Chapter 24

I stand in my walk-in closet and stare at my clothes, dumbfounded. Who the hell am I?

My limbs ache, and my nipples are so sore I can barely touch them. I can't even wear a bra. The deviancy they've pulled me into is like a drug. I want more even though I know it might destroy me. My pussy tingles at the slightest thought of them. I'm obsessed. Raithe, Mordecai, and Fabien are all I want. All I've ever wanted.

I push through my designer clothes, soured by the look of them. They don't fit me anymore. The actual fit is fine; it's the vibe. I'm not trying to present spoiled princess. They're just reminders of the life I was trapped in. They were bought with poison money. My father's money. Funds he received from countless business deals that I helped broker with my teenage body.

I feel sick.

Fuck.

I suppressed so many emotions for so long. Until I got to Absentia. Until I met my monsters. Maybe Penny Blackwell did me a favor. The bitch is still gonna pay, though. Fuck that old crazy bitch. She sits on her throne in Ever Graves, pulling all our strings like we're fucking puppets. I just hope Maureen doesn't object.

I need her blessing. And her forgiveness.

A plain white sweater catches my eye. I slip that over my bare breasts, wincing as the fabric rubs against my nipples. "Holy fuck."

After going through every drawer, I finally find a pair of ripped jeans that are definitely not mine. One of Aries's one-night stands must've left them. I sigh and try not to think about my twin. I defiled his bed, his sex toys, and his fucking camera. I still need to convince Mordecai to burn that tape. He couldn't really be serious about sending that to my brother…

I slip into a pair of black boots and then face the mirror. Holy shit. I don't look like the old me at all. My face is makeup-free except for a little dab of lip gloss and a thin layer of mascara.

Even my perfumes don't smell like me anymore. I opt for Aries's cologne instead. It's earthy and fresh, like the woods of Raven's Gate.

I finish by throwing my blonde hair up into a messy bun.

The guys are quiet this morning. We woke up tangled in each other's limbs, but they didn't protest when I got up to shower by myself. I guess they figured I'd been through enough last night. As much as I welcomed the alone time, a part of me craved their presence in the hot steam.

How have I gone so long without them?

There are secrets only we share. Things that no one else can understand. And not just because of our time in Absentia Asylum. No. We have given our blood, sweat, tears, and cum to the poison fields. We know secrets about our world. About my family. Secrets that have stayed buried long enough.

I enter the dining room to find the three of them sipping coffee around the table. My breath hitches at the sight of them, showered and looking like angelic demons in their blood-stained clothes from the asylum.

I get it now. It was an innocent gesture, offering them Aries's clothes. But now I understand why it offended them so much. They are proud men. They earned every single stain and scar. Dressing in clothes that don't belong to them is blasphemy. I feel it even in mine. They are so much more than clothes. They represent your identity. They show the world your status, how much money you possess. And it means nothing in the end. Because none of it can protect us. Only we can protect each other.

They scramble to stand up when they see me, like gentlemen, a gesture I'm not expecting. It makes me smirk. "How can a girl get a cup of coffee?"

As Raithe pours me one, he snickers. "Be careful, Lib. I might actually demand you do something despicable for it."

I shoot him a playful look. "I might do something despicable anyway."

Mordecai leans back in his chair, his gaze feral as he focuses on me. "You look beautiful. Different than you used to though."

I shrug. "I'm still trying to figure it all out."

Fabien passes me the sugar but holds onto it when I try to wrench it from his grip. "Some might even say you're camera-ready."

I roll my eyes at him. Some sugar spills onto the table when I yank the jar away. "Yeah, about that. I'm going to need that tape."

Raithe arches an eyebrow at me. "You realize he wasn't actually recording, right?"

My mouth drops open. "I don't believe you."

"I'm not that kind of monster, Libra," Mordecai adds with a smirk. "But it was fun watching you get riled up about it."

My head spins for a second, torn between relief and disappointment. As the two emotions fuck me up, I burst out laughing.

Fabien chuckles. "Looks like someone was hoping she had starred in her own porno last night."

I slap him on the arm as my cheeks flush. " No . That's not what I was hoping," I lie.

Mordecai gazes at me over the rim of his coffee cup. My pussy tingles at the sight of his throat bobbing as he swallows. "If you want us to film you, little freak, we will. But you'll have to ask for it. Own what you want, beautiful."

I feel the heat in my cheeks rising even more. I don't know why when less than twenty-four hours ago, I had two chains as leashes attached to my nipples, and I let them treat me like a pet as I crawled around on all fours. But now, I'm suddenly shy? I have so many issues I haven't even begun to unpack.

Raithe cuts the warmth when he blurts out, "I charged your phone. You have a lot of fucking messages."

I shoot him a glare.

He slides the phone to me. "I didn't read any of them, I swear."

My stomach knots. I'm anxious to see who was worried about me and who wasn't. I've been missing for six months. I'm not sure if I'm ready to see who actually gives a fuck. The fact that my father didn't shut off my cell service should make me happy he still believes I'm alive. But in reality, he probably just got busy and forgot.

Mordecai puts his hand on mine. "Take your time, Lib. We'll wait. And then let us know who you want us to kill."

There's something so strange and satisfying about having this gorgeous man offer to spill blood for me. No matter what happens, his eyes and voice will forever haunt me.

I nod and go into the living room. I take a deep breath as I plop down on one of the leather couches. I don't look at the phone yet, instead I gaze out the window. My heart skips a beat when I spot the raven. It stares back at me through the glass. For a split second, its eyes look like Maureen's. Chills race up my back. I wonder how much I've missed .

