Page 70 of The Blood Rites

Marissa looks exhausted, and I don’t feel much better myself. Callen seems to grow more distant with every step. He barely answers Marissa’s questions, just shrugs or gives one-word responses. After a while, I risk one of my own:

“Who do you think it was?”

Callen’s expression darkens, but Marissa answers first: “I hope it wasn’t one of the Waterborn girls, they were so kind to me.”

Callen laughs, but it’s not out of humour. “It will be all of us in the end. We’re already dead. The Mother Shard just hasn’t counted us yet.”

I want to scream at him or break something. Instead, I keep moving, forcing my feet to take another step.

The heat grows steadily worse. The horizon seems to warp and bend with the heat, and our uniforms are soaked through with sweat.

We stop for a break behind a large boulder that offers some shade. Marissa sinks to the ground, cradling her bloodied hands. I tear a small strip from my shirt and try to bandage her fingers.

Callen just stands there, hands on hips, staring at nothing. Every muscle is taut, like he’s bracing for a fight.

“What’s wrong with you?” I finally snap. “You’ve been pissed at me since we woke up here?”

He turns, and there is fury in his eyes. “Not everything is about you, Luceris.” He says my name with disgust, spitting it out as if it were poison. “I’m just done with this. I’m done with you.”

Marissa’s eyes dart between us, small and frightened.

“What does that mean?” I say, rising to my feet.

Callen takes a step forward, getting in my face. “It means I don’t trust you. You lied about everything. You said you couldn't channel. You fucking lied to me!”

“I was scared.” I snap, louder than I mean to. “I’ve been hiding my whole life.”

He purses his lips and clicks his tongue. “That’s just not good enough. And you haven’t been hiding at all. You’ve been involved in just about every fight since we got here.”

He cocks his head, spreading his arms as if daring me to deny it. “You always end up at the centre of it. That Shadowborn can’t stop circling you. I see the way you look at him.”

Marissa flinches, her face going pale.

I try to stay calm. “Kael is dangerous, but he’s not—”

I stop, unsure what Kael really is.

Callen leans in, the corner of his mouth curling. “Kael, is it? Well... he’s not what? Not what you want?”

Marissa stutters, trying to break us apart as tears fill her eyes. “Please—stop this—”

But he ignores her. “I’ve seen you with him. I’ve seen the way he touches you. It’s disgusting.”

My stomach drops.

“What are you talking about?”

He sneers. “Don’t play dumb with me now. I know what you are. I should have known from the start.”

I ball my fists, and my nails cut into my palms. “How is that any of your business?”

He laughs, short and dismissive. “It’s everyone’s business. You think the Blessed didn’t know? You were chosen because you’re a fucking perversion.”

The words land somewhere behind my ribs, and I forget how to breathe.

Marissa steps between us, hands trembling as she tries to push us back.

“Don’t,” she pleads, her voice shaking. “Please don’t do this. Please, Callen.”