Page 40 of This Blood That Breaks Us

“Luke, we’ll be with Ezra today. We’re meeting clients in Derry.”

“I’d rather do that.”

Sirius didn’t even have to say anything. With the lowering of his brows, I shut up. It wasn’t fear but respect. Sirius was clear cut. He loved the queen and was loyal. He didn’t hide that he’d throw me into a woodchipper in a heartbeat for this place. I liked the honesty.

“Let me guess, I get to watch over these two as well.” I sighed.

“Unless you’d like to lock them up all day. It’s your choice.”

I cocked my head at Will with a taunting smile, and he flipped me off behind Sirius’s back.

“I’m sure I’ll figure out something for them to do.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me? I can ask Her to let me stay with you so you don’t have to be alone.” Luke rubbed at the skin around his nails.

“I’ll be okay. Stop worrying.”

Luke knew all my secrets. That’s why he was worried. A nasty habit. He was overthinking, wondering if I’d tell him if something went wrong.

“I promise I’ll tell you about my shitty feelings if needed. But it will be fine.”

He nodded.

Whatever Her plan was, I would not let it get me down. I’d decided to be neutral about it. There was still hope that Iwouldget to hang out with this so-called vulnerable, nice girl Luke mentioned.

I would believe it when I saw it.

I pushed the double doors open.

She had Her hands wrapped around Henderson’s arm as She drank from him. Something hot ran through me all at once. I held my breath first, fearing it was Her blood that made me sick to my stomach, but I had a grip. I wasn’t losing control.

Was I jealous?Fuck.

I couldn’t watch, so I looked down at my shoes and thought about how fucking ugly they were. I hated the suits. Day number who knew in hell, and every day, I had to wear an itchy shirt.

When She was done, She smiled at me, wiping the blood from Her lips.

“Ah. I was waiting for you.”

Henderson bowed before pulling a hand through the dark curls on top of his head. He flashed those canines at me in a smirk as he walked past me. I clenched my fists. It would be so satisfying to rip his head off and shove it down his throat, and I could do stuff like that. No one would bat an eye.

“You seem tense.”

I tried to detect a hint of anything different. Her eyes were the same. No green, but a weird hazy, grayish white that made me feel like I was talking to a corpse. That’s all She was. Some holy being that walked around in a girl’s dead body.

“You look like hell,” I said.

“Didn’t your mother teach you how to treat a woman?”

Yep. Same bitch. Different day.

“You’re not a woman, so . . . ”

“Not a woman? Then this won’t bother you.”

She pulled down the sleeves of Her white silk gown, and it fell to the floor. Instinctively, I averted my gaze. I guessed I’d have to admire my shoes some more.

“Follow me.”