Page 25 of Revenant

I uncurl my fingers, revealing a gleaming silver circle in the center of my palm.

I don’t even have time to blink before he snatches it from me and slips it back over his thumb. A pleased smile curls his lips, an outright grin that leaves me dazzled. It’s like I gave him back his most prized possession. “How did you get it?”

I purse my lips to give myself time to think of a plausible lie. The last thing I want is to confess the truth—that I don’t know. One disturbing thought occurs to me. Ghosts. They returned it to me in order to please me. That they did it without prompting is worrying.

They’re becoming sentient.

Before I can think of anything, he leans down and nips at my bottom lip. “The truth, little minx.”

I hesitate only a moment longer, then sigh in defeat. “It just showed up in my room,” I mumble, refusing to say more.

Jaceson was always able to read me, and his eyes widen in understanding. “I see.”

“Jaceson—”

“No,” he cuts me off before I can respond, then he grabs my hand and hauls me down the hall with stiff shoulders. “We didn’t believe you once, and we nearly lost you. We won’t make that mistake again.”

I can barely keep up with his quick pace, his warm hand nearly burning mine as I clutch him close. I don’t like remembering the painful times before I was taken. I was supposed to be free. I was supposed to be living a life with a brighter future.

Instead, I am in more peril than ever.

Then I recall the fateful words I heard right before I left my father’s mansion—You will find people who will protect you. If you don’t fight for them, your protectors will suffer.

Save them and save yourself.

It’s imperative the guys leave immediately, or I fear we will all be doomed.

Now I just have to convince the stubborn asses to leave.

Chapter Eight

ELLIS

Endless data scrolls on the screen, and I blindly reach for my mug of coffee, never once removing my gaze from the computer. As I take a big gulp, the taste of salt explodes across my tongue, and my mouth puckers. I barely turn in time to spit the toxic brew into the trash.

I curse James under my breath, hardly able to breathe between coughing fits. By the time I lift my head some five minutes later, my throat is raw, my stomach muscles sore, and my eyes are a watery mess. Despite my blurry vision, I spot the moody bastard who just tried to poison me sitting in the darkness at the edge of my bed.

“Shit.” I lurch back, hating that my voice is so hoarse, I can’t even curse him out the way I want. It takes even longer for my heartbeat to return to normal. “What the fuck, James?”

“Any update?” He leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees, and my stomach clenches when I get a good look at his face.

He looks like crap.

We all do, but James has become a shell of himself. His hair is limp, his face haggard, his skin pale. I would say he’s lost weight, but he’s put on so much muscle that it’s concerning. If he’s not working out in the gym, he’s searching the streets and menacing anyone who might have information about Rue.

The charming rogue has turned into a thug who would rather rip out your throat than smile. While James and I aren’t close, he’s still my brother, and I hate seeing him suffer. Unfortunately, no amount of arguing will force him to rest. Not while Rue is still missing.

What is more concerning is that he’s even more unstable than usual. He hasn’t killed anyone yet, but it’s only a matter of time. From the look in his eyes, it might end up being me if I can’t locate Rue soon…and I wouldn’t blame him.

I fork my hands through my hair, knocking my glasses askew. I yank them off and throw them onto my desk in frustration. Leaning back, I pinch the bridge of my nose and exhale loudly, then slump in my seat in defeat.

Before I have a chance to confess my failure, the not so innocent phone sitting on my desk rings out in the silent room. The whole side of the desk is empty except for that phone. I snap upright when it glows brightly, my spine rigid as I stare at the device, holding my breath as I wait for it to ring again. One ring means Gunner is alive. Two rings mean he has located our target.

Rue.

I’m not even aware I rose to my feet until James comes to stand shoulder to shoulder with me.

Barely able to hear anything over the loud thumping of my heartbeat in my ears, I don’t dare even blink as I stare at the phone. When it rings again, I’m so startled that I jolt, much like when James took a taser to me on a dare a few summers ago.

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