Page 96 of Soulless Deeds

How in the hell did Psycho ever believe this girl to be innocent?From the looks of his deadly expression, I thought he was coming to that same realisation. Oh, how I wanted to be there for the aftermath.

Ava remained crouched next to the black hole at her feet. “This is a narrow staircase that leads down to the Ludus dorms in The Cavern?—”

Hmm, where Gannicus lives.

“I’m gonna kill him.”

“How convenient.”

Psycho and I both interrupted.

And since I’m a shit stirrer, I grabbed a metaphorical wooden spoon and mixed that shit at superspeed. “I remember Gannicus’ apartment, sparse and understated. Sure, he’s built like a muscled brick.” I winked suggestively. “But his style leaves something to be desired… Or is that what you’re into, Ava?” She blushed, and Psycho blanched.

“Why were you in his apartment, Ghost?”Echo asked, his head so close, his breath skittered over my cheek.Oops.

“Pfft,” I deflected. “Let’s not pretend you don’t have a past, lover. How many women have you slept with?”

“Probably as many as you.”

I actually laughed, then lifted a finger to tap against my chin. “Touché. Maybe we can?—”

“—there is no way in this fucking lifetime I’d ever share you. So, get that thought out of your head right now.” He practically growled, which lit a specific type of heat down to my centre.

Share?I was teasing, of course. I’d unalive anyone for even attempting to touch what was mine. Let’s be honest, his past lovers weren’t all that safe, either. Then again, I didn’t know how the city would cope with such a decrease in the general female population.

Emerson grumbled before addressing Ava. “She didn’t hook up with Gannicus. She’s just teasing you.” I smirked, my expression cheekily refuting her statement, yet Ava looked relieved nonetheless. Then, Emerson turned to me and Echo. “And if you’re going to fuck, at least wait till I’m out of earshot.”

“No such thing, Meek. The things Echo can do with his Variant, his mouth…”

Emerson proved she had reached her tether by abruptly turning and pitching a solid fist into Echo’s gut. She didn’t hold back.

“What the fuck?!” he snarled, cramping over. I couldn’t help but cackle.

Emerson pursed her lips, all nonchalant as if she didn’t just sucker punch my man. “It’s not like I can hit Spence. She’s wounded.”

“So am I,” he seethed

“Self-inflicted,” I said. “She’s tiny, babe. You can take her?—”

Echo cut my words off by clamping a hand over my mouth. “I love you, Ghost. Butpleasejust shut the fuck up,” he said, voice laced with underlined pain.

My grin grew deranged beneath his palm.

My back ached and thighs shook from the strained position. Fran squirming in my arms didn’t help much, either. The trek down into the pits of hell was taking much longer than I anticipated.

Ace led us along the narrow staircase in utter darkness, his Variant some form of night vision, substituting the flashlight—which could potentially give our position away. I didn’t feel completely comfortable following a certifiable asylum patient, but that was the least of my worries.

There were three main objectives: save Gannicus, defeat Maximus and search The Caverns for the elusive Khaos. We couldn’t achieve all three as one single unit, which meant we had to split into groups.

My magnificent, calculating Echo came up with a solid plan, but I couldn’t help but feel apprehensive being separated from my siblings. His fingers blindly tightened through mine as if sensing my hesitation.

He promised to stay by my side, to never leave me.

Those emotions were new, but I also had somethingmoreto live for—to die for. My siblings and I were companions of death, living alongside the reaper for as long as I could remember. Yet, that little spark of life changed things.

Our posse came to a natural halt as Ace’s even voice carried over us. “Ava said that once I pull this lever, the trap door will open into the communal showers. So, timing should work out since everyone should be at the games.”

Distant rustling filtered through the narrow space, then Psycho said, “Thank you, Ace. Keep an eye on Ava for me. I don’t trust that she won’t come down after us.”

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