Page 23 of Judge of Saints and Sinners

Justine spoke again. “I’ll take Clark for a little walk if you want to take your time getting dressed. I don’t mind.”

I looked at the clothes. The worn cotton tee was navy but appeared clean and well taken care of. “That would be very kind. Thank you, Justine.”

“Good, good.” Justine hesitated, her balance shifting from one foot to the other and back again.

“Is there something else, little thief?” I stepped closer, rubbing a hand down my chest. Justine narrowed her eyes on me. “You can look all you want. Until our deal is done, I’m as much yours as you are mine.”

“Of all the conceited…”

Her jaw went slack as she attempted to find more things to hurl at me. But I remained still, smiling at her until finally she gave a jaunty flip of her ponytail and marched out of the apartment. I watched her go, fascinated by the soft sway of her hips, and the way Clark, or rather not-Clark, trotted obediently by her side. The creature was obviously infatuated with the human he’d found.

The clothes in my hands were older, but she was right. They were almost my size. I was able to squeeze myself into the plain navy T-shirt and left my jeans on.

I was dressed and rummaging in her cabinets when she returned, this time with her nose a bright-red color. For a moment, anxiety filled me, and I stepped towards her. “Are you cold? Why are you so flushed?”

She fluttered her hands at me. “Just a cool breeze today. The sun feels great.”

I nodded, patting my sides as the unusual feeling of being in such casual wear unnerved me. The flash of my own wrists caught my eye, just as they caught hers.

“Oh my gosh, Judge.” She was immediately at my side, her tiny fingers against my pulsing wrist as together we looked down at my mangled skin. “What happened? Who did this to you?”

I stared at the skin. I could feel the bite of the metal against my skin, the burn and torture of unrelenting agony. But before any real imagery came to light, a sweet, blissful feeling slipped over me. The bond, our bond, bloomed between us warm and welcome and utterly terrifying. This wasn’t going to plan at all. I ripped my hand from hers, massaging the wrist as I did. Justine didn’t back down, though, and followed, holding her hand out.

“It’s nothing.”

“Judge, no, that’s not nothing.”

“It is now,” I said stubbornly, even as I let Justine’s hands find mine, slowly moving my hand in hers until she could see the vivid scares.

“I have scars all over.”

“But these… These are so fresh.”

“What do you know of scars?”

Justine looked up at me, my hand taking up both of hers as we stared at each other. “Not all scars are physical, Judge.” Her hands were so warm against mine, my chest hummed wildly at her touch. “But I’m so sorry that this happened to you.”

“I’m fine,” I said, but I knew my voice was softer now. “I made a mistake, and I was bound for it.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Breathing out, I said, “Don’t be sorry. It is done.”

“Okay.” Her eyes snapped up to mine. “Did you get them back for doing this?”

“No.”

“Well, if we ever meet them, I’ll get them back for you. I’m a sucker for vengeance.”

“I can tell.”

Justine rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to the hand I’d left in her keep. Slowly she traced the scars there, from the chains that I’d been bound by. Her finger brushed against the pinched pink skin, reminding me exactly why I couldn’t be trusted around any living soul. Let alone one like her, one that I could want.

One that I could love.

Creatures like me did not love. They destroyed. And once my soul was returned to me, the chances of failing her like I had failed Anna only grew.

Anna… The thoughts of her invaded my mind, making my chest ache in a whole new way. “Did you have plans today?”