Burn (28 page)

Logan takes off his jacket and swings it around my shoulders. It carries his scent—all of his warmth.

“It’s too hard to be away from you,” I say. There isn’t anything more
true
in this entire world.

He presses his lips together and leans in close to my ear.

“When the faction war is over, we can be together if that’s what you
want
.” He pulls back and lets me see the heaviness in his eyes. He presses out a dry smile. “But according to Gage, you won’t choose me.”

Chapter Thirty-
Eight

Lead Me

Dr. Oliver is already in bed when we get to the house. Logan runs up to get him as Gage settles me at the breakfast table, the usual spot where I pay my medical visits. I’m starting to think of this place less as Gage or Logan’s house, and more like the Oliver free clinic.

“Another infliction?” Dr. Oliver is wearing white and blue striped flannel pajamas and now he’s really starting to feel like my own dad—definitely more of a dad than Tad will ever be.

He pulls off the blood-encrusted tie and glances briefly at the slanted incision.

“I’m going to glue you.
I like that better than stitches.
Let’s see the hand.”

I raise my other arm.

“It’s not infected, just banged up a bit. Skins healing nicely.” He pulls down my choker to inspect the wound on my neck. “
Skyla
, you’re incredibly anemic.”

“Put some of my blood back in me.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. Besides, your body is working hard to regenerate, just keep out of trouble.”

Gage looks at me wild-eyed as though that were impossible.

“I will,” I say it with authority. I can believe almost any of my own lies.

Once he finishes pressing my skin back together, he says goodnight and heads upstairs.

Gage helps me over to the family room and onto the navy corduroy couch. I love sitting here, comfortable and warm next to Gage, listening to his steady breathing.

Logan breezes in with a clipboard and wags it in the air before handing it to Gage.

Attached is the crinkled piece of paper I was clutching, complete with bloodied fingerprints.

“What is this?” I’m too far gone with fatigue to read the tiny font, too many letters crammed on one page.

“It’s from Arson
Kragger’s
office, Attorney at Law,” Logan says that last part drawn out in a sarcastic drawl. “They know you crashed the truck into
Kragger’s
Hummer, or at least believe you did, and they’re threatening to take legal action against your parents. They’re threatening them with the loss of their home.” Logan taps near the line that reads equity at or below five hundred thousand dollars.

“Are you serious?” My entire body goes numb with shock. “It was
Pierce
. He said he knew I killed his brother, and if I told, he’d turn me in.”

“You think he messed with things to keep you out of jail?” Gage doesn’t sound convinced.

“That day with Marshall, we went to see
Ezrina
…she had Holden’s body, she found
Celestra
DNA. Yeah, I think Pierce might be the key to keeping me out of cell block five.” I stare into the carpet.
 

“Crap.” Gage pulls me in, warms my shoulder with his hand.

Logan kneels down beside me. He pulls the bloodied paper off the top of the clipboard exposing a list of names, towns,
provinces
.

“The list you wanted. I did some research and found out where the
Celestra
that were killed lived.” He flicks his finger at the paper. “Regional leaders.”

“They’re the ones that needed to approve the bloodshed?” I ask.

“Yup.” Logan’s jaw tightens. He doesn’t take his eyes off me, or offer me an out to his bionic stare. There’s something surging here, a distinct emotion pulsating between the two of us, and I’m not quite sure how to read it.

“Give me the regional leader’s name for the Los Angeles council.” I want to nail the bastard who thought it was a good idea to burn my father.

Logan pushes the page back and strums his fingers against the board.

“I’m one step ahead of you.”

It reads, D.
Edinger
 

***

I finally manage to crawl into bed. I don’t bother to take off the shoes or the dress two sizes too
small,
instead, I greedily close my eyes and start floating off to sleep—glorious sleep. A loud hissing sound erupts, and I flip my light on in a panic only to find Ellis standing in my room.

“I thought you were a Fem. You scared the crap out me!” I snap.

“We have a date.”

“Why would I want to go back with you? Why would I go anywhere with you after you fed me pot-laced brownies?” Honestly, I’d take Ellis on a light drive, but already this has been one freaking long ass day.

“Nobody forced them down your throat.” Ellis gives a low guttural laugh.

People have been forcing a lot of things down my throat lately, like knives, and straws, and fangs, but I guess Ellis is right—the brownies sort of went down voluntarily.

“Come on, we’ll be quick,” he whispers.
 

