Page 75 of A Taste of Bliss

“You’ve been here this whole time?”

“Sces, who is this guy?” Shaun asks, gaze traveling between me and my cousin.

I take a step forward and Simon takes one back. “Sces? Is that what you’re going by now?” He shakes his head in disgust. “I can’t believe this. You’re here and you’re… fine?”

“I can explain,” I say, but Simon shakes his head again, taking another step back.

“Everyone thinks you’re dead.”

I stop cold, though I don’t know why. I know they think that. It was what I intended when I left what basically sounded like a suicide note for my parents to find.

But hearing him say it hits different.

“I— I had to. There’s so much you don’t know.”

“So tell me. Explain this. Explain how you’re here. Explainwhyyou’re here.”

Shaun whispers behind me to Evan, “Who is this?”

“I think his cousin,” Evan whispers back.

“And he thinks Pisces is dead because…?”

“Because I told him to make his family think he’s dead because I figured that would be the safest for them.”

“You didwhat?!” Shaun hisses.

“Would you two save this for later?” I ask, my voice lethally quiet. My eyes stay on Simon.

“Right, continue,” Shaun says.

“Why would you want his family to think he’s dead?” Simon levels at Evan. “What kind of sick fuck are you? Pisces, why are you hanging out here? Is it drugs?”

“No, it’s not drugs,” I say, looking helplessly at Shaun. “Can I? Am I allowed to?”

Shaun shakes his head. “Sorry, Sces. You’re gonna need to use your compulsion.”

Compulsion. All fae have compulsion, but it only works on humans, except kindreds. Though I really don’t have much practice. “Evan, can you?”

Evan takes a step forward, but Simon looks pleadingly at me. “Pisces, what the fuck are you talking about? What’s going on?”

Before I can answer, Benny comes speeding back into the church, stopping right next to Simon. “Hey, who’s this?” he asks, a friendly smile on his face.

Simon yelps, having seen a blur coming straight at him. “What the fuck?”

“Simon, it’s okay,” I say, going to my cousin’s side. “This is Benny, he’s a friend of mine.”

“He’s the fucking Flash,” Simon breathes, looking wide-eyed at Benny and then back to me. His face screws up in confusion. “Is it drugs, or are you some sort of superhero?”

“Neither,” I respond, looking again at Shaun for help.

He’s already seen Benny, but any one of the guys could make Simon forget that pretty easily.

Simon glares at me, and I find I can’t help but glare back. “Pisces, seriously, tell me what the fuck is going on.”

“I can’t!” It takes everything in me not to scream. Fuck, this isn’t supposed to be how things went. How did Simon even find me? He’s supposed to think I’m dead, so no one will look for me. I need to keep my family safe. I’ve fucked up again.

“You need to come back with me,” Simon says, grabbing my arm and trying to pull me out of the church. “I don’t know what these guys got you messed up in, but I’m getting you out.”