Page 69 of Ashes

“Most archives are online,” Mack says. “We’ve searched them before, but not having the slightest clue when the prophecy would start, it was almost impossible to narrow them down. Now we have a year and a month, we know the planetary alignment. That’ll help.” He meets my eyes, sensing I’m about to break out in hives at the idea of trying to dissect a bunch of ancient academic texts. “I’ll get you started,” he says softly. “You’ll soon get the hang of it.”

“If you say so,” I reply, smiling nervously.

* * *

For the rest of the day, Mack helps Sam and I get to grips with various clunky online archives. The search functions are dreadful and accessing them via the old laptop Luther pulled out of an upstairs closet is not easy.

While we work, Kole and Tanner scour the news for signs of what’s been happening in town and Luther researches Annalise McCourt—desperately trying to find a way to contact her without going through the official channels.

By the time evening rolls around, we’re all tired, hungry, and square-eyed from staring at our respective devices.

Kole and Tanner have decided it will be best to leave early; sneak out before sunrise and take the back alleyways to get to Rev’s. But Luther is no closer to finding a way to contact Annalise, and nothing that seems relevant has come up in our archive searches either.

Putting the laptop aside, I offer to make dinner. Sam watches me while I boil pasta and throw in a jar of pre-made sauce. “I feel like I missed a big part of growing up,” he says. “Learning how to be an adult.” He swipes his fingers through his hair. “I have no idea how to cook, or clean, or…” He stops. Color flushes his cheeks.

Remembering what Madame said about him—that he’s never had sex before—my cheeks pink too. “Don’t worry,” I say loudly, “Luther can’t cook either.”

We eat together, gathered around the table, Sam next to me. He has a huge appetite, bigger even than Kole’s, and polishes off three large portions. Being near him feels easy. As if we’ve been this way forever.

Yet, it also feels different from how I expected it to feel. He’s my foster-brother, but when he moves, laughs, smiles, I find myself looking at him in a way I’m sure I wouldn’t contemplate if we’d spent our lives as siblings. And, more than once, I’m certain he looks at me too.

As guilt and confusion tugs at my stomach, I try to push it to one side.

While we start mulling over what to do tomorrow, I feel something brush my leg. I look up to see Tanner wiggling his eyebrows at me from across the table.

As I play footsie with him back, Luther clears the dishes and Sam asks whether anyone minds if he takes a walk outside.

“It’s been a long time since I saw the moon at night,” he says, glancing toward the dark sky above the lake.

“Go for it, man.” Tanner pats his shoulder. “We’ll see you later.”

I’m drying dishes next to Luther when Tanner wraps his arms around my waist and nibbles my ear. “Leave those,” he says. “I need to show you how much I missed you.” He tugs my hand and tries to pull me toward the stairs.

I bat him away playfully and shake my head. “Mack’s up there making a phone call.”

“I’m sure he won’t mind an interruption.” Tanner tugs me to him and pushes his hips so they jut up against mine. I glance back at Luther. He’s not looking at us, still hunched over the sink. Tanner runs a finger down my spine and raises his eyebrows at me in anticipation.

Finally, I can’t hold back any longer. I toss the dishcloth onto the counter and follow him upstairs.

36

LUTHER

Kole emerges from the bathroom freshly showered. His eyes flick to the whiskey bottle and the glass in my hand.

“Not joining the party?” I ask him, raising my eyes to the ceiling. Nova, Tanner, and Mack are up there. Laugher and heck-knows-what-else noises have been coming down through the floor for the past fifteen minutes.

“Not sure I can be trusted.” Kole runs his tongue over his teeth. “I’m still…” He flexes his shoulders and tilts his head from side to side. “Amped.”

“From her blood?” I ask quietly.

Kole nods and sits next to me on the couch.

I look down into my whiskey. “Listen, Kole, I’m sorry about before. I shouldn’t have talked about Nova like that. I just needed…” I trail off. I don’t know how to explain what I needed. Release? Pleasure? Pain? I have no idea.

Kole’s lips twitch into something that’s almost a smile. “Did it help?”

I laugh and take a long sip of whiskey. “Will it hurt your ego if I say no?”

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