Page 64 of Devour the Dark

Vane takes it and slings it back. Is he on edge? Either he’s on edge or impatient because he says, “I don’t have all night,” right after slamming the glass down on the nearest table.

I stand to the side, examining Malachi.

He has his own drink in his right hand. He sips casually from it.

More alarm bells.

He looks the same. Sounds the same. But there is a sensation running up my arms, lifting the hair at the nape of my neck and when I step one step to the left, something about his face shifts, like he isn’t quite there.

But when I look again, the aberration is gone. I have to refrain from reaching out to him just to see if he’s real. If he’s not, it’ll be obvious. If he is, then I’m crazy.

I wrack my brain for more clues.

There is something about the lack of fire that’s bothering me.

“I’ll take you to her,” Malachi finally says. “But only you.”

“Fine,” Vane answers, because that was always the plan, but now that Malachi has demanded it, I’m not so sure we should stick with it.

“Vane,” I start, but he cuts me off.

“Don’t leave each other’s side. I’ll only be a moment.”

Malachi leads him across the ballroom and they quickly disappear from sight.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

HOOK

I watchthe Crocodile from across the cab as we make our way to his childhood home.

Is he on the verge of breaking? Is he a second away from shifting and devouring me whole?

It’s not unlike watching an actual crocodile stalking from beneath the surface of dark, murky waters. It’s impossible to know what might trigger him, what small, infinitesimal sign might proceed the destruction of his hunger.

Wendy sits beside him, her arm linked with his. Firecracker is curled up in the small space between them. Roc insisted the cat join us and I didn’t have the heart to argue with him.

His head is lulled back against the wall of the carriage, his eyes closed. I can’t tell if he’s sleeping, focusing, or dreaming.

I don’t like seeing him unwell. He’s immortal. He shouldn’t be sick.

And what if he turns, and it’s the last time?

What if we lose him?

Pocket watch in hand, I watch the minutes tick by. It takes us exactly twenty-three to reach the house.

Wendy fidgets as we wind our way up the drive.

Is he going to be all right?she mouths to me.

“Yes,” Roc answers, his eyes still closed.

Wendy widens her gaze at me and I give her a quick shake of my head.

Even taken hostage by a dark witch, it is impossible to hide anything from him. Will we ever grow accustomed to his supernatural abilities? Wendy and I may share the witch’s original power, but we are not as powerful as the Crocodile. More beast than man. More myth than mortal flesh.

At the manor’s entrance, Roc stumbles out ahead of us. Firecracker darts forward, disappearing into the shadows. This was why I didn’t want to bring him. I’m not chasing a stray cat!

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