“I don’t think I can do it. I’ve had my superpowers revoked.” I try and push him away with my foot.

“What’s the matter?” He gives a critical stare.

“I’m anemic.”

“Let’s try,” he insists.

Ellis and his unsinkable spirit.
I shake my head and I look over at Chloe’s diary sitting there, in
all of its
malevolent splendor.

“OK, Let’s try.” I get out of bed and hold Ellis by the hand.

Maybe if I can somehow get us there, Chloe herself can give me the answers I’m looking for.

***

The night air on Paragon, albeit one-year
stale,
spears through my dress, turns the chains across my back into icicles.

It all feels rather déjà vu-
ish
. I don’t know if that’s because we’ve been here for what feels like a gazillion times or if it’s because only a few hours ago homecoming was reprising itself.

“Give me your hand.” I take him by the arm and touch his flesh, not waiting for him to respond. “Say something.” I’m so shocked that I managed to land us here—I’m hoping everything is back in working order. I hone in on him and focus on hearing his thoughts.

Ellis raises his brows in a seductive manner.

“You didn’t hear me.” He rakes his fingers through his hair before taking off.

Ellis goes straight to work. He doesn’t bother drawing me into conversations about his duplicate self, hooking up with some girl, or multiple girls from East.

I walk through the darkened house full of partially inebriated bodies.

Usually, while Ellis gets his stash, I’m cowering in the back staring at Logan while he talks to
Carly
or watching Gage from a safe distance, in the event he tries to make out with me again—although I wouldn’t really mind.

The fireplace hisses like a whispering lion. The mouth—the opening is enormous, easily a person can fall in, burn just like my father did, like those
Celestras
.

The family room expands before me and I see her sitting on the couch with her bare legs hanging over the edge, bright red polish on her toes.

“
Skyla
?” Chloe crinkles her nose in amusement. “How’s it going?” The tiara dangles crooked in her hair.

“Congratulations.” I don’t bother answering her question.

A boisterous crowd rushes in. Chloe’s eyes widen at something behind me, and she spins herself to an upright position.

“What’s going on?” A guy with brown wavy hair and giant bee-stung
lips,
appears by my side.
 

“Private conversation.” Chloe gets up and pushes him away.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” His eyes are dull as coal.

“Holden.” She stretches her hand over him.

Shit!

He looks boyish, harmless, and, of all the things I don’t want him to be—nice.

“And who is this mouth-watering piece of ass?” He sneers in my direction.

That’s better. I’m glad he was able to eradicate some of my guilt, not that I’m looking for justification. It was a total accident. Or, at least, I believe it was.

“No one you need to know.” Chloe sinks her hands in his chest. “Get lost. I think Ellis is running low on supplies, maybe you can conduct business and leave us the hell alone.”

Perfect. He’s a dealer, too. Add that to his growing list of charming traits. Not that Ellis has needed his services for a good long while. That’s what I’m for now.

“I must be dead.” He sweeps his eyes over me while circling me slowly. “Because I think I’m looking at an angel.”

Right on both counts.
“I’m not from around here,” I say.

Chloe holds up a finger, advising me to be quiet.

“Alright.” He holds his arms out and backs away.

Chloe turns to collect her shoes from off the floor. She bunches up her baby blue gown and it gives the illusion she’s encapsulated in a giant storm cloud. Chloe is her own weather system—a hurricane—somehow I find this plausible.

Holden comes in tight, grabs my wrist and massages the incision his brother inflicted.

“So nice to see you,
Skyla
.” He gives the slight hint of a laugh. “We must meet like this again.” He pushes his face into mine and presses his lips on the side of my face.

Chloe barrels over and pulls me out towards the door. I turn around and he’s gone—vanished like smoke.

Chapter Thirty-
Nine

Into the Woods

I follow Chloe outside as the fog breathes over us in cold jagged sighs. My teeth start in on a violent chatter—I’m not sure if it’s because I’m suddenly beyond freezing or the fact I think I just had a formal introduction to Holden
Kragger’s
ghost.

We round out the side of the fence and drift towards the thicket of trees to the left of the house.

“What are you doing?” I break free from her grasp. I know what happens in these woods, and I know damn well I can’t stop her from dying thanks to my father’s unfortunate demise.

“Are you crazy walking around in there?” Her eyes flash. “You’re going to impress yourself on all those people.” She continues deeper into the forest.

The shadows of the branches fall to the ground like battling swords.