Mephitic (Anathema #2) - Yolanda Olson

One

He Always Knew

Ichabod

“What?”

The sound of shock in my voice is enough to draw Lakyn’s attention away from Aftyn. He gives me a sidelong glance, the grin growing tight on his lips before he runs a hand back through his hair and shrugs.

“What?” he echoes, his eyes becoming hard and stern. His visage tells me that he doesn’t think this is the time for me to be brave, but I know him better than he knows himself—and having me stand up to him usually puts him in a good, yet dangerous mood.

“You told me you didn’t know where Bea was. Every time I’ve asked you, you said you never kept track of her,” I accuse in a shaky tone.

I’m sure I resemble Aftyn when he first saw Lakyn’s face. Fists balled at my sides, shaking from slight anger, and wondering what Lakyn’s next move will be.

“Nooooo,” Lakyn corrects with a smile. “I said that I didn’t care. Big difference.”

Damn near twenty years spent being his whipping boy, and I’m not entirely sure why I’m so shocked right now. Lakyn Meyer has never been one to tell a lie—it’s something he abhors, but it sure as fuck has never stopped him from bending the truth to suit his needs.

“So, where is she?” I bark at him.

The room falls silent as Lakyn makes a show of sidestepping to stand right in front of me. He tilts his head to the side and looks me straight in the eyes. Usually that’s enough to unnerve me, but not this time.

Not when Bea’s whereabouts are on the line.

“Well?” I press as bravely as I can.

Lakyn rolls his eyes as he glances at his son, then the two girls behind him, before he shrugs and goes back to his seat. “See what you guys did? Now this one is gonna be bitching at me for the rest of my life.”

A dramatic sigh escapes him as he leans back in the chair and turns his face toward the ceiling. It’s almost like he’s experiencing some kind of cosmic blowjob, but if he thinks that letting this piece of news slip is going to make me feel frisky, he’s got another thing coming.

“Anyway,” he continues as he sits upright again and rolls his shoulders. His eyes go back to Aftyn. “What do you say? Wanna meet your auntie?”

Aftyn sniffles next to me and I reach over to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Lakyn likes to keep his secrets, but at the very least, this one should be acknowledged more than just the lame joke I tried for a reaction.

“Hey,” Lakyn barks. I glance over at him and he shakes his head. Ever the control freak, I think as I square my jaw.

But I don’t drop my hand, if anything I give Aftyn’s shoulder a squeeze and when he turns his eyes toward me, I motion with my head for him to sit with me on the couch, which he does.

Once we’re comfortable I put my hands on my knees and lean forward, my eyes on the man that’s used me and abused me for more than half of my life and I clench my teeth.

Beatrix St. Germain has been my best friend since she found me digging through some dumpsters to feed my family. I was fifteen years old, hungry, tired, and unaware of the real evil that hides in the world… and she did her best to keep me safe from it.

Her best wasn’t good enough, though. Even so, I never really had an unkind thing to say about her. If anything, I always wanted to be the reason she smiled, felt happy and safe, and maybe one day even loved.

But the bastard in front of me has always been the opposite of Beatrix’s good qualities and when our adventures were over, I found out that she was worse than him.

She bartered me.

A payment to Lakyn for helping her reach her ascension, and I’ve been nothing more than a piece of meat to be tenderized and fucked mercilessly ever sense.

Still.

I can’t help but wish that he’d love me.

Even just a little bit.

I rub my face with my hands irritably.

I know that I’ll never be anything more than the dutiful pup that wants to please his owner at every turn. Any time that I try to grow a pair and stand up to him, it never works.

Ever.

This time has to be different, though.

He’s held something from me that I’ve been desperate to know, to touch, to feel again,