Page 98 of Anathema Codex

When I try to light it, I realize it’s broken, and I sigh.

“Where’s Bea?” he asks again in a slightly more acceptable tone.

“I couldn’t find her.”

“You’re a liar!” he shouts, trembling with rage instead of the vague sheen of anxiety he normally wears when he gets feisty.

I arch an eyebrow as I look up at him. Of all the time he’s spent with me, he should knowthatis the one thing I’ll never be.

“What makes you think that?” I ask him tiredly as I shake another smoke out and clench it between my teeth.

When I see Ichabod take a step toward me, I throw a small pillow at him to keep him from breaking this one too.

“Because Aftyn and Daphne aren’t here,” he barks. I roll my eyes. In what world that makes sense to anyone other than him is beyond me, but ever since he got off the smack, he’s been a lot more aware of his surroundings.

I blow out my breath before I take a drag off my smoke and roll my eyes. “Maybe they got smart and decided to fuck off after I got lost.”

“Or maybe you’re lying!” he screeches at me.

I sit up a little in my chair, smooth out my jeans and tilt my head toward to the left.

“What do you want me to say right now?” I ask him, my patience starting to wear thin.

He comes over and angrily kicks the chair between my legs, probably expecting me to react, and when I don’t, he picks up my ashtray and lobs it through the window behind me, shattering it with a loud crash.

“You don’t have a job I don’t know about, do you?” I ask without turning around to survey the damage.

“What?” he asks in frustration.

“Well, you just busted my window. Someone is gonna have to pay for that,” I reply with a shrug.

“How about the same price I always fucking pay?”

I’m confused until he begins to undo his belt, whips it across the room, and drops his pants. Normally, I’d take him up on this offer, but I’m not feeling very frisky at the moment.

Not even when he turns around and yanks his skivvies down to his ankles.

“Do us both a favor and put your clothes back on,” I say as I look away. Frisky or not, I’m not exactly one to turn down the offer of a free hole, but I’d hurt him way more than he’s used to right now and that would put him out of commission for a while.

What fun would it be if I had to take care of myself for a while?

“Admit that you saw her!” he shouts after he pulls his pants back up.

I roll my eyes, take a drag off my smoke, and look him directly in the eyes. “I saw her.”

“See? I knew you were lying!”

I clear my throat, take another deep pull, and blow out a stream of smoke.

“What did she say? Did she say something about me? Why isn’t she here, Lakyn? You promised!”

I get to my feet, tired of the barrage of bullshit he’s throwing at me and take a step toward him.

“You can’t hurt me anymore, Lakyn. You wanted my balls to drop? Well, guess what? They’re hanging low now, so unless you plan on telling me what Bea said, I suggest you back up.”

His tone is low, even, strong.

All the things I never expected from him but kind of always wanted.

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