Page 124 of Shadowman

“I think you’re perfect…” I sigh dreamily.

Pulling back, he locks his eyes on mine, staring as if he’s trying to find answers in my irises.I highly doubt that’s what he’ll find…

“We’re just friends… Okay?” he says softly. Not angry, or even scared anymore.

It almost sounds like he’s saying it because he thinks he’s supposed to.

I’m taken aback by that comment, though I’m not sure why either. And because I don’t have the brain capacity for anything else right now, I simply nod. “Of course. What else would we be?”

He bites his lip. “It’s just… a release. Like you said.”

“Right.”

Seemingly placated by my response, his fingers brush tenderly through my hair. An affectionate gesture that swells my heart until it aches.

“Thank you for… inviting me over.”

I blink at him, lips curving. “My pleasure.”

Peeling off of each other, we both stand slowly, exchanging timid glances while adjusting our cum-stained clothes.

“Hey, Trevel…?” he calls out, uncharacteristically soft, and I glance up.

“Yea?”

He shifts. “My favorite actor is Jared Leto. I can’t even look at frosted animal crackers because once when I was a kid, I atetoo many of them and threw up…” I chuckle, and he bites his lip. “And I really…hatedwhat we just did.”

The timid look on his face is killing me in the best way. I take a step forward, needing to kiss him at least once because,fuck me, he probably tastes like candy. But footsteps approaching shut it down before I can get to him. Byron backs away fast, clearing his throat.

And although I’m not ready to give him back, I have no choice but to let him fight me…

For now.

“What the fuck is this?!”

A roar that would normally stop everyone dead in their tracks is swallowed up by the noise. The sheer pandemonium is overwhelming these dank halls.

It’sloud, echoing more turmoil than usual. Shouting and banging coming from all sides framing the clomps of an organized march… One we’re not a part of.

My head flings around general population, watching on with wide eyes as unfamiliar faces stomp past us like we’re nothing. I’m used to being invisible… But clearly, Velle is not.

And he’s fucking pissed.

“Yo, what the fuck is going on, man??” Peters gasps, charging over with Jasper by his side. We’re all just standing around—myself, Trevel, Luthor and Ren being sort of shielded by a visibly edgy Rook, Joy, and Velle. “Where did these pricks come from??”

We’realllooking to Velle for any indication of what’s happening right now. It’s not even a choice; it’s a reflex.

He’s visibly fuming, of course, with that crazed twitch in his eye he gets when he’s about to crack skulls. But apparently, this is havoc evenhecan’t scowl away.

I thought it was odd that Dr. Love showed up in the rec room while we were down there, having our depressing version of “yard time.” I figured he’d just popped in to see Darcey, since the two of them arealsodisgustingly obsessed and inseparable. But only a few minutes later, Rook and Velle came hustling into the room, and the four of them—the dynamic trio plus Dr. Love—huddled off in the corner for some bizarre meeting.

It was weird, and I was just about to subtly harass Trevel for more details on his history with the surly doctor, when voices came bellowing from across the room via the walkies—their cohorts hollering about some commotion up in Gen-pop.

It was immediately Defcon 1.

LikeDisaster Dominoes. As soon as the first one fell, everything fell apart, quickly, uniforms toppling.

Rook, Velle, and Joy hustled us prisoners back up from the rec room, leaving Darcey and Dr. Love to return to The East. And we arrived to what can only be described as acoup.