Insidious(44)

“Only Mages and pureblood Reapers were ever known to bring the dead back to life. It’s not a talent Changelings and Hellhounds possess.”

That foreign feeling stirred beneath my skin, pulling at my insides, as if it could sense what I was thinking.

The bird that hit the house.

The bird that had been dead.

The bird that I’d brought back to life.

How?





Chapter 10

Seven Nation Army





Adam offered to drop Reese back off at the mall once we were finished, promising to take me home afterward. I stole a look in the backseat, seeing Reese rubbing the back of his head tenderly. He obviously still hadn’t fully healed yet. Just as he brought his hand back down, the streetlights overhead highlighted the sliver of skin exposed between his sleeve and fingerless glove. I froze.

Reese noticed where my eyes had settled, and he suddenly yanked the fabric of his shirt down.

We pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later. Reese didn’t say another word, bolting from the Jeep.

“You’re welcome,” muttered Adam under his breath.

I opened my door as well.

“Kat?”

“I forgot, I need to pick up a delivery for my mom at the boutique,” I said, gesturing to the building. “Carly and Daniel are here. I’ll grab a ride with them.”

“I can wait,” assured Adam.

“No. I could use a little space, some time to process everything. I’ll be fine. Thank you.” I hurried off to the front entrance, hearing Adam’s Jeep drive off behind me. Confirming he was gone, I looked over my shoulder and bolted sideways through the parking lot. Finding my way back to the Cineplex, I spotted Reese hastily walking towards his truck parked in the far back of the lot.

“Hey!” I called out, running up to meet him.

He stiffened, but didn’t turn.

“What is that?”

“What’s what?” He tried to sound purely annoyed, but it was obvious he was flustered.

“Don’t play dumb with me.” I snatched his wrist, pulling up his sleeve. “What is this?”

Reese yanked his hand away, frantically shoving the material back down. His voice fell quiet as he nervously looked around the desolate parking lot. “Nothing. It’s just a tattoo. Let it go.”

He started making his way back to his rusty old truck, but I cut him off. “Bullshit. Those symbols,” I said, pointing to his arm, “They mean something. What?”

Reese rolled his eyes and scoffed, as per usual. “Why do you care? Everything you need to know, your boyfriend already told you. I’m sure you’ll find him to be far better company than me. Okay?”

Heat started to singe the inside of my left hand, and I could feel blood rushing to my ears as he plowed past me again. “What the hell is your problem?”

He stalled, but didn’t turn around to face me.

“All I ever tried to do is be nice to you, and you treat me like shit! Why?”

“Get in the truck.” The words were barely audible, and I wasn’t sure if I heard him right. But he nodded over to the vehicle just the same, unlocking both the doors.

“No,” I snapped. “Not till you tell me what’s going on.”

“I am. Get in the truck,” Reese growled through clenched teeth. “Please.”

I reluctantly rounded the old beater and climbed into the passenger seat, slamming the door a bit more forcefully than I had intended. Reese got behind the wheel, but didn’t say anything.

“Well?”

“I can’t risk being near you,” he finally grounded out, his breathing ragged and sharp.

“…because?” I urged, seeing him fall silent once more. When he didn’t answer, I kicked the passenger door open. “Unbelievable.”

“I’m not trying to be an asshole,” Reese muttered.

“And yet you’ve achieved it admirably,” I quipped, climbing out.

“I’m not a Reaper. Or a Changeling.”

I froze again, my foot failing to connect with the pavement.

“And I’m not a Hellhound,” he quickly added, clearly spotting the evident look of fear in my eyes. There was something on Reese’s own face I’d never seen before, except for the night at the gas station. He looked…scared.

My hand slid off the door handle, and I apprehensively settled back into the seat.

Reese already seemed to be regretting what little he had already said, but he nevertheless pulled up the sleeve to his tattooed arm. Just like me, his entire forearm was covered in patterned metallic ink. “They’re runes. When a Mage comes of age, he or she receives their own distinct set. Each rune represents a unique ability. The more powerful the Mage, the more powerful their runes will be.”