some food on my way back.”

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