Page 146 of Sorrow & Strangers

“You okay?”

I glance at her. “You sure this is a good idea?”

She nods stubbornly, her eyes flashing with determination. Fine, let’s get this over with. I head toward the weight racks, starting with something familiar to me almost by rote. Summer’s eyes follow me even as she heads toward the cardio machines, practically boring holes into me with her concern. Is she going to do that the whole time we’re here?

Feed, devour, consume.

I jump at the way the demon’s voice echoes in my mind. My head snaps up, my eyes scanning the gym to find who has caught his interest. A berserker with a buzz cut is closing the distance to us. I slam my back against the wall, sliding along it as he continues to stride toward me.

“Back off,” I warn.

I recognize him as he gets closer, but it does nothing to assuage my panic or the demon’s bloodlust. Romulus. Prick.

“Rafe! It’s okay.” Summer jumps between us, holding her hands up reassuringly.

“You said it would be just us.” She swore it.

I scoot along the wall, digging my claws into the wall at my back as the demon’s voice grows louder and more insistent.

“He runs the gym,” she says.

“I need to go now!” But my claws burrow deeper into the stone, anchoring me even more.

“Rafe,” Max says, greeting me calmly as he moves closer.

Sweat drips down my neck with the effort of resisting the need to devour him.

“Sum, why don’t you do some cardio, and I’ll work with Rafe,” the berserker says to Summer, never taking his dark eyes off me.

No. No, no, this is all wrong. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be here.

Summer waits a long moment, glancing between the two of us before she slowly moves toward a treadmill.

“Listen, dick⁠—”

The fist comes out of nowhere, hitting me square in the face. I vaguely hear Summer shouting and the berserker’s reply, but the violence and sudden pain have unleashed the demon completely. My claws rip from the wall, and I launch at Max, my body weight sending us into a stack of free weights. The floor trembles as they fall, our bodies following. We roll, each of us seeking purchase. My fangs snap, and claws grasp as the demon howls.

Devour. Devour. Devour.

Max grabs one of the free weights and hits me across the face with it, sending me soaring into the wall.

Feed. Feed. Feed.

The berserker is on me in a flash. He yanks me away from the wall and spins me to face Summer, his meaty arm collaring my neck. I slash and bite at him, to no avail. Gods, are all berserkers this strong?

“Now, calm down, you’re distressing your sister,” Max admonishes. His voice is amused, and he barely sounds winded.

My sister. Summer. Focus on Summer. Her eyes are filled with worry, and she doesn’t move closer. Is she afraid of me? The thought makes even my demon pause, giving me the chance to grapple some control back from him. I thrash in Max’s iron grip, trying to force myself free, but he’s immovable.

“Show her you’ve got this,” he whispers, squeezing my throat tighter.

He wants me to prove that I can control the demon. I can control myself. I can do this. My ragged breaths become less labored and start to even out. I don’t want Summer to think this is her fault. That I’m an out-of-control monster because I gave her a moment to say goodbye to Con.

Connor. Think of Connor. A sense of calm begins to suffuse my body as my claws and fangs retract. Max finally releases me, pushing me away from him.

“You’re a dick,” I cough, spinning to glare at him.

“Sum.” The berserker ignores me. “What color were my eyes during the fight?”