90. Savage

Chapter 90

Savage

" T he call was too strong," Marduk says. "A great beast." He shakes his head. "A great beast."

"Don't speak about him like he's dead!" I cry. "Don't do that, Marduk!"

"Apologies," Marduk says, placing a hand over his heart. "I only wish I had known that the last time he spoke to me, he was saying goodbye."

I frown between my hands where my plate of steak lies untouched. Aurelia draped a blanket around me and put the plate in my hands, saying that she would be back after visiting the animas for dress try-ons, no boys were allowed. "I don't remember what he said to me now," I say to Marduk and Yeti. "Why can't I fucking remember?"

Maybe it was important? But as much as I try to make my mind search for the memory, the words, I come back with nothing.

"Let's run." I set my plate aside and shift. My joints feel irritated, like acid burns between my bones. I need to move to get it out. Yeti and Marduk shift and together, we head for the jungle gym.

When we get back, Yeti and Marduk return to Minnie, and I enter our suite, ready to take a shower. I hear the low drone of voices in the living room. Lyle and Aurelia must be having private time in there. As I pass by, the door opens and out stalks Xander, his eyes flashing black, then white.

"What are you doing?" I ask. "Where is Aurelia?"

"In there." He jerks his thumb over his shoulder, and I change direction to see her.

She's sitting on the couch, in the dark, chewing on a fingernail. When she sees me standing in the doorway, her eyebrows knit together and she sniffs.

The backs of my eyes burn, and though I'm streaked with sweat and dirt, I stride over to her and pick her up off the couch. "Have a shower with me, regina," I say, kissing her on the cheek.

I'm worried about her. Whatever is going on in her head, it can't be good. But the things going on in my head aren't good either. I must take care of her. Scythe would want that, and he would definitely be cross with me if I didn't do a good job. So I take my regina into the bathroom and wash her tears away together with my own.