Page 180 of Blood Day
I’m on my own.
Why did that hurt so much? I’d been on my own all my life. I’d survived. I’d played these twisted games, passed alltheir fucked-up tests, and had done everything I could to be worthy of more in this world.
Then Cedric had awakened my mind. He’d taught me how much more this life had to offer.
Before ripping it apart and tuning me out.
On purpose, I told myself.He warned that this would happen. So he’s doing this on purpose. He’s coming for me. He’ll save me.
And what if he doesn’t?The other half of my mind demanded as I made my way out of my building, my eyes automatically searching for Cedric.What if he’s done with me? What if this is what he intended all along?
Then why didn’t I hear that in his thoughts?I wondered.If this was his intent, then surely I would have picked up on it.
Except, maybe I wouldn’t have.
He was so much more experienced than me. An expert at deception and mind manipulation. He could have hidden his true plans for me.
Did I fall into his spell unwittingly?My throat went dry.Did he merely want to play with his new toy? Amuse himself and then break me?
How many times had he said he wanted to watch me wilt? Had that been aloud or in his mind? All of it blended together now, leaving me unsure.
But I recalled several times where he’d thought about how I was a flower he intended to destroy.
Maybe… maybe this really was my end.
I swallowed thickly as I approached the gates, the other prospects ones I recognized. But Emine wasn’t among them.
I went to stand beside Six. His knuckles brushed mine, but he didn’t otherwise acknowledge me. I felt a sense of relief to be next to someone I somewhat knew. He seemed to radiate that same sense of calm.
A lycan appeared at the gate with a clipboard in his hand.
“Step through the gate as I say your name,” he announced gruffly.
He didn’t pause for any questions, just started calling forward prospects by number.
“Prospect Twenty-Two.”
“Prospect One Hundred Thirteen.”
“Prospect One Hundred Nineteen.”
“Prospect One Hundred Thirty-Two.”
“Prospect One Hundred Fifty-Seven.”
My heart sank when he skipped Emine’s number. Of course, I’d expected it since she wasn’t here.
He continued calling out numbers, each prospect stepping forward to go through the gate as he spoke.
Six brushed my knuckles again as his name echoed through the night.
Then I followed him as the lycan called my number next.Not my name,I thought.I’m Lily. Cedric’s Lily.
Except he still hadn’t shown up.
Nor did he appear after I sat down on the bus.
And he remained entirely absent as the engine started, too.
