Page 27 (1/2)

DAMIEN

“So which one of you is responsible for this?”

She pushed her phone forward confidently, a photograph already taking up the full length of the screen It was the book The one I’d brought back fro to the Hallowed Order, although I was supposed to have forgotten that part

“That would be me,” I said

Serena’s gaze shifted in my direction I could feel the excitement in her now, the rush of adrenaline that came with the heat and turmoil She’d been sated, but only partially And until she was, it would be difficult for her to focus on

I’d been sated of course I’d been called selfish for it, but I honestly didn’t mean it the way it happened

And poor Broderick hadn’t been sated at all

This was my first experience outside of the pack Outside of Karessa I’d fallen back into old habits, back when I hunted in a much different way The pier at Santa Monica The boardwalk The strip Back then I’d been carefree and careless, sun-bronzed and nificent Idolized in the way youth and beauty are alorshiped, until they both inevitably fade

I took woht the felt like it did here, with my brethren With Karessa and Broderick and the rest of the pack Here I belonged There was a sense of kinship and blood Pride too Always pride

At least up until that was suddenly gone

“Do you knohat this represents?” Serena was saying “How important this is?”

The book I’d found was old Dark red leather Bound with raised bands on the spine that looked painted with gold leaf It was in bad shape, almost unreadable But on the cover…

On the cover was a syles, encapsulated by a circle An eye with a crescent moon in the iris

“Not really,” I said “But when I showed it to Xiomara…”

“And how did you know to show it to Xiomara?” Serena jumped in She was still astounded I knew the woman’s name “How are you even aware of her?”