Page 62 of Dead Wolf Rising (Bad Moon Academy 3)

“How?” I whisper the question even though I’m pretty sure I know the answer.

Too many deaths are happening around here lately.

Stepping closer, Morg reaches for my hand. I don’t stop her, too stunned by what she means.

“Use me to make her whole again.”

I close my eyes and fight off tears. I’m so fucking tired of crying. If everyone could stop doing things that make me want to burst into tears, that’d be great. Morg is giving me what I want, but in the worst way possible.

To save a life, I’ll have to take one. I don’t know if I can do it, no matter how much Morg did to help Jinx, she was my friend too. I want Bea back more than anything in the world, but not like this.

“I. I can’t.”

She sets my hand over her heart, which thumps against my ribcage as if to say hello to her.

“You can. I have to do this.” Her eyes are pleading with me to do it, filled with desperation I’ve seen in my own eyes after running out of booze.

“Morg. What you’re asking… I don’t think I can do it.”

“Please, Raven.” Her lip trembles. “I haven’t been good for so long, and I want to make it right. Bea deserves another chance.”

“You’ll die. For real. I can’t bring you back if you go through with this.” She probably already realizes this, but to give Bea a body, I have to take Morg’s essence, which means she will cease to exist, even in spirit form.

“Yes.” She nods and steps closer, still clutching my hand to her body. “But it doesn’t matter. I can’t live with myself anyway, not after what I’ve done. I’d end up lingering on this plane and wasting away because I’m too chicken shit to move on to the Underworld. You have to do this, Raven.”

“No.” I try to pull my hand back, but she doesn’t let go. “Morg.”

“You have to.” There is such finality with the way she says it, like she’s already resigned herself to her fate. “My body can’t sustain both of us. If you don’t do this, we’ll deteriorate anyway. Then we’ll both be lost.”

My gaze bounces between her eyes. “Are you sure?”

Nodding firmly, she lets go of my hand and takes a few steps back, resting her leg on the desk. “You’re the only way one of us makes it out, and I want her to be the one to survive.”

There’s no use in trying to change her mind, which means I have to kill her. I think I have a problem.

What do you mean?Joan asks, interrupting my inner monologue.

I’ve killed two people so far this week. Morg will make a third.

Ah, yeah. You’re a baby serial killer.

Scoffing out loud, I ignore Morg, who raises her eyebrow, and say to Joan,I’m not a serial killer!

Could have fooled me.

Joan. Seriously.

Cackling, she prances in my head.You should see your face! Well, the face I picture in my head. You look insane. Isn’t that another trait of a serial killer?

Shut up,I grumble.

Oh, come on. We both know you’re not a serial killer. Sometimes bitches have to die.If Joan were a human, she’d be shrugging her shoulders and popping a piece of gum.

That’s not very respectful,I chide.You’re okay with this decision? I don’t want to make it without you.

Of course I am. Bring Bea back. I like Morg, she was a lot of fun, but at the end of the day, she helped Jinx. I agree with what she said. If one of them gets to survive, it should be our girl.

Okay.Knowing Joan agrees with me doesn’t make it any better, but at least I know she won’t hate me for it.

---