Free Cheat the Grave by Vicki Pettersson Page B

these people was painful…so also why it would be so powerful. I turned to Warren, who was leaning on his good leg, arms crossed, and took a deep breath.
    â€œI trusted you, Warren, and you treated me as badly as you would a Shadow. Even when I proved myself willing to give my life for you, for the troop, for a mortal, you still believed the worst of me. Why did you just throw meaway?” My voice cracked, and I was glad he couldn’t hear it. He remained impassive, looking at Olivia with the cool detachment of a person who knew his place in the world…and everyone else’s too.
    Olivia lifted her chin, and in a voice as fragile as bone china, said, “Your days are numbered, old man. You’re going down so hard the earth will quake.”
    I gasped, whirling on her. “That’s not what I said!”
    She shrugged. “But it’s what needed saying. See?”
    And I spun back in time to see Warren fall backward without taking a step, the smoke reclaiming him and his shocked expression like an incinerator.
    â€œNow you can live your dreams your way.”
    I shook my head. “I’m confused.”
    â€œLife is confusing. It’s also messy and has no reason outside that which you impart to it.” Before I could respond, she jerked her head. “Okay, what about her?”
    Biting my lip, I eyed Tekla. I didn’t know. Olivia had said she was one of the people most directly influencing me now, but I didn’t see how. As far as I knew, she’d turned her back on me as wholly as the rest of the troop. I glanced up at Olivia. “Well, what does she have to say to me?”
    â€œHmm, no one has ever asked that before. Yet as it’s clearly a question that demands a true answer, I think it’ll do.” Olivia nodded, then turned back to Tekla. “Speak, traitor!”
    I gaped, automatically taking a step back. I’d seen Tekla reduce a man to shards with her mind alone, and while I hated the way she’d gone along with Warren’s wishes, abandoning me, I still respected her. Even in a dream state. “Um, Olivia…”
    But Tekla, normally so stoic and sure, began to weep. “Not everybody has abandoned you, Jo. Remember, you’re not the only one doing the best you can to survive in a hard world.”
    And the wall of smoke loosened its fingers, reached forward and reclaimed her too.
    â€œThere…see? Even questions can reveal truths and provide peace.” Olivia then frowned. “And now for him.”
    Hunter. I turned back and stared at him for a long while before speaking. It was easier when he wasn’t looking at me. He continued to gaze up at Olivia with that Lost Boy look, soulful and bad and repentant all at the same time.
    â€œYour betrayal was the largest,” I told him evenly. “I let you into my heart and my body, and now I can’t get you out of my mind. So, please, be a man about it and remove yourself. Because you’ve hurt me enough, and I need to be free.”
    That was it. I swallowed hard, proud of myself. I’d practiced so many variations of that speech—outraged, sad, defeated, and depressed—that when the simple truth came out— I loved you, you hurt me, and now you have to let me go —it was like a baptismal. I felt renewed. I turned to Olivia and smiled.
    She smiled back, sweet and with tears moistening her eyes, before turning to Hunter. “You are a part of me now, and I will love you forever.”
    A relieved smile overtook his face, and he faded like a ghost. I whirled on her. “I’m going to kill you!”
    Olivia laughed merrily. “I believe I have the advantage here.”
    â€œUgh, God!” I pulled at my hair. “Olivia! What the fuck?”
    She laughed some more. “Yep. That’s about as T-Rex brain as you can get.”
    I lunged for her, and in my dreams, she evaded. I gave chase, wanting to shake her and yes, just