Page 163 of Degradation

Water trickles down the wall.

We’re meeting in a cave, as if this couldn’t be anymore clandestine.

Paitlyn’s hand is firmly clasped in mine, and I’ll admit, I get a thrill from the feeling of her fingers digging into my flesh.

Something has changed with her. Something tangible.She no longer flinches when I touch her, she no longer hides herself from me when she thinks I won’t notice.

She is mine. Wholeheartedly mine. I can feel it. She’s not just given in, not just accepted this as some form of submission, but she’s mine, heart, body, fucking soul too. I own her in a way no one has ever had.

I want to shout it from the rooftops. I want to scream it loud enough that all of heaven knows it. I feel like a boy, a child caught in his first throws of love. In truth, I feel free, I feel finally like I know what it is to be alive.

The sound of gravel crunching brings me out of those thoughts. I still, staring at where I’m certain the man will appear and when I see his outline, it’s hard not to snarl.

It’s the same fucker I was going to kill all those years ago, that same fucker Gunther gave a night with his wife to. My head snaps to stare at Paitlyn, not that she can see the pissed off look I have.What the fuck is going on here?

“Antonio.” Paitlyn says warily, like she can sense how close to a bloodbath this could become.

“Jesus,” The man murmurs, stepping close, staring at her in disbelief. “I thought you were dead. I thought this had to be some sick joke, I thought…” He falls silent when he spots me.

I glower back at him. He’s only alive now, by the grace of God himself and we both know it.

“Devin Blake.” He says, realising who I am, not that it was such a great secret.

I grunt back.

Antonio looks between us, at where our hands are clasped together. “You’re with him?” He says.

“Yes.” Paitlyn replies.

“By choice or by force?” He continues.

And that question gets my back up, makes me snarl, makes me take a step forward. I’ll fucking gut him for that.

Paitlyn places her other hand on my arm, “It’s okay.” She whispers, like I’m a wild dog that needs placating. “We’retogether.” She says firmly to him. “Devin rescued me, he saved me from Guthrie. He…” She shakes her head slightly and I know it’s the memories, the confusion.

She thinks I’m the one who tried to rescue her, when the reality was, I was going to kill her that day back in Oblivion. Not that she needs to know it. Better in fact, that she doesn’t.

“Guthrie?” Antonio repeats, sounding confused. “What does he have to do with any of this?”

“So my brother didn’t tell you.” I sneer. “He didn’t let you in on the secret deal he made?”

For once the man looks like he’s on the backfoot. “What deal?” He snaps.

“He sold us out. Both of us.” I reply. “He thought I killed Gunther, so he did a deal with Guthrie to cover it up. Guthrie got to keep Paitlyn, had her locked away in Oblivion and had me thrown into an asylum.”

I’ll admit there’s some satisfaction to see the way my words register with him. To see the flash of fury. Whoever the fuck he is, whatever influence he has over my brother, he clearly didn’t realise Magnus was a slippery as he is.

How I’d love for that to put a cat among the pigeons. How I’d love for that to rip the wind right out of my brother’s sails. To destroy all that he’s trying to build.

“Antonio,” Paitlyn murmurs, sounding more pleading than I would like. “You can help us; you can help me.”

“What is it you want?” He asks, his voice sounding suddenly emotionless, suddenly so cold.

“Freedom, restoration.” She states. “You were my Guardian, you know everything that happened, you can speak with Magnus, you can get everything put to rights.”

He was her Guardian? He’s a fucking Guardian? I run my eyes back over him. It explains everything, it explains why shewent to him, why Gunther tried to appease him, why he’s so involved in ensuring my brother becomes Chapter Lord.

He shakes his head. “It’s not that simple, Paitlyn. Not now. It’s been too long; it’s gotten too complicated. Everyone thinks you’re dead. You can’t simply pop back up, alive and well, after all this time…”