Page 73 of Hunt the Dusk
“Oh, don’t tell me he’s your type?” Merry said.
Holly smirked. “I won’t.”
“He’s off-limits.” The words came out in a snapping tone, and everyone stopped eating to look at me. “What? He is.”
“Because…” Holly made a rolling motion with her hand.
I felt my eyes narrow despite my best intentions. “Because I said so. You’re here to track, so focus on that.” I shoved my chair back.
“Shit, Orina, I didn’t mean to piss you off.” Holly looked genuinely stricken, and I immediately felt like a bitch.
“You didn’t. I’m just tired. I’m going to visit the chapel then head to bed.”
Padma pushed her plate away. “Mind if I join you?”
“In bed?” Edwin squeaked.
Merry snort-laughed. “The chapel, silly.”
Edwin looked sheepish. “Yeah, of course.” He shoved chicken into his mouth.
Padma looked to me, waiting, and I realized I hadn’t answered her yet. “Yes, you can come with me.”
It had been too long since I’d worshipped alongside another blessed, and it was just what I needed.
The hush of the chapel,the flare of the candles, and the shadow of the white wings calmed my tumultuous emotions.
Padma and I knelt side by side, heads bowed in our own contemplations. I fell into myself, into the core of my being where my equilibrium resided and where I never failed to connect with the powers that be.
In that space I was able to recognize that my feelings toward Ezekiel were a guide. From disgust and hatred to a longing toheal. This was progress. This meant there was hope and I should embrace the shift and maybe…maybe it would serve to empower him to find the humanity he’d lost.
The markings on my arm heated gently in approval, and a smile tugged at my lips and filled my heart.
I surfaced to the sound of Padma’s sharp inhalation.
“What is it?”
She stared at me, wide-eyed, clutching her arm where her markings were hidden beneath her shirt.
“Padma?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m fine.”
My gaze dropped to the hand she was clutching her arm with, and she quickly dropped it.
“Padma…is there something wrong with your arm?”
Her bottom lip trembled, and her eyes welled. “I…I don’t know. But it…it feels wrong.”
I reached for her, and she pulled away. “Padma, let me see.”
She sucked in her bottom lip and shook her head, blinking back tears.
“Padma…Please…Isn’t it better to know?”
She exhaled shakily. “Yes…Okay…Do it.”
The sleeve of her top was too tight to pull up, so she drew her arm out and lifted the material up, turning her head away. “What does it look like?”
