Page 45 of In the Monster's Wake
“That last one wasn’t him.”
“You can’t tell me you believe he’s done killing.Besides, even if he is, he still needs to pay for what he’s done.He’s still dangerous and in the city.If there’s anything I can do to stop him, I want to do it.”
“Not by putting yourself in danger.”
“What else do you want me to do?I can’t keep on hiding in your apartment.Neitherof us can afford to continue doing that.My father’s getting anxious, and even though I have time off work, it won’t last forever.What if Kester decides to move to the area permanently?I’m not going to hide for that long.”
“It doesn’t mean you have to put your life in jeopardy.You know what will happen if Kester gets to you.”
“I’m in danger either way.We might feel I’m safe here, but eventually, Kester will find me.”He’d find a way.Archie lived in a building that housed other monsters, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if some of them got the word out that Jasper was staying with him.It wouldn’t take much for the news to reach Kester.
Archie turned to Braith.“Tell him it’s a bad idea.”
Jasper expected Braith to do just that.Instead, Braith grimaced.“Actually, I don’t think it is.”
* * * *
THAT WASN’T THE ANSWERArchibald wanted from his best friend.He glared at Braith, who at least looked apologetic.He ought to be considering what he was agreeing with.
“You can’t be serious,” Archibald told him.
“I get where Jasper’s coming from.He’s been stuck in your apartment for a week.Hell, even Cullen’s starting to get anxious, and from what I know, he doesn’t have much to go back to.I can only imagine how frustrating this is for Jasper.”
“A lot,” Jasper offered.“I’m not one to usually hide.I definitely didn’t hide when I was a hunter.I understand it was necessary in this case, but I’m done.”
Archie did understand where Jasper was coming from.He’d been staying at the apartment for the past week, too, something he’d never done before.It had given him time with Jasper, which he enjoyed, but he knew that things couldn’t continue like this.Something was going to break, and clearly, that something was Jasper’s patience.
Still, how could Jasper suggest giving himself up as bait so easily?It was like he didn’t care about his own safety.Archie was sure that Jasper didn’t want to die, yet he was willingly putting himself in danger.
He wouldn’t stop.Archie had gotten to know Jasper.When he started something, he finished it, even if he didn’t want to.He’d agreed to do this for his father, and he was up to his neck in trouble now.He wouldn’t let anyone get him out of trouble.He’d do it himself, and apparently, he was planning on doing so by throwing himself at Kester.
Archibald stared at Jasper.There would be no changing his mind, no matter what Archibald hoped for.The only thing Archibald could do was agree and stick to Jasper to make sure he was okay.
Unfortunately, that didn’t help him feel less panicked at the thought of Jasper and Kester.It was just Archibald’s luck to fall for a former hunter who didn’t fear putting himself in danger.With so many people trying to get Archibald’s attention every day, he’d had to fall for Jasper, of all people.It would be funny if Archibald weren’t resisting the urge to scream right now.
A hunter—well, a former hunter, but still.No matter how many times Jasper insisted that he was done with that life, he was still here, working with Archibald and hiding from a monster.
Archibald’s life would be so much simpler if he didn’t have feelings for Jasper.Unfortunately, he’d never been one to deny himself what he wanted, and he wanted Jasper.The only way to get him was to keep him safe, even when he offered himself up as bait.
“I know what I’m doing when I fight,” Jasper said, staring back at Archibald.
It was like he was trying to convince Archibald to say yes.Archibald wondered what would happen if he said no instead.He doubted Jasper would change his mind.No matter how much Archibald asked or begged him not to do this, Jasper had made up his mind.
He wasn’t wrong.They needed to do something about Kester, and that wouldn’t happen until they knew where he was.The best way to find out and to control what happened when they confronted him would be to get him where they wanted, and to do that, they needed Jasper to be bait.It was either him or Cullen, but Archibald didn’t trust Cullen the way he trusted Jasper.No, having Jasper do it was the only way to make it work.
“Knowing how to fight didn’t help you the two times you confronted Kester,” Archibald pointed out.“I know you’re a good fighter, but Kester’s Kester.”
Thankfully, Jasper wasn’t offended by Archibald’s words.He nodded, but he seemed to have thought of everything.“That’s why you and Braith will be there.If I play bait, we can control the narrative.We can decide where and when Kester finds me.We’ll use that to our advantage.”
“I don’t like this,” Archibald said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“I don’t like it, either.I don’twantto bait Kester into coming to me.I fought with him twice, and I know how dangerous he is.I know what I’m risking, and I’m not doing it happily.I just don’t think this can continue forever.It isn’t even about me.We both know that Kester isn’t going to continue laying low for much longer.Something’s going to happen, and he’ll kill someone else.I don’t want that to be on my conscience.If I can stop him from hurting anyone else, I want to do it.”
Even to his own detriment.It wasn’t a surprise, but Archibald didn’t have to like it.Jasper had already made his decision, and Archibald had to decide whether or not to support him.
“Fine, but we have to come up with a solid plan,” he said.He was still glaring, but he didn’t think Jasper expected anything different from him.He had to have known that Archibald wouldn’t like this when he suggested it.
“We will,” Jasper said.“I trust you to keep me safe.”
