Page 77 of She Walks with Broken Things

The hollow impact.

Her now frantic breaths.

I’d almost steadied her. Steadier than she’d been when I arrived.

Now that was gone.

The air shifted as she stepped around me. The slight drag of her foot heavier now as she all but ran.

I closed my eyes. My fingers pressed hard steel. She was running. She was preparing. She was ready for a war.

The pattern sharpened instantly. Vivienne and Guild.

They said something to her. She’s changed ever since they left. Had the said something about me? The seconds before breathed to life inside me. She could’ve pulled the trigger. But she lowered it for me.

She could’ve run.

I was sure they asked her if she wanted out.

But she hadn’t left.

Not yet.

My hand closed around the grip.

That meant whatever demon was in her head, was more dangerous than me.

To her at least.

The faint sounds of her steps echoed. I captured each thud, following her movements back along the east wing hallway to the safety of her own. She broke every rule I gave her. I should’ve been furious. But I wasn’t angry. I was interested in ways I shouldn’t have been.

I waited for the silence to settle. For the house to grip hold of its secrets once more before I turned around. I slipped the gun in the holster taped to the back of the cupboard and turned leaving the room behind. The scent of her lingered. I followed it back along the hall, to the rear door leading to the garage.

She was out here.

Searching for what?

I stepped into the doorway and stopped. The smothering scent of degreaser clung to the air. Not Rafe. I knew when he worked on the car and he hadn’t done that for weeks. Nyssa. It had to be. What was she looking for? I took in the space. The ropes were still in place. I moved in deeper. The tool boxes and cupboards locked. Rafe was protective about his tools.

Nothing was missing.

I headed slowly back inside. The slow, methodical thud of my boots letting my thoughts stray.

The gun.

The fear.

The lies.

Not purposely.

But she wasn’t telling me the truth either.

I made my way into the library. Books were missing. That wasn’t anything new. There were the same gaps in the rows she’d left behind. The Phantom still rested open where she left it after the storm.

Not books.

So, what then?