Page 228 of Boys Who Hunt

I’m amazed at his brazen courage against the only man who could quite literally make him stop with just one finger. Or maybe he just needs her so much it negates any and all reason.

My eyes widen.

That’s it.

I bolt past his father too and follow Silas outside to steal the bag.

He snarls, “You’d better have a good reason to—”

“I’m coming with you,” I interject.

He stops and looks me up and down. “Why? I thought you didn’t trust her anymore?”

I shrug, smirking. “I changed my mind.”

An arrogant smile spreads on his face. “And here I was thinking you got too butt hurt by her betrayal to your sappy little heart.” He opens the car door. “Fine then, let’s fucking go.”

“Wait for me!”

We both turn around to look as Max runs out of the Skull and Serpent Society, breathing wildly.

“I’m coming too,” he says.

“Thought you were busy in there taking care of the wounded,” Silas says.

“The medics are here now. There’s not much I can do anymore, and I wanna help.”

“You wanna help?” Silas pulls something out of the bag before he throws it at him. “Carry this for me while I figure out how we’re gonna get inside.”

“Inside? You know where they’ve taken her?” Max asks as we all hop into the car, me behind the wheel, Silas in the front, and Max in the back between all the weapons, which he cuddles like they’re his kids.

“Not yet.” Silas grins as he puts on the red purge mask, and then hands me and Max one too. “But we know a fucker who does. And Heath knows just where to find him.”

Ivy

Her body is a mangled mess,full of scars and bruises, as she lies in the bed like a porcelain doll, surrounded by bleeping machines. She’s dancing the balance between life and death, but nothing about her feels alive.

He left me alone with her so I could bear witness to the power he holds and feel small. Unimportant. Insignificant.

Just like anyone else who gets in his way.

The last laugh he gave me before he waltzed out and sealed me in here with her sealed my fate.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

And something in me snaps.

I walk to the machines and rip out the wires one by one until nothing is left, and the beeping fades into a never-ending one.

Just like the hatred in my soul.

Tick. Tock.

The clock moves on.