Page 25

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FIVE

Sunset streamed through the curtains, staining Theo’s bed crimson.

Theo lay perfectly still and watched the light slowly make its way up his body. Eating him, he imagined Kade saying. Kade always came up with weird shit like that. They’d be hanging out and Kade would say a shadow looked like a dragon or that the soap suds were ‘kissing his fingers’ while he did the dishes, turning boring activities into something new and exciting.

Theo gripped the red sheets. On the floor next to him, Sparky lifted her head.

“I’m fine,” he told her. “Quit it.”

Sparky whined and dropped her head back to her paws. He hadn’t let her on the bed in days.

Theo had run full speed through the woods for half an hour before he stopped feeling like he needed to howl. Broke off some branches and a whole tree in the process from not dodging fast enough.

There was a knock at the bedroom door.

Theo sat up. A speck of bark rolled down his face.

“Come in,” Theo said, dusting his hair off for the dozenth time since he got home.

Carol was still wearing her white power suit, even though she would have usually changed into her at-home clothes by now. He supposed she was making up for all the days she’d spent in her PJs.

“I realized we never talked about Sparky,” she started.

Theo tensed. Sparky swiveled her head toward him, her orange eyes wide and questioning. Theo was mad at her, but he never wanted to get rid of her.

“She’s never bitten anyone before,” he said. “We’re working on her aggression, I really think?—”

“She can stay.”

Theo stammered to a stop. “What?”

“She can stay,” Carol repeated, and smiled. It was soft and apologetic. “This week has made me realize what’s important, and that I…I’ve barely seen you. I was thinking you could show me what you’ve been doing in the garden.”

Theo’s chest constricted with panic. He’d been so careful to do it at night, or when she was away.

“I don’t know what you mean,” he tried.

“Parents know, honey.” She didn’t say it like she usually did, tense and warning. She said it like an olive branch. An outstretched hand, waiting for him to take it.

“I’m sorry,” Theo said automatically. Even with the soft way she was looking at him, he couldn’t back down from a lifetime of habits.

“No. We were too hard on you. It’s…a harmless habit.” She cleared her throat and flashed her teeth in a hopeful smile. “I’ll see you down there? I just need to change.”

Theo nodded dumbly.

“Great.” Carol walked over and pressed a kiss to his forehead, something she hadn’t done since he was very young. She ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it with such clear love in her eyes that Theo had to fight not to lean into her touch. They hadn’t mentioned his dad once, but with Carol standing over him ruffling her hair just like he used to, they didn’t need to.

Then her hand was gone. She left the room with another smile, looking relieved and even a little excited.

Theo sat there, scalp tingling. Sparky got up and nosed at his knee, thumping her tail curiously.

“Thanks for not growling at her,” Theo said. He swallowed the lump in his throat and stroked Sparky’s head. “Maybe you really are getting less aggressive.”

Sparky’s tongue lolled out happily. She nosed at Theo’s wrist, pleased to be petted after days of halfhearted scratches or flat-out dismissals. Theo felt guilty, watching her tail wag faster. She hadn’t meant to let Kade get hurt. She was just a dog, and she was doing her best. Maybe he was too hard on her. Maybe?—

A scream echoed through the house.

Theo went rigid. “Mom?”

No answer. Theo and Sparky leapt up in unison. They both bolted for the door, Theo almost tripping over Sparky in his haste. He could hear her heartbeat pulsing hard and fast. She was at the end of the hallway, her breathing strained.

“Mom,” Theo called, bursting into the hall. “What’s going on?”

Theo froze.

His mom stood at the end of the hall, her back pressed against the wall.

Theo’s sire loomed over her. Its wings were folded tight against its body, head scraping the ceiling. It was staring straight at Theo, straight into him.

Theo shuddered. That horrible knowledge sank into his bones: I am his .

“Don’t—” His voice broke. “Don’t you dare touch her.”

The creature cocked its head. A pointy ear twitched.

“ Or what ?” it asked. Its voice sounded like rocks rubbing together.

“I’m gonna kill you,” Theo whispered. His hands shook. Hawthorn would have killed him if Kade hadn’t been there with a distraction and a crochet needle. Cheech’s ax was hidden in the depths of Theo’s closet, wrapped in newspaper. If he tried to run back for it? —

His sire’s arm shot out, grabbing his mom by the wrist and blurring down the stairs.

Theo blurred after them, a cry wrenching from his throat. Sparky followed, tripping over her puppy-large paws.

His sire was waiting for him in the living room. It had one arm around Carol, squashing her to its pale chest. She squirmed, beating at its long, thin arm.

“Theo,” she croaked, tears in her eyes.

“It’s fine,” Theo tried. “Everything’s going to be fine.”

Sparky growled. Her ears were plastered back against her head. She crouched low and barked.

The creature cocked its head at Theo again. I wanted to see what you would do, it had said back in the woods. Would he snap his mother’s neck in front of him out of…what? Pure curiosity?

“ So ,” the creature said. Its arm tightened around Carol’s waist, making her gasp. “ What next, my ? —?”

It stopped. Its head twitched toward the front door just in time for Theo to hear the footsteps.

The front door banged open. Kade’s voice rang down the hallway, filling Theo with hope and terrible dread.

“THEO! It’s him!” Kade skidded to a stop in the living room doorway, gray eyes blowing wide with terror as he took in the creature in the corner of the room.

Aaron stumbled in after him, sweating and pained, cradling a mangled hand and a hunting knife to his chest. Theo couldn’t stop himself from gagging—Aaron’s hand was bent and twisted, the skin black with rot, black veins creeping up toward his elbow. It stunk like decay. There was a hint of bone poking out from Aaron’s pinkie.

Aaron gasped when he saw the sire, color draining from his tanned face. His good hand tightened around the knife blade. He looked at Theo and curled his lip in disgust.

Theo’s stomach sank. He didn’t have to ask: Aaron knew about him.

The creature’s wings snapped out. It dropped Carol to the ground and launched itself at the boys in the hallway, slamming Aaron into the wall and snatching Kade by the shirt collar.

Aaron slumped to the ground, groaning, eyes lolling behind his lids. His head drooped toward his lap.

Kade yelped as the creature flew up toward the ceiling.

Sparky growled. She ran at the creature and crouched low, ready to jump.

The creature’s raspy voice rang through the room: “ Lie down .”

Sparky shuddered. She looked back at Theo, liquid black flickering through her eyes.

Theo shook his head. “Get up,” he demanded.

She shuddered a second time. The liquid black swam through her eyes until the orange was gone. She lay down .

Kade yelped as he dangled from the monster’s grip. “Theo! Shit! It’s?—”

The creature covered Kade’s mouth.

Then it began to change: the hand over Kade’s mouth first, claws melting into blunt fingers. Then its arm, and then its chest. Finally, its face. A man stared down at Theo, hovering high in the middle of the living room. He was dressed in a button-down and slacks, the same clothes Theo had seen him wear for the past sixteen years.

Victor Fairgood inclined his head. A curly strand of blond hair fell over his face.

“Theo,” he said gently. “It’s good to see you.”