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That night, some curious eyes had caught sight of Xen and Zeev carrying Evan and Aaron out of the woods. Words quickly spread that the infamous exorcist of Emberlyn had stirred trouble once again, in the restricted areas no less. Rumors of his “strangely dressed friends” who didn’t look particularly approachable carried across the town.

Evan’s reputation was far from ideal, but that didn’t bother him because he’d earned it through hard labor. But now he had to bear the blame for something he hadn’t done.

He’d saved the entire town from a disaster called Knox but no one knew, neither did they care to ask what had happened. The abducted men had been scared shitless and didn’t possess the mental clarity to recite the horrors they’d witnessed. They just wanted to survive.

Even when Robbie had tried to tell people that Evan had helped them escape from the clutches of the cult—carefully leaving out the part about creatures of the dark and demons—the people waved it away as a post-traumatic blabbering.

Because it was easier making up stories based on people’s preconceived notions than accepting the truth. To admit they were wrong about someone.

On top of all that, Xen had vanished from the face of the earth after dropping Evan home that night. He didn’t even return to check on Evan which was strange considering the demon clearly had attachment issues. With Aaron bedridden, recovering from his own injuries, Evan had no one to talk to.

Or so he’d thought until he found himself at the banks of the sacred river with his over-excited dog hopping about and a silver-haired youth sitting beside him.

Evan flicked a tiny pebble into the river, watching the surface ripple and fishes scurrying away below. Rue, energetic as ever, ran around chasing a butterfly.

Delos glanced at Evan. “What’s troubling you? Is it your friend’s health?”

Evan quietly chucked another pebble in the river.

“The townspeople gossiping?”

Chuck. Plop.

Delos squinted. “Ah, I see. Xen disappeared, didn’t he?”

Evan’s raised hand stilled, then dropped the pebble. He frowned at the river then at Delos. “It’s not about him.”

“Then talk to me. Perhaps I can help?”

Evan stared at the bright-faced youth, momentarily distracted from his chain of thoughts. “Who are you really?”

Delos’s head tipped to the side, silver strands dancing across his forehead and clear blue eyes twinkling. “I am Delos. Your friend.”

“You’re not human.”

At that, Delos stilled. “Then…I’m your well-wisher,” he looked away, letting out a soft sigh. “However, Idowish to be your friend though.”

Evan followed his eyes to the expanse of the river, mulling over his words before responding. “Well, youaremy friend, human or not. People are overrated anyways.”

Delos chuckled. “You don’t like humans?”

“I prefer animals. Anything soft with fur.”

“Why would you prefer animals over your own kind?”

Evan paused. His lashes lowered and he picked up a pebble, rolling the smooth stone between his fingers. The seconds dragged on before he finally replied.

“Because people are selfish. They abandon. The worst an animal can do is die on me,” he flicked the pebble into the river. “I’d rather mourn once for someone who’s gone forever than spend every day waiting for someone who might never return.

“I wish we never had you.”

Evan’s eyelids fluttered as the memory surfaced. With a forceful shove, he pushed it back to the unreachable void of his mind.

Some things were best forgotten.

Delos studied his face for a while before dropping his hand and idly picking at pebbles. “Do you know why the river water is so clean?”

Evan glanced at him. “Because it’s always flowing?”