Page 97 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn

Fuck my powers, and the way they’ve misguided me. I should have forced Jane to speak about the conversation she had with Cypress.

“I kept my distance because I’m better at following what my gut is telling me than you are.”

“Oh shut the fuck up,” I quip, squaring him up. “I don’t have time for cryptic bullshit, and I’m tired of these shit powers that have been fucking useless lately.”

Basilisk inhales deeply, nodding to the side like he guesses he will get this over with. “Misery is our god, Soren. Going near him is going to end badly, every single time.”

Those words stop me cold. “What?”

“Well, hewas. This bastardized state he’s in has sort of unleashed us into unknown waters. But he still has massive influence if we’re near him. Including leaving pockets of his energy that we can’t go near without it killing us.”

I move closer, each step deliberate, like I want to burst through my skin. Basilisk places a hand on his hilt, staring me down.

“You knew that,” I begin, articulating slowly, my voice low and dangerous. “And didn’t tell me when we were stuck on that ship? Forweeks?”

Basilisk’s expression hardly changes, and if anything, only his jaw sets like stone. There’s a moment where he glances to the side. His energy is so calm I want to slit his throat, and I know he’s hiding himself from me, just like I normally am from him.

“You’re not going to like why I’m really here, either,” Basilisk adds, his gaze heavy, and it’s clear he knows his words are going to change everything.

“Get it out,Rasmus, because I have half a mind to fight you here.”

His golden eyes flare. “I said don’t call me that—that’s twice now.No onesurvives the first.”

“Then fight me, if it pisses you off. Dosomething,” I grind out through gritted teeth, still not having processed that Misery is mygod.

His lips thin, his glare sharpening. “I’m here, Soren, because Cypress called for me.”

I step closer, his blade pulled out so the metal shines in the light. I don’t bother reaching for mine because I want to beat someone bloody right now, and only with my fists.

“There’s something from Cypress that I am quite desperate to get,” he quickly adds. “It’s a harpy killer. Potent. Useful for me and what I need to do. She called for me to be out here because you’d need my help.”

“What the fuck are you talking about? You’re going from a shadow cat to harpies?” I ask, everything about what he says feeling like the fucking truth.

If Cypress called for him, maybe there’s an answer in there, somewhere. Something to help Jane—Cypress came to her… yes… that’s what happened, isn’t it?Guilt and rage are molten hot in my gut, but I need to know what to do with Basilisk.

“It’s all related to someone. The cat is, too. I’ve been tasked to keep Jasmine alive, and there’s harpies that will become a real problem for someone I’d rather not have problems at all. So, I’mhere,” he explains, his entire aura focusing on concealing the deeper meanings of that. “I thought this endeavor was even more than worthwhile, knowing it would help you, too.”

I need to step away.Cypress is such a conniving bitch, and yet I’d literally do anything she told me, right now, if it ensured Jane’s safety.

With more love…

I ignore Basilisk to stride away, back to the communal space, entering the sunlight once more. I’m beyond enraged he knew of this shit and didn’t tell me. ThatJanedid, too. And that I trusted my instinct to leave her alone with that information.

It makes no sense why my magic would tell me to leave her be, if it was going to be connected to herabduction.

“We’re not done,” Basilisk says after me.

“Yes, we are.”

“I know where they’re taking her,” he replies, his voice loud so it carries to me.

My vision is nearly being strangled from energy that needs to leave my body, almost uncontrollably. “Then fucking spit it out,” I say, pivoting to face him.

“Order of Ash,” he says, licking his lips. “My cat saw them depart, and saw who had Jane.”

“You can talk to cats now,” I state, feeling like I’m going crazy. Isthatwhat’s wrong? Has something in me been compromised?

“Shadow cats can when they imprint on someone.” He glances my way, speaking as if these facts annoy him. “I, unfortunately, have to listen to everything she says. Including her severe judgement of most of humankind… and that the ship’s rats were too sinewy.”Basilisk, in all his rugged glory, doesn’t quite match the caretaker of acat. “You should probably go tell Tempest. Save that wrath, Soren. We’ll have an opening. I feel it, and I know you do, too. I know you don’t trust your gut right now; I’ve been there. Many times. But we are freed of Misery’s influence, which means our powers serveusnow. Including our heart, and our survival. If your instincts told you one thing, it was for areason. We will find Jane. And I’ll help you massacre them all.”