Page 41 of Cedar Edge
Particularly because its been fucking impossible to get access to Royce. So impossible it makes me wonder who is covering his tracks so well. It’s been infuriating. I’m not the one who people can hide from, I’m the god damn Grim Reaper. And yet this cock sucker has been able to avoid me spectacularly. Walking into Shelia’s I’m immediately greeted with the sight of Athena and Thea grinding on one another to some fucking rap song.The girls are laughing and stumbling, obviously beyond drunk. Thankfully no one is approaching them and everyone is keeping their eyes averted. Perhaps because they know who these two belong to, or perhaps it’s because Ghost is actively shooting daggers at all the patrons who dare even walk by the girls. Either way I’m thankful I don’t have to gut anyone in Shelia’s fucking bar.
He catches my gaze and jerks his head upward. I give him a nod but keep my body tucked to the shadows as the girls wobble off the makeshift dance floor towards the bar.
“Sheila! Two more shots!” Thea yells, or tries to. Her words are beyond slurred and she can’t stop laughing. It was almost comical, honestly. If I wasn’t so god damn worried about her life I’d be laughing.
Ghost walks up behind them and makes the piss poor choice of telling Athena she’s cut off. But to my shock it’s not Athena who snaps back but Thea. “Don’t you tell her what to do. We are strong women who can do whatever we want! We are survivors!”
Athena seems to cling to my girl, and not for the first time I’m curious about her past.
Emerging from the shadows, I slide up next to Ghost. “You are cut off Cricket.” I know before the words are out of my mouth that she is about to choose violence and I fucking love it. The glare she gives me could kill, icy and hot all at once and out for blood. Ghost and Athena both step away from us as I lean in and snatch the drink from her. “You are mine, Cricket. And you are in such deep shit.”
She inhales, her breath picking up as I let my nose trace the shell of her ear for a second. When I pull back I take her body with me, throwing her over my shoulder. She squeals out and pounds her fists against my back as I turn towards Ghost. “Can you get Athena home safely?”
He smirks at me and nods. “Have fun with that.” He turns towards Athena who is perhaps even drunker than Thea. “Let's go spitfire.”
“I’m not falling on your dick again!” She slurs. “That was one time.”
I bite back the surprise as Ghost shakes his head and loops his arm around her. “Don’t worry, the next time I fuck you I want you sober enough to scream my name and remember its me who makes you cum so good.” Turning I exit quickly. I have no interest in getting in the middle of that lovers quarrel.
“Aceeeee.” Thea whines against my back.
“What is it, Cricket?” My hands firmly grip her thighs to keep her steady over my shoulder.
“Why are you here? You hate me.” She slurs.
I let out a deep growl. “I don’t hate you, we’ve been through this.”
She scoffs, the sound making her seem even more intoxicated if possible. “No I mean nowwww. You hate me nowwww. You’ve avoided me since the garden.” She hiccups a bit and I wince hoping she doesn’t puke down my back. “OH MY GOD MY GARDEN! You made me a garden and you hate me.”
“I do not fucking hate you Thea.” I snap, pulling her from my shoulders. She wobbles on her feet as I hold her shoulders. “I’m keeping my distance because I don’t think you’ll like me when you realize exactly what type of person I am!”
She frowns, eyebrows furrowed as she wobbles. “I don’t feel good.” It’s the only warning I get before she’s puking directly at our feet. I wince as it splashes over our shoes. “Oh fuck I’m sorry.” She sobs before another wave comes and she’s emptying more of her stomach on the sidewalk.
I let out a long sigh, holding her hair back best I can. “It’s okay, better here than in Logan’s jeep. Though he deserves it forletting you go off and get wasted.” She pukes a few more times before I’m fairly certain she's done.
“I’m sorry.” She slurs. “I’m the worst.”
Scooping her up into my arms I frown at the words. “Cricket, you are allowed to get drunk with a friend.”
“No. I’m not.” She curls into my neck, her breath hot against my skin. “He’ll find me. He tells me in my head all the time.”
“What do you mean Cricket?” Opening the jeep door I slid her drunken body into the passenger seat eliciting a giggle from her. “Thea. What do you mean he tells you in your head?”
She lets out a sigh and her eyes flutter closed. “You know I think I love you, even when I shouldn’t.” The words stun me, my body freezing. “When he takes me again, I’m not gonna live with it. I won’t live with it.”
Those words spurn me into action. “What the fuck are you talking about Thea?”
But she doesn’t respond, slumping over and letting the alcohol take her away. Leaving me alone with the haunting, drunken confessions.
Chapter Eighteen
Cockoo Pint aka Lords and Ladies: “In autumn… grows clusters of bright red berries. These berries, and the root of the plant, contain arione, an acidic toxin that gives the plant a bitter taste and causes long-term burning and blistering of the skin.”
-Fez Inkwright,Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Secret Lives of Plants-
Thea
“Don’t you dare give me that look.” I snap.
