Page 7 of The Merciless

“I’ve alwayshatedultimatums.”

Angel froze.

His entire body stilled, his blood runningcoldall over as the figure angled her face upwards and he saw it. Heard it.Felt it.

“Why is it that you end up giving me one every single time anyway?”

And that was when he realized that the terrible feeling climbing up his spine wasn’t dread. Wasn’t fear or rage.

Was hope.

His heart stalled.

His mind shuttered.

Because that was her voice. Those wereherwords. That fruit washerscent. And now, she was standing before him as though she hadn’t been announced dead to the world. He dropped her hands abruptly, the knife following in tow.

A strangled sound left his throat when moonlight poured through the open windows of the room. He couldn’t take it, this rush of anger, of relief, of–

“Twelve hours, right?” she said.

“Ray,”His voice came out hoarse. Too hoarse. Too quiet. And she shook before him, so close, yet too far away to believe that she was fuckingreal.Angel stepped back, despite himself, and she let loose a breath before.

Raylene Walkermoved as well, her waves of blue-black hair swaying behind her as she stepped away from him to stand in the moonlight, leaning against the side of his large window.

And he saw her. Her face not pale. Her hands not cold.Her eyes not shut.Ray opened her mouth and closed it again, not saying or doinganythingand he juststared.

Couldn’t do anything else.

But it wasenoughfor her to shake before him. Once, just once. That same shiver passed through him, his entire body shuddered,hopingthat this wasn’t a dream. Ray took a step forward, obviously breathing. Obviously alive.

“Wow,” she started, her hands on her hips as she tilted her head in his direction, blue black hair swaying

“The last time someone looked at me like that…” she paused and laughed shortly and his heart just, well,died,“Let’s just say that was agoodweekend.”

Angel took a moment to register the words.

To registerher.

What the fuck did she just say?

“No, please continue,” Ray teased, a full-blown grin on her face now as he scoffed at her, “You’re doing so well.”

“So well?” Angel snapped, taken aback by the obvious humor in her words, “You were in afuckingcoma, how would you like for me to react?”

“In my opinion–”

“Oh. My. God.”

Ray cackled again, “This is great.”

“I’m notlikingyou very much now.”

Thud, thud.

“Angel!”

Ray’s head snapped in the direction of his door as he froze at Jack’s voice, “Come on, we need to leave!”

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