Page 99 of Aberrant Monsters
I held on to him until dawn stole him from my arms.
Sleep well, tiny human.
I crawled into bed and fell asleep cradled in his presence.
twenty-five
QUENTIN
How did I miss that call? I stare at my phone, confusion clouding my mind. I’d been here at my desk all evening. I’d been working on…What had I been working on?
My laptop screen buzzes with an incoming call.
I hit accept and Genevieve’s face stares at me. “Quentin. How’s it going with our protégé?”
Pride swells inside me. “August took down a mimic tonight. Without her blade.”
“Yes, I heard about that. The Huntingdon Manor? The handler who took over reported a hemorrhage of power. His rift walkers were able to finish the job.”
“Correct.”
“And how did she do that?” Genevieve arches a brow.
“August is able to siphon power from certain people and creatures now. Her abilities are growing.”
“Good. Very good. And you’ve been keeping notes.”
“I have, but I have a suggestion.”
“I’m listening.”
“We should tell her the truth.”
She lets out a shocked laugh. “Excuse me?”
“This doesn’t feel right. Honesty is the best way forward.”
“And risk losing our most valuable asset? Have you forgotten your objective already, Quentin?”
“No. I just feel that—”
“Feel?”
“Yes, I…I feel bad about lying.”
Her expression closes off and when she smiles it doesn’t reach her eyes. “You’re due a wellness check. You should come in tomorrow.”
Something inside me agrees with this. I do need a wellness check. “But what about August?”
Genevieve frowns. “Your wellness check is all that matters right now. You will come in now. Tonight.”
I’m already pushing back my chair, but I have to know. “August wants to know about her contract?”
Genevieve’s mouth tightens. “You will tell her that we’re considering her terms. By the time she realizes we have no intention of letting her go, it’ll be too late. She’ll belong to the Order. Because there is no cure for what August Vera is becoming, and for that, we should all be grateful.”
Panic blooms in my chest. “What? What are you—”
“Protocol 11ABC activated.”
The world goes dark.
August’s story continues in Insidious Monsters
