Page 98 of Bones

“Who then turns into her namesake to avenge others.” Juno’s gaze flitted to me, and she gave a disgruntled sigh. “No one knows name meanings these days. Lilith means night monster. She went out at night to kick ass.”

“Literally?” I asked, unable to picture the pretty brunette in the crop top and flowy skirt hurting a fly.

She nodded. “We’re still working through the details and the limits of what I can do. Juno says I’m an empath who reads emotions not auras, but I think it’s a mix of both. I also have strong intuition, which helps me avoid getting hurt while I do my thing.”

Death.

War.

Pestilence.

Famine.

A soul helper Hades.

A detective who can slow time.

A photographer who can read auras and fight.

And me.

A woman with visions.

None of us were just human. And none of us were evil or wrong.

For the first time ever, I didn’t feel like a freak. Or a sinner. Or cursed.

I felt like Ibelonged.

I can’t wait for Deke to get back so I can tell him.

CHAPTER TWENTY

THE CARPET MATCHES THE DRAPES IN HEAVEN

DEKE

“Where the Heffalump am I?”I asked as pixelated pieces of the world’s most boring beige puzzle clicked together around me and sharpened into focus. “What the fuel is a Heffalump? Frank. Hemp. Ships. Cunning.”

My attempts at swearing failed, and my questions went unanswered.

No.

Ignored.

They were heard, though. Filled cubicles stretched as far as I could see, keyboards clicking away to create a steady din that set my teeth on edge.

“Hey.” I took a step toward the nearest one. Then another step. Then countless massive ones at an Olympic runner’s pace.

And I ended up exactly where I’d started. In the middle of that damn beige office building.

“You can all shuck my fudgy drink,” I shouted when they ignored me. “I can’t even say such?”

“Not in that context,” a voice said from an open doorway that hadn’t been there a moment ago. “Though you are dressed the part.”

I turned to see a sharp-dressed man in a suit leaning against the jamb.

No.

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