I look down at the device in my hands.

Four hundred and fifty-seven messages .

Fuck.

But there's one thing I have to do before I read them.

I click on my brother's avatar. My stomach knots as the phone rings.

"Holy fucking shit. Lib?" Aries answers in a panic.

The sound of his voice unravels me. I burst into tears. "Aries…"

"Are you okay? Where the fuck are you? I'll come get you right now."

I choke back my sobs, trying to form sentences. "I'm okay. I wasn't. But I am now. I have so much to tell you. About what's happened to me. About dad. And what I've been through our whole lives." I break off in a sob again. My brother is my rock. I didn't realize how much I needed him until now.

He sighs into the phone. "It's going to be okay. I'm here. Where are you?"

I sniffle. "I'm at your place in Raven's Gate. But I'm not alone. These guys… they helped me break out of Absentia. I'm going to fucking kill her, Aries. You tell Draven to stay out of my way because I'm not going to stop until Penny Blackwell is dead."

"Whoa, slow down. You were in Absentia Asylum? What guys? I have so many questions, Lib. You need to bring me up to speed. Tell me everything, and I swear I will help you kill her myself."

I nod into the phone even though he can't see me. "The last thing I remember was dancing on a table at a party in Hemlock. I did a bunch of coke and passed out. When I came to, I was trapped in a room in Absentia Asylum."

I spend the next two hours telling my brother everything. From the first days in the asylum all the way to the massacre we committed on our way out. I tell him about Gormon and the bottle of Blackwell gin and Dr. Hall's confession, confirming my suspicions. I leave out the dirty details, but I do also tell him about my relationship with Raithe, Mordecai, and Fabien.

Aries and I have never judged each other for our indiscretions. He's the only one who will understand my addiction to these feral men.

After listening quietly to me, he lets out a deep breath. "I'm so sorry this has happened to you, Lib. You don't fucking deserve this." I can hear my brother sobbing through the phone, and my heart breaks over what I'm about to tell him next.

"There's more, Aries… Remember all those shopping trips I went on after I turned sixteen? It was all a lie. Dad was trading me for money."

"What?" Aries yells.

"That's why I stopped eating. I thought that if I wasn't pretty anymore, they wouldn't want me. But it didn't work. The things they did to me, Aries…"

I can feel his rage through the phone. "I want a list, Libra. Every single one of their fucking names. Dead. All of them are fucking dead. And so fucking help me, I will kill our father too."

More tears stream down my cheeks. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I was ashamed. I didn't want you to look at me differently."

"Shhh, it's okay, Lib. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I love you so fucking much. I can be in Raven's Gate by tomorrow night. Are you safe until then? If not, I'll send Atlas over right now."

"I love you too… You don't need to come here. I'm going to Nocturnus House tonight. There are things we need to clear up. After that, I'm heading to you. To Ever Graves."

"Are you sure, Lib? I will get in the car right now and drive all night."

"I'm sure. Raithe, Mordecai, and Fabien will protect me. They swore an oath to. It was a fucked up oath, but they are honoring it all the same."

Aries sighs again. "I'm activating the tracker on your phone, but that can be tampered with. I need you to send me a text with your location every hour, just in case."

"I will. I promise… I'll see you soon, brother."

"I'm so fucking happy you're alive, Lib. Deep inside, I knew you were. I would've felt your soul leave. I'm sure of it. But hearing your voice… I'm so fucking relieved."

I wipe away the last of my tears. "Me too… But I-I've changed, Aries. I'm not the sister you remember."

"You're my twin, Libra. If you change, I change. We're going to get through this together."

"I want vengeance." I can't hide the iciness of my tone.

"And you'll have it. I'll make sure of it. Be careful, Lib. Remember, text me every hour."

We say our goodbyes and hang up. The weight on my chest feels lifted, knowing I have my brother's full support. I never doubted it, but it's still good to hear him say it.

I spend the rest of the day going through all my messages. There's a few from my teachers at Tenebrose, a couple dozen random messages from people looking to party, but mostly the messages are from Aries, Villette, and Maureen, all frantic to get ahold of me.

Not one single text from my mother or father.

Fucking bastards.

"You ready to go, Lib?" Raithe pops his head in. "Or do you need more time?"

I'm done crying. Done feeling sorry for myself. I don't want any more secrets between me and my friends.

I stand to face him, warmth filling me as I gaze into his beautiful green eye. He's not as tortured as he was when I first met him. Not as angry. At least not with me.

I cross the room and place my hand on his chest. "I'm ready. I've lost enough time as it is."

Fabien has already loaded up the hearse with my bags—a small assortment of clothes that don't make me gag when I look at them. He wedges the two designer duffels in between the cases of Blackwell gin and vials of poison before we hit the road.

I start to feel calmer as we pass the familiar scenery of Raven's Gate. The trees have lost all their leaves, and the air seems to whisper promises of All Hallow's Eve. But as soon as we drive past the gates of Tenebrose Academy, my stomach knots.

An unkindness of ravens flocks our vehicle, squawking and pecking at our windows. There aren't many things that scare me except these fucking birds. They belong to Nocturnus. And as far as they know, I'm strolling into their territory with three of their enemies.

Raithe hisses from the back seat. "Fucking heathens."

Mordecai stalls the car just as we pass the gates. "Do they know we're coming?"

I lock eyes with the raven from earlier. The one who glared at me through the window of Aries's apartment. "They do now."

He nods. "To Nocturnus House then."

As we wind our way there, a familiar chant plays in my head, taunting me… Mors vincit omnia. Death always wins .