Page 55 of Sweet Surrender
“There’s a phone number. And a meeting time. Thursday, three PM.”
“ThisThursday?” That was two days from now.
“Yes.”
“Fuck, okay.” He grabbed his phone. “Read me the address. What’s the plan after you go to the meeting? If you meet any demons there, is your hope that they might know where she is?”
“Yes. Or at least some magical way to find her. She might not be here in Arehjia; she could be anywhere in the mortal realm. I just need a way to find her and save her.”
Saint’s heart constricted. He stopped in the middle of typing and reached out to place a hand on Knight’s knee. “We’ll—” He nearly jumped out of his skin, dropping his phone back on the bed when he heard a ferocious growl. “Jesus.”
Their heads snapped in the direction of Knight the Dog, who had woken up at some point and was now staring in the direction of the front door, growl vibrating in his chest.
They glanced at each other. Saint couldn’t help the way his heart had started pounding, his palms growing slick with fear.
Knight the Dog started barking, the sound deep and slightly alarming.
Knight did something with his hand, his red eyes flashing. He stared at the wall like he could see through it.
“It’s a woman.”
Saint stilled.
No.
It couldn’t be.
Could it?
“What is she doing?” Saint whispered, almost afraid to ask.
Knight shook his head in frustration. “Nothing. She’s just standing there.”
Oh God. Oh fuck.
“Is there a way you can show me? Through the link?”
Saint closed his eyes, bracing himself. And even though he’d been expecting it, he still jolted when Knight sent him the image of his mother.
TWELVE
“Your mother?” Knight asked with disbelief.
Saint was clenching and unclenching his hands, his eyes locked on the front door.
“Every single time I’ve run—except this one—only one person had known where I was.” Knight’s heart clenched at the thought of that kind of betrayal. He reached out, placing a hand on Saint’s knee. Saint easily covered it with his own. “I could never prove that she’d given them my address each of those times—which was why I kept trusting her—but when I decided to move to Arehjia, I was too paranoid. And she’s always been—” He shook his head almost violently. “When I moved here, I cut her off like I’d cut off the rest. When nothing happened for over a year, it felt like proof. However they found me this time, it had nothing to do with her.” He shook his head again, letting out a bitter-tinged laugh. “I’d thought of her as a victim, you know? Then I learned people can be victimsandperpetrators at the same time.”
“Do you want to talk to her?” Knight forced himself to ask. “You know you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“Don’t show me, but what’s her expression like?”
Knight turned to look. He wanted to lie because he didn’t want Saint facing his mother after her supposed multiple betrayals, but he wanted Saint to make an informed choice.
“She looks sad. Scared, maybe.” Knight squeezed his knee. “Don’t let that affect your judgement.”
Saint swallowed. “I won’t. I just—I need to see what she wants, all right? If I don’t, it’s going to eat at me.”
“I get it. I have your back, Saint. Whatever happens, remember that I’m here. I won’t let her hurt you.”
