Page 17 of Jacinth

Okay, that hurt.

I was getting on a roll with my freak-out when Niko cleared his throat and rolled up to an elbow to look me in the face.

“I need you to know something.”

I nodded. Ghouls, I was glad I didn’t have a stomach to feel sick with. Was this the ‘that was fun, but shouldn’t happen again’ speech?

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to let you go. I don’t know about my brothers. Sky seems invested, but he has some pretty bad mental health problems; and Orion is so self-obsessed he could literally stand next to the anti-Christ and would only stop the guy if he was inconvenienced in some way by the world ending. Anyway—” He waved his own tangent away. “I can’t speak for them, but I’m all in. In whatever capacity you’ll have me. You can already see your living impairment doesn’t bother me in the slightest, but if it does you, I will fight for you to live. Even if it’s against the Fates. Even if it’s against my dumbass brother.”

Ghosts. Do. Not. Cry. Damn it.

As a phantom tear tracked down my cheek, it occurred to me that no one but my twin had ever invested themselves in me. Hell, maybe I was getting ahead of myself and when he learned what I was like, he would run, but I would enjoy the time we had.

In life, I was always ‘too loud’, ‘too shallow’, and ‘too wild’, but I liked what I liked and hated not feeling heard. That’s probably why Orion’s casual rejection had hurt so much.

Same tune, different voice.

But here was Niko laying it out there, and that took balls. And contrary to popular belief, balls weren’t strong. They were actually weak as shit, so was I going to let him be the brave one? Or was I going to pull up my big girl panties and agree to try? Admittedly, the near half dozen orgasms he had just given me helped with the decision.

Focus, Jace.

With a steadying inhale—which didn’t do anything for me, what with the lack of need for oxygen—I held out my pinkie finger.

“Whatever happens, we’ll work it out together.”

His grin of triumph as he linked his finger with mine would have melted my heart.

Y’know, if I had one.

CHAPTER 14

Orion

On the drive back,I felt none of the usual pleasure of being behind the wheel of my vintage baby.

Once home, I stalled out in the entryway, wishing I could have a drink. But I knew the house was clean from last time I swept it for Niko’s stashes. My reflection in the mirror beside the front door showed a smudge of dried blood on my upper lip. Skyler had never been violent toward me before.

What was happening?

In the space of a day, my entire careful life appeared to be falling apart. Some spell—cast on a ghost, for god’s sake—had turned my brothers into people I didn’t recognize.

The amulet hummed happily over my heart, and, to my relief, the excess power I had been carrying around for the last few hours eased its hold. It was a good idea to follow through with the extra runes, so I made a quick call to Lady Blue to confirm I could get the ink the following day.

Then I waited.

I didn’t know where either of my brothers were, and while I would usually hunt them down and ensure their safety, I thought we could all use some space.

I waited.

As the sun passed its zenith and crawled down toward dusk.

As the ridiculous clock Sky had bought at a flea market ticked the passage of the lonely hours.

As the uncomfortable feeling that I was missing pieces of some elaborate puzzle itched in the back of my mind.

By the time the sky was fading in glorious reds and purples, I decided there might have been one place that they both would go. Somewhere I would most definitely not be welcome, but for my brothers?

I had to try.

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