Page 30 of Kuaket

“What?”

“Youarein love with him.”

“I don’t do love.”

“We both know that’s a lie,” he responded.

I rolled my eyes. “You can’t judge me on the past.”

“We’re all made up of our pasts,” he pointed out. “And you’re not denying how you feel either, you’re just avoiding it.”

“I don’t know how I feel, okay? I feelsomething. But I don’t have a name for it, and I don’t think it’s love.”

“So why are you going to walk into a dangerous situation for this man?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but shut it again when I realised I didn’t have a good one.

“I thought as much.”

“Wouldn’t you do the same for Anise?” I asked quietly.

“Anise isn’t trying to kill us.”

“Neither is Abrax,” I pointed out. “In fact, he’s told us the first useful information we’ve had about the Sons of Seth, hasn’t he? I know I haven’t been paying much attention, but if we knew more, it wouldn’t have taken until now to sort it.”

Kuk sighed. “I actually don’t know. Maybe Seth knows more and isn’t telling us, but I doubt it.”

“So start appreciating what we do know and support me in doing this. I’m not going to change my mind.”

“I know you’re not. But that doesn’t change the fact I’m worried you’re going to be going in there alone,” he responded.

“I won’t be alone, Abrax will be with me.”

“And you really trust him to have your best interests at heart?”

“Yes.” The answer was instant and rang through me with a surprising amount of strength.

I had no idea what would happen on Wednesday, but I was certain I wouldn’t have to face it alone, even if that was something I’d never have believed possible for me to feel even a few months ago.

CHAPTER13

Kuaket

I was halfsurprised that Kuk actually left my flat and didn’t hang around tokeep an eye on thingsor whatever he thought was necessary given the situation. I could half understand his problem with Abrax, but none of it took into account the man himself and was all focused on something from his past.

I pushed the thought from my mind and made my way into the bedroom, setting a glass of water down on my side of the bed, not even realising until that moment that Ihada side of the bed.

The door to the ensuite bathroom opened and Abrax stepped out, a towel wrapped around his waist.

“Anise did a good job,” I said, making my way over to him and tracing my fingers over one of the cuts on his chest.

“A much better job than anything the Sons of Seth can do,” he admitted. “I hadn’t realised how limited our magic was until I saw her in action.”

“I suppose it makes sense. Gods are powerful, but notthatpowerful. Spreading one god’s magic through as many people as the Sons of Seth have won’t result in much power.”

“That makes sense,” he responded. “I’d just never thought of it.”

“I’m pretty sure they’re doing that on purpose. You said they kept you living in the compound, right? So they’re clearly trying to keep you away from the paranormal world so you don’t work any of this out.”