Page 39 of Malice

But it’s not like that.

The Order has a lot of hateful, racist and sexist members. They hate anyone who’s different and use it as an excuse to kill. Not every single person in the Order feels that way, and if they’ve been raised to believe that, is it really their fault? Isn’t ignorance and hate a cycle that gets perpetuated because of lack of education?

Someone has to stop the cycle, but if you lack the intelligence to have free thinking, are you a victim or an abuser?

It’s too complicated, and all I know right now is that innocent hunters will die unless we intervene. But how—I have no fucking idea.

“It’s not just vampires who don’t want them here,” I say, going with a less is more approach. “There are other supernatural beings who benefited from not being hunted. And they look to Xavier to keep them safe.”

Leo slows, looking at me with wide eyes. “So the whole supernatural mafia rumor is true? The vamps and the werewolves have teamed up?”

Both my brothers slow their pace, looking at me.

“Xavier keeps the peace in this area not just between vampires and hunters, but between, well, everyone. You can look at the crime stats,” I say, remembering what Delphi had told me. “Human on human crime is still much higher than vampire on human and it’s significantly gone down since Xavier has come back to the city. You know he and his brothers pretty much founded this area? They made it possible for the humans who built this city to, well, build it.”

“It’s so weird your husband is like a billion years old,” Leo jokes and some of the tension leaves me. I miss the version of him I could trust. Not just with my life, but with my thoughts and feelings, too.

“Hey, at least he’s got the experience to back it up.”

“Gross, Wren,” they both say at the same time.

“So hunters are moving toward the coast,” Leo says, breathing heavily as we continue our run. “I don’t think your impulsive hubby is going to like it. Or Theo. He seems almost more unhinged.”

“Theo is more impulsive and very dedicated to upholding the family name. He acts then thinks. Xavier is calculated,” I say, deciding to leave out the part about how I once watched Xavier calmly rip the heart out of another vampire just for trying to hit on me. Or that one time he stabbed a fork all the way through someone’s hand, pinning it to the table, because he insulted me.

The way Xavier murders with poise is terrifying.

You would never see it coming. You could sit down at a fancy restaurant, be nearly through your five courses and think things are going great and then, without warning, his hand will be inside your chest, fingers squeezing the literal life out of your heart. He’ll pull it out quickly and hold it in front of you knowing you’ll get a second or two to look at your own beating heart in terror before bringing it to his mouth and sucking the blood out of the aorta like it’s a juice box.

And he would do it all with his sleeves rolled up so he wouldn’t get his designer shirt bloody.

“Whatever is going on,” I continue. “The Order is making a mistake going up against the Maluses. It would be nice to be a step ahead and stop them before anyone has to get hurt. But I would say that’s wishful thinking.”

“I really hate to say this again, Wren,” Antonio starts, looking at me as he picks up the pace again. “I think we need Ryder. You guys seem to be able to get along.”

“Getting along was never the issue,” I reply honestly. “We always got along.” I no longer feel the need to get into it. I really do think, at his core, Ryder is a good person. What happened between us was horrible and tragic and, yeah, could have been avoided if he had any semblance of a spine. He lied right to my face, promised me safety and love and a life together.

And that was wrong. It was mean. It hurt so much to have everything ripped out from underneath me like I meant nothing.

But now, I see things clearly and it also hurts him. He’s the one who has to live with what he did, and not only does he have to live with the pain of losing the person he loved, but he will forever have to live with the fact that he was a coward.

He couldn’t stand up for himself.

“Then what’s the problem?” Leo asks, already sounding a little out of breath. Running with a hangover is no joke. “You seem like you’ve forgiven him.”

“I have,” I reply. “It’ll be fine.” I force a smile and pick up the pace. The issue isn’t me at all. I really have forgiven Ryder. If I’m being totally honest, I feel bad for him too. But he hurt me, and once Xavier finds out everything that happened, he’ll want to hurt him too.

Chapter

Fifteen

The sun is setting by the time we get back to the house. It’s been a while since I’ve covered that much distance during a run, and if I’m feeling it, then Leo certainly is as well. We eat, and then I go upstairs to take a shower.

Mental exhaustion crashes down on me and I turn the water on, pausing outside the large shower to let the water warm up. I close my eyes, trying to clear my mind.

Florence.

Quickly inhaling, I open my eyes and turn around. There’s no one but me in here, and the door is shut behind me. But I know that voice, and the pin-prick in the center of my right palm starts to burn and I try to shut the demon out.