Page 134 of Anathema Codex

I can feel my breathing becoming labored as I turn my eyes up toward the sky. Nothing Lakyn has ever done has surprised me, and he even lost the ability to hurt me after being with him this long.

This was the only way he knew he’d be able to do it.

And now… now I don’t have a friend left in this world.

Just like he always wanted.

“Get your ass in this fucking house and shut the door,” he calls out. “I’ve had a long couple of days, and I need to blow off some steam.”

Yolanda Olson

Jennifer Bene

ONE

Shake it Off

LAKYN

Mm.

I stretch my arms over my head when I wake up.

I’m feeling good today, which is saying something since my little pal has been nothing but a simpering snot for the past few weeks.

The sun is shining, the waste of sperm is dead, and Satan's bitch is home—which hopefully means the resident bitch will stop moping around about her all the time.

Being such a great guy is hard work, but someone has to do it.

I rub the sleep from my eyes and grin.

Glancing over, I see Ichabod is still in bed. Still curled up like a fucking fetus, and still acting traumatized because I kept my promise to him.

I never did sayhowI was going to get the job done, so I don’t understand why he’s being such a girl about it. It’s been days. He needs to get over it.

“Hey,” I say as I reach over and slap his skinny back. “You awake?”

He doesn’t move, grunt, or make a sound. Hell, I’m not entirely sure he’s even breathing anymore. I mean, I have heard of people dying of shock, but he showed me not too long ago that he has balls.They’d better still be hanging.

“Yoo-hoo!”

I turn on my side and run a hand down his skinny arm, then roll my eyes when he sniffles. Oh yeah; he’s still alive, he’s awake, and still hasn’t managed to get control of the waterworks since I got home with his bestie.

“Did you get any sleep last night?” I ask, giving him a shove.

Ichabod almost tumbles off the side of the bed and I smirk as his arms flail and he manages to steady himself before he falls. He gives me a dirty look with those bloodshot, puppy dog eyes of his, and I shrug.

“If you wanna lay around smelling like ass, that’s your prerogative, kid. But you better be showered by tonight or we’re gonna have to have a little talk.”

“Fuck off, Lakyn,” he grumbles as he curls back into a tiny ball.

“You know,” I begin conversationally as I get to my feet, “I’m starting to get the feeling that you’re being ungrateful. I don’t get why. I brought Trixie home. You know,exactlywhat you asked me to do.”

Ichabod slowly turns on his side until he’s resting on his bony elbows and gives me a level stare.

“Cat got your tongue?” I ask as I cross my arms over my chest. “It’ll pass. I’m sure you’ll find a new reason to bitch and moan as soon as you get out of bed.”

“I hate you,” he seethes through gritted teeth and I grin.

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