Travelling the Veil usually took nothing at all; it was like an instinct, like teleporting. Closing your eyes and then you were there.
But right now, because of whatever trick Saint’s mother had played on him, he couldseethe Veil, like a shimmery fog all around him. Each time he reached for a corner, trying to peel it back, to see into the mortal realm, it was like dipping his fingers in a smoke made of acid.
Knowing he couldn’t go to Saint bleeding, he healed himself quickly and tried again. Manipulating the aether was another thing that was as easy as breathing. Knight had just never done itlong enough that it made every inch of him ache, like he’d been bashed all over with a battering ram.
But the longer he tried to pull back the Veil, every inch of him straining, the more solid the Veil began to feel.
His mind and heart were locked on Saint, and he began to catch glimpses. Hazy images of Saint being stripped naked. Strapped kneeling to an elevated stone slab. Was he in a church?
He could hear a faint ringing, like toiling bells.
Knight.
He jolted. “Saint?” he said out loud. Had that been him? Or had Knight been so desperate for him he’d hallucinated his voice?
Knight, Saint repeated, his voice calm and clear and so fucking lovely Knight wanted to sob.I need you.
Knight grit his teeth. Ignoring the pain in his limbs, the pain that was threatening to split his head, he grabbed the smoke in front of him like it was a cloth andripped.
They’d taken Saint’s clothes off, leaving him in just his underwear, and had forced him to kneel facing the pews. His arms were held out and tied down by his sides, forcing him to maintain his posture or risk dislocating his shoulders.
None of the people had arrived yet, just Pastor Zeke and his lackeys.
And Saint’s father. He’d been the one to strip Saint naked. Saint refused to meet his eyes. He was sitting there right now, in the front pew to Saint’s left.
If he hadn’t been bound so tightly, he’d have been shaking. Not with fear or cold, but with his burning rage. His heart felt cold, his very soul seething with hatred.
Pastor Zeke had changed into his vestment and was holding a Bible. He paced in front of Saint, mouthing an impromptu sermon. On top of the stone slab by Saint’s knees, his thin, polished wooden cane glimmered.
I hate you, Saint thought.I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.
Then, with every fibre of his being:Knight. Knight, Ineedyou.
A few seconds later, he blinked rapidly. There was someone standing at the end of the nave, between the rows of pews. He’d appeared like a phantom from white smoke.
Dark wings arched high. Glowing red eyes. Thick ram-like horns and a slowly, flicking tail. Swirling black robes, and deep, purple skin. His hands were fisted by his sides. Saint faintly noticed they were leaking something, dark liquid dripping slowly from his fists to the floor. Was that blood?
When he blinked again, Knight had moved.
All the men turned to look when they heard the sound of a bloody gurgle as Knight ripped the nearest man’s throat out, and the body hit the floor.
Then chaos.
The men began to run, most of them shouting. Knight popped in and out of existence, leaving the men dropping like flies. Some managed to escape through the side doors. Pastor Zeke had been the first to move, running in the direction of the sacristy.
The air burned in Saint’s throat with the iron taste of blood when he was the only one left in the main hall.
Knight popped into existence in front of the altar and tore his bonds off. Then fell into his arms.
On his next blink, they were gone.
FOURTEEN
“Knight.”
Knight’s head lolled. He was lying on a familiar bed, his head cradled in someone’s lap. Vaguely, he could hear a dog barking. “Why is Knight the Dog still outside?” A strangled laugh that sounded like it was strangely mixed with a sob met his ears. His eyes fluttered open. He smiled, though it felt wobbly around the edges. “Hey, bunny.” He frowned, blinking rapidly to focus his gaze. “Why do you look so distraught?”
“How can I help you?” Saint was saying desperately. “You’re bleeding everywhere.Knight!” he yelled when Knight attempted to close his eyes. “Don’t you fucking dare! What do you need? Tell me what you need right now!”
