Page 54 of Such a Feral Little Lamb
“Yeah, that too.”
She snorts again and I wave absently as I make my way down the centre aisle of the church. Autumn ducks out of my way, but Callum only nods as I walk past, and my eyes linger for a moment on the mark on his skin.
He has magic too, right? That’s what Mason said this morning. It’s not something I want to ask with Autumn so close.
Otto must know, though. I make a mental note to talk to him about it when he finally comes up into the church. We’ll have enough opportunity to speak alone while we’re searching the town today.
Well, we’ll have enough opportunity to speak with Mason hovering around. I’ve no doubt he won’t let me out of his sight.
The thought warms something in my chest and I bite back a smile as I meander through the scattered gravestones. I come across Blake first, standing up against the graveyard wall. It’s only shoulder height, and he’s looking out across the town that squats below and the landscape beyond.
“Blake,” I call.
He stiffens, squaring his shoulders, but I’ve no time for his bullshit today. Speaking to Dane is more important—we only have a few days left here, and we all need to be on the same page regarding this job.
“The fuck do you want?”
I sigh. “I just need to speak to Dane. Have you seen him?”
I’m surprised I haven’t come across him already. I doubt Nia’s let him below the church after the way he kicked off last night, so either he’s hiding somewhere behind the building or he’s gone down into the town himself. But even that seems strange. Blake would go with him.
Blake crosses his arms over his chest. “What do you need to speak to him for? Didn’t you do enough talking last night?”
He was awake, then. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Awake enough to hear Dane proposition me, but not smart enough to understand I don’t want it. I don’t want him.
“We need to talk about this job.Allof us.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
Blake pushes away from the wall and checks me with his shoulder as he passes. I tighten my grip on my bat but do my best not to react. I only turn when Blake scoffs and his footsteps pause.
When I glance back, Mason is standing over by the church, watching us. It’s a fair distance, but his expression is clear—he’s angry, and Blake needs to watch his step.
“Have you seen him?” I ask again.
Blake’s lip curls. He glances between me and Mason, and I know he wants to be short again, but he decides against it.
“No. When I woke up again, he was gone, so I took up the watch. I thought he’d gone to get fresh air.”
“When was that?”
Blake shrugs. “Seven?”
I glance at my watch. It’s eleven already, and at seven, it still would have been dark. “He’s been gone that long?” Longer, even. I don’t know exactly what time Mason and I went downstairs…
Callum was up there, though. I whirl around, ignoring Blake’s affronted sound from behind me. Mason frowns as I rush past him as well, and I find Callum at the front of the church with Autumn.
“Have you seen Dane?” I ask.
Autumn shakes her head.
Callum shrugs. “He tore out of here just before five. I asked him where he was going, and he told me to fuck off.”
“You didn’t think to stop him?”
He raises his eyebrows as though to ask why he should have. I would think that fair, but it’s been six hours, and this town isn’tthatbig.
“Fuck,” I mutter. “We need to find him.”
