Page 110 of Bones

Memories of Pastor Gideon’s screaming echoed through my head. Spittle spraying from his mouth as he called me a liar. A sinner. A heathen who couldn’t be trusted because my curse was trying to take down the righteous.

“She needs me,” Ryan continued, so earnest and convincing. “So, if you don’t mind, I’m taking her home with me where she belongs.”

“Not happening.” In my peripheral, I saw Juno wiggle her fingers by her side in preparation.

But my gaze stayed locked with Ryan’s, and he gave me the same smile he used to. The one that said he knew what was best for me. That I needed to trust him. That he would take care of me.

“We need to get you away from them. They’re leading your sinner’s soul astray. Your curse is worse, isn’t it? Hitting you harder?” His hand went to his chest. “I was worried about this. As soon as the leaders from Beacon said that these monsters were trying to weaponize you by claiming you were mates with one of them, I knew I had to get to you.”

“It’s a lie?”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, but yes. They’re using you.”

I followed the pull that drew me to him, shaking off the women’s attempts to hold me back.

Once I stood in front of the man I’d shared a life with for six years, I stopped. I let the hurt saturate my voice. “Juno, do you know how that makes me feel?”

“He’s lying,” she seethed. “Holy shit, he’s not even good at it. He’s like a smarmy used car salesman, a fuckboy, and a finance bro all rolled into one douchey package. He’ll try to sell you crypto while he roofies your drink.”

“Do you know how that makes me feel?” I repeated.

Ryan reached for me, and it wasn’t scary.

It wasterrifying.

Juno’s voice was pissed. “No because?—”

“It makes me wish I was seeing red,” I rushed out as his hand wrapped around my wrist.

“It also makes me fucking see re—Oh.Ohhhhh.”

Before he could get a secure grip, gauzy magicks quickly blanketed his body.

A slimy fish caught in her net.

He didn’t even realize something was amiss until I dropped the docile kitten act and glared up at him.

“What’re you doing?” He wiggled but didn’t get far. “Hey. Why can’t I move? Aurora. What’s going on?”

“They’re using me?” I snapped once I knew he couldn’t hurt me—I was angry, not stupid. “You mean how you did? You used my visions to make it seem like you had a connection to God, all while shaming me. Scaring me. Making me believe I was a sinner doomed to Hell. You kept me isolated. You locked me in a closet when you deemed me a failure. I only failed because you were drugging me, you asshole. You knew.” My voice grew thick, and I had to clear my throat. “Youknewwhat I’d been through, and you capitalized on that pain to benefit yourself.”

“I was helping your soul,” he tried.

If I had a dagger, I would’ve used it like the men in the kitchen because I also wasn’t a fan of stolen glory.

“My soul is just fine. It always was. You preyed on me and my insecurities, taking credit for what I could do while forcing me into the silent shadows. It was never about saving souls or reaching others with your faith. It was about the big house. The prestige. The payday and the praise.” I sneered at him. “They say pride cometh before the fall, but I would have no idea. You never made me cometh at all.”

“Oh shit,” Lilith whispered from behind me.

Having my back.

They all did.

Lifetimespecial or not, it was the truth.

I patted his pockets and found the pills stashed there so he could drug me. Dull me.

Force me back into the obedient daze.

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