Page 62 of My Revenant
I didn’t know what to make of that. The direction this conversation was heading in felt dangerous, completely uncharted and forbidden territory. “But I’mnotthe one running things.”
“No. Not now. But what do you think is stronger, a wolf… or the devil?”
“You’re implying I what? Take over the Strays? Usurp Archer?”
Henrik shrugged one shoulder, as if this entire conversation wasn’t a betrayal of his twin brother. “Just something to think about. When you’re tired of being a little coyote in the shadow of the wolf, you call me.”
“And Archer?”
“You let me worry about him.”
I’d never felt any particular need for power. Sure, maybe I’d do things a little differently to Archer, but he’d brought me in, he’d seen a kid who was lost and without a purpose and given him one. It was the only purpose I’d had until now, until Jonah. I knew I should dismiss Henrik. How could I trust someone who’d betray his own twin? A couple of months ago I would have dismissed him outright and probably brought this whole thing to Archer’s attention. Now, though?
I didn’t need help keeping Jonah safe, or keeping him mine, but the thought scratched its way into my mind like a parasite. Too fast and too deep to squish like the insignificant bug it should have been.
“I have to go,” I said to Henrik instead of responding. He nodded simply and watched me leave in silence, but his words followedme, like a toxin in my system. A poison in my blood I couldn’t purge.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, pig,” I told Toby as he attempted to speak around a mouthful of fries. He scowled at me, continuing to chew before swallowing and starting again.
“I said the Drakes should be at the pier tomorrow night. Archer wants us all there,” Toby repeated, more comprehensible this time.
I huffed. “I’ll be there.” I was always there, unlike Toby who thought he could pick and choose what Strays business he’d participate in. I had nowhere else to be, not until recently, and for the first time I found the thought of going to the fight night at the pier annoying. It was time I could spend with Jonah instead.
Bryce was quiet beside his moronic best friend. He’d been quiet a lot lately, and while he hadn’t missed any more shifts at the shop, something about him still seemed off. Snatching the basket of fries from in front of Toby, who scowled at me, I slid it in front of Bryce, who seemed to be off in his own world and not paying any attention to us.
He looked down at it in surprise, his face doing something complicated for a moment before he slid it back to Toby. “I’m not hungry.”
I moved it back in front of him. “I didn’t ask.”
Bryce scowled at me, and that was new too. They said ignorance was bliss, and Bryce was the most ignorant person I knew, so he should have the most bliss. He had sunshine beaming out of his annoying ass at any point in time. He didn’t scowl. Except he was. It didn’t suit him.
“I’m really fine, Dex. I don’t want to eat.”
“I said I’m not asking, dickface. Just do it.”
“No.”
“Eat, or I’ll make you.”
“Jesus, why are you so pissed off all the fucking time?” he snapped. Beside him, Toby’s eyes widened in surprise. “Give me a fucking break. Shouldn’t you be happy now you’ve made Jonah yours? You got what you wanted, is that still not enough?”
The outburst was certainly unexpected, but I hadn’t told Bryce that Jonah was mine. Hadn’t told any of the Strays but Henrik, and he didn’t seem the type to gossip. “What do you know about that?”
Bryce shrugged. “He was wearing your jacket at Maxxxine’s.”
There was a bit to unpack there. First, Jonah was actuallywearingmy jacket. I hadn’t seen it since the day we’d traded clothing. It made me wonder how often he wore it when he thought I wouldn’t know about it. Second, Jonah had been at a sex shop. What could my rabbit possibly want from there? I found the idea offensive, that he’d need anything apart from me to satisfy him.
My issues with Bryce were immediately shoved to the back of my mind as I retrieved my phone from my pocket, my fingers clicking over the buttons rapidly, my messages barely coherent in my haste.
my place. now. bring wat u bought @ maxxxines.
I grabbed my keys and helmet as I got up from the booth. “Gotta run.”
Jonah’s response came as I reached my bike.
Rabbit
Fucking Bryce.
