Page 48 of In the Monster's Wake
“Your friends are already doing it,” Braith told him.He stood with Jasper and Archie.All three of them were staring down Kester.
Jasper was glad to hear that Corey and Kerry were helping people out and that they’d be far away from Kester.He was worried enough about Braith and Archie.He didn’t need to worry about his very human best friends, too.He had no doubt that they’d try to come back in once they were done evacuating everyone, but he hoped that by then, this would be over.
“You’re interesting,” Kester eventually said.
It was hard to hear him over the sounds of people running for their lives and the music still going, but Jasper was paying attention.“I’m really not.”
“The fact that you don’t realize how interesting you are makes you evenmoreinteresting.You don’t know, do you?”
Jasper could tell he wasn’t going to like whatever Kester was about to say.Still, he needed to know.“What don’t I know?”
“That you’re part monster.”
Jasper blinked.He wondered how Kester would react if he laughed in his face.He’d probably kill him anyway, but maybe laughing would give Jasper some kind of satisfaction.“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“That’s what I said.You don’t know.”
For some reason, the screaming got louder.Kester was focused on Jasper, which meant he wasn’t hurting any of the people around them.It was terrifying to have Kester’s attention, but at the same time, it meant he wasn’t hurting innocent people.
Jasper didn’t understand why Kester was saying that.What good would it do for him to lie?Maybe he was trying to hurt Jasper, but he didn’t strike Jasper as someone who would use words to do that.No, Kester used his fangs and hands to hurt people.
“Don’t listen to him,” Leroy snapped.
Jasper frowned as he turned to his father.“What the hell are you doing here?”
“We got calls about a monster killing someone in this club.”Leroy was dressed in his hunter’s gear.He was pale in a way Jasper couldn’t remember ever seeing him.He was staring at Kester as if he’d seen a ghost.“You shouldn’t listen to him.He’s a monster.”
“I’m aware of that.”But why would Kester lie?
Jasper knew when Kester had realized.He’d licked Jasper’s blood.Jasper had heard about some monsters who could taste different things in people’s blood, including illnesses.It wasn’t a stretch to believe that some of them might be able to taste the fact that he wasn’t fully human.
What did that mean?Jasper had never wondered if he’d been adopted.He’d never wondered if his parents were really his parents.He hadn’t had a reason to, not even when he and Leroy had been fighting over him leaving the hunters.
“But he should listen toyou?”Kester asked.He sounded annoyed, which couldn’t be a good thing.“Hunters can’t be trusted.”
Jasper snorted.He couldn’t even say that he disagreed with Kester.“Why should I believe you?”
“Because clearly, I’m the only one willing to tell you the truth.
“I look human.”Jasper felt human, too.That wouldn’t be the case if he was part monster, right?His body was completely normal, with no hints of fangs, claws, or different textures.He didn’t have horns or antlers.His skin was pink.
Kester shrugged.“So?”
It didn’t look like he was going to explain anything.He’d said what he wanted to say, and now, he was ready for the results, even though he was surrounded by hunters.
This was a shit show that needed to end.
“Did you get everyone out?”Jasper asked his father.
“We did,” Leroy confirmed.“Corey and Kerry are outside, too.You don’t have to worry about them.”
Jasper was surprised that Leroy knew he’d be worried.“Is he right?”
“Of course not.Don’t listen to his lies.”
“He tasted my blood.”
Leroy turned even paler—if that was even possible.He briefly reached out to hold himself up against a table, and Jasperknewthat Kester was right.He wasn’t lying.He’d truly tasted that Jasper wasn’t fully human when he’d licked his blood, and from the way he was smiling, he was enjoying the revelation.
