Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Alexei stands at the window, gazing out. I don’t imagine he got much sleep last night, if any.
When I sit up, I notice the salt circle surrounding the bed. I have a faint recollection of Brad and Luke being in here, setting this up to make sure I couldn’t get out if that thing took over my body again.
As I’m adjusting against the headboard, Alexei says, “Matteo?” and rushes toward me. I read the concern all over his expression, behind the black and blue where Seth hit him, poking at a fury within me.
“When I see Seth again, I’m gonna kick his goddamn ass,” I spit out.
“It’s fine,” he insists, though he looks like I feel.
Still, even with a few bad bruises, the guy’s sexy as hell.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, stopping short of the salt barrier.
“Maybe if COVID and a hangover had a baby, and that baby was crying inside me…does that make sense?”
His brow creases, but he smiles. “I’ve never had symptomatic COVID, so not really, but at least you sound like yourself.”
That small smile dissipates quickly, though, turning into a frown. Reminds me of how he looked after we left the church, like he’s been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Are you okay?” I ask. “Do you need to put ice on that?”
“I’ve been putting ice on it, but thank you, doc,” he teases. “I’ll be fine.”
I know it’s true, but I still fucking hate Seth for going feral on his ass like that.
“And how’s Cody doing?”
“Luke texted that he’s still sleeping, but other than that, seems okay. Like something that’s happened to him before when he’s used his powers.”
“Thank fuck. And are you all right?”
He blinks a few times. “I mean, yeah. I’m not the one who had a psychopath in me.”
“Wait. What psychopath?” There was some talk about having someone in me, but I seem to have missed that part.
Alexei pulls his phone out of his back pocket and keys away for a moment, then throws the phone down beside me on the bed. I pick it up and see the image of a man on his screen. Goose bumps prick across my flesh. It’s similar to the face I saw at the foot of my bed…
“Jonathan Farras: The Night Stalker of Buford,” I read. Buford’s the neighboring city, abutting Lawrenceville. I browse the Wikipedia page, noting his victims. “How did you find this?”
Alexei gives me the rundown of what happened, helping me make sense of my scattered memories.
“I don’t remember too much while I was possessed,” I say, “but I recall him saying some nasty things to you. About us messing around. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? You didn’t say that to me. He did.”
“It was disgusting.” Rage burns in my chest. It isn’t just what that asshole said, but that he pried it from my head, invading places he had no right to.
Alexei glances to the floor, quiet for a moment before he says, “Matteo, if anyone should be sorry, it’s me. You asked why I hadn’t told you about that monster from last semester…and I should have. I didn’t know that anything we did would lead to this. If I’d thought it would put you in danger, I wouldn’t have gone through with it. Please tell me you know that.”
I’ve had so much on my mind since I woke up that, of all the things I was stressing about, this wasn’t high on my list. “The reason I brought it up last night was because I was surprised you didn’t tell me about it, but I don’t blame you for what happened. You didn’t make me help you with that ritual, and when I agreed to do it with you, I knew there might be consequences. Granted, I didn’t know some psychopath would possess me, but you’re not responsible for that.”
“I feel pretty damn responsible.”
I close my eyes. “Alexei, please, we have so many bigger problems right now. Don’t beat yourself up over this. I can decide if I hate you tomorrow.”
He cracks a smirk, which considering what we’ve been discussing, I’ll take as a win. But then his expression turns serious again. “I mentioned it to the guys while you had Farras in you, but do you remember when you said you felt feverish when we messed around?”
I nod.
“I felt something at the end there too. This heat I didn’t understand, and I’m wondering if that’s when whatever allowed Farras to possess you happened.”
From what I remember, it was pretty intense, and it was easy to assume it was the side effects of the sildenafil, but I can’t help wondering if he’s right. If whatever happened in that moment led to this change.
He adds, “I was planning to bring it up to the guys again when we see them at the church tonight.”