Page 93 of Twisted
“Yeah, I guess,” I say, trying to downplay it.He doesn’t have to say it for me to get the subtle threat.
“I trust you’ll keep this to yourself.”
“Of course,” I say, looking right into his eyes.And I do know…but I also know that if there’s any chance of getting accepted back into the Order, it would be by offering up something they need.Like insider information on how the Malus family operates.
CHAPTER36
“What the hell?”Devon looks up from the couch, taking in the sight of us.Xavier and I are splattered with blood.Theo looks properly annoyed, and is being a tad overdramatic if you ask me.
“It’s not my blood,” I tell him.“I don’t know if that makes it better or worse.”
“Come, brother,” Theo tells Xavier, eyes flitting to me for a moment.He says something in another language and I catch Devon’s gaze.He shrugs, letting me know he has no idea what is being said either.They go through the house and I hear the office door slam.
“What the hell?”Devon repeats.“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.I learned you can kill a vampire by ripping out its heart.”
“Oh.You didn’t know that?”
I shake my head and take my heels off.“No.I’m well versed in all other monsters but the Order kept us away from vamps, remember?”
“Yeah.Makes sense.And I probably know more than I should, having grown up with them.”Devon puts his phone down and gets up.“You have a chunk of something in your hair.”
“Ew.”I wrinkle my nose and go to reach for it then stop myself.I’ll be getting in the shower soon.
“This isn’t normal, you know,” Devon goes on.“Coming home covered in blood.”
I shrug.“It kinda is for me.Former hunter, remember?”
“Oh, right.Well, I don’t want to come home covered in blood.”
“Eventually, I think it’ll come with the territory,” I add, ruefully.Devon holds my gaze and I can feel what he wants to say.Just say it.Tell me being turned isn’t what you want.
But he doesn’t, so I go upstairs to shower.Ryder’s face flashes before my eyes when I turn on the water.Seeing him again gave me the initial shock as it always does, but now…now I don’t really feel much at all.I do think he loved me in his own way, but he lied to me from day one when I very specifically asked him if me being a witch was going to be an issue for us to have a relationship.
Maybe he didn’t think it would matter as much.Maybe he really did believe his parents would be okay with it.Not happy, but okay.And maybe he thought he’d be able to have more courage than he was able to muster up.
I’m sad I wasted so much time on Ryder.I’m sad I thought all I deserved was someone who lied and kept me a secret.But it’s all up from here, right?I shake my head at my own thoughts, not sure if this current life is actually an upgrade.Though, watching Xavier defend me for the third time now makes me want his head between my thighs all over again.
I get out of the shower, dry off, and wrap the towel around my hair.Walking into my room naked, I didn’t expect to see Mabel sitting on my bed.
“Wow, you’re in great shape,” she praises, sitting up and looking me up and down.“Back in my human years, women weren’t supposed to have muscles but now abs are sexy.Funny how times change.Delicate was the goal back then.”
“I’m glad strong is in, though I suppose I wouldn’t have cared,” I say and quickly duck into the closet to grab a robe.
“How was your night?”Mabel asks when I come back into the room and sit next to her on my bed.
“Eventful.”I let out a sigh and pull the towel from my head, rubbing it over my hair a few more times.“Ran into my family and then learned you can kill a vampire by ripping out the heart.”
She wrinkles her nose.“Such a messy way to go.”
“It is.”
“How was seeing your family?The hunters, you mean, right?”
“Right.”I tuck my legs under the covers.“Honestly, it seems wrong to call them that, but I really do hope my brothers had no idea about, well, anything.From me being kidnapped to the deal the Order made with you all…it’s just a lot.”
“Yeah.It is.”Mabel leans back and moves to her side, looking at me.“You’re my best friend but you’re also my sister-in-law.”She smiles.“We’re family.”
