Page 47 of Rising

I knew if there was anything crucial, anything suspicious worth reporting, Riley wouldn’t hesitate to make me aware, but I couldn’t help myself from trying to pry information from him.

I’d given him Alexiares’ journal to hand back the day I’d received it from Moe. Opting to deliver it indirectly for no other reason than to avoid further conflict. With him vulnerable and my mortification for invading his privacy, an accusation he’d tossed, now true, we were sure to argue, if not come to blows.

“There’s not much to tell. He spends most of his time wandering around The Compound. He asks a few questions, but nothing he shouldn’t. Just trying to figure out how he can navigate life around here for the most part. A bit of culture shock.” He paused, trying to gauge my reaction. “He’s not a bad guy, you know. A bit grumpy, sure, but who the hell isn’t around here? Look around.”Look in the mirror,his eyes said.

I nodded my head. “Have you noticed him hanging around anyone consistently? Any friends yet?”

Riley’s locs fell forward as he sighed. “No, not anyone besides me. He heads out to breakfast with me, but other than that, he pretty much keeps to himself. Back at the house when I get there, usually smelling like that chili from that place you like. Though not sure where he got the money from to buy it.”

Everyone besides me was pretty content with the answers Alexiares provided to their questions. He didn’t dine with us at dinner but had come across them individually throughout The Compound over the last few days, and none had found him to be remotely suspicious.

It wasn’t that I didn’t trust my friend’s judgment of character, just maybe they weren’t asking therightquestions. They’d known death and grief, sure, but none of them possessed a vengeful spirit the way I did. None of them knew the things death could make you want to do.

I saw it in Seth sometimes, that twinkle in his eye when he was upset, but it disappeared in quick bouts of violence. It didn’t linger. I saw it in Moe at times too, the way she fiercely brought her katana down upon each Pansies head she’d come across. Slicing through them, the ease suggesting that they were nothing but the thick Monterey morning foggy air with a smile on her face. But her smile faded into sadness when she was done, remembering the reason she was so pleased to put an end to the undead.

I doubted they lay awake at night the way I do, envisioning the death of the monster who was behind this all. Picturing in my mind the way I would take my time destroying them, piece by piece, limb by limb. Pulling their organs out one at a time, making sure they were awake as I removed a lung, a kidney, maybe even their spleen. Leaving the vital organs for last, making them watch the pull that ended it all.

Not just for Jax but for each person this place had lost, wanting each of their deaths to represent an hour of pain, slowly bringing them to their demise. I wanted to be the one to do it. No weapons, no magic, just my bare hands.

I didn’t see that in my friend’s eyes, but I saw it in mine. In Alexiares. And maybe he didn’t have an agenda coming here. Maybe he just wanted to heal. Maybe I had him entirely wrong.

But maybe I didn’t.

* * *

“Absolutely not,”I exclaimed.

Alexiares sat in the chair on the other side of my desk, smirking, his honey eyes dancing with amusement.

I looked from him to Riley, who was currently avoiding eye contact, sheepishly inspecting his dirty ass boots. This was a first for him, for as many times I’d caught him off guard, he’d never once returned the favor. Never once pushed back.

“What would help this go down a bit easier? You want an apology. Would that help feed your ego?”

The pencil in my hand snapped under pressure as I choked down words sharper than knives, deciding that him down on his knees, groveling for my forgiveness would please me after all. “Hm, actually yes. An apology would be a fantastic start considering you just waltzed into my office to ruin my morning.” I gave him a fake grin.

“Yeah, well, I don’t apologize to malevolent little girls so unfuck you or whatever. Can we move on like adults now? Or am I missing a please and thank you?”

Riley cleared his throat and took a seat against the door. “You’re not helping your case here man, just tell her what you told me.” Alexiares didn’t turn to him, but his face softened at his words.

I rolled my eyes at him, annoyed at his continued defense. “Yeah well to be honest Riley, I’m waiting on your apology next. I’d implore you to stop talking too. Just a thought.”

His tongue rolled over his teeth, but he said nothing as he leaned his head back, thudding on the door.

“Look, I’ve been out there for the last few months. I’ve got a good idea on the situation out there and can help—”

“Help?” I let out a small laugh. “And why would you want to help? You’ve done nothing but made it clear I’ve displayed poor leadership, that I get people killed, right after you shoved me against the wall. The hell would I let you under my leadership for? To cause chaos?”

He leaned into the arm of the chair and smirked. “That was actuallybeforeI shoved you into the wall. But I understand it was a hard hit. Would it get me bonus points if I at least pretended to respect you?”

“Okay, this is going to go nowhere,” Riley said, pushing to his feet and walking towards us as Alexiares fingered at his rings. “Amaia, you haven’t been here the last few months. Thingsaren’tnormal. Something’s going on and you’re nowhere close to getting to the bottom of it. Seth and I don’t even know where to start. We were barely holding on while you were away. I love you, but he’s right. He’s been out there in the midst of it all. His power levels match none but yours. He can fight. I heard about your spar. They say they haven’t seenanyonematch you like that.Ever. Shit, he kickedmyass a few times at this point.”

My eyes shot to Alexiares, who met my stare blankly.

Riley continued, “What I’m saying is, we could use his help. If nothing else, he’s another soldier we’ve got on our side. If you don’t want him out fraternizing with the others, put him under my command.”

“Are you?” I asked.

Alexiares blinked. “Am I what?”

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