Page 124 of Devoured

What if this had been war? What if he had been Cora?

After I slide the spaghetti straps up my shoulders, I clear my throat. “Done.”

Evander pivots to face me with another insufferable grin. “Fabulous. Now, what have you decided?”

“To walk into traffic.”

“Hilarious,” he says. I glare at him, and he shrugs. “As I said, I don’t think you have it in you, kitten.”

“My name is Vanessa.”

“Of course.” His gaze roves my face. “But I prefer kitten.”

“Why?”

He arches a chestnut brow. “You ask a lot of one-word questions, and I never know to what, in particular, you’re referring.”

“Why didn’t you kill me when you had the chance?”

“Oh. That.” He brushes off the shoulders of his button-up shirt, then smooths down his trousers, ignoring the blood on his torn pant leg. “I’m not your enemy, kitten. In fact, I’d much rather consider us friends… if not also allies.” He strolls back toward the sidewalk, offering me a hand to join him.

Allies.

A strangely specific word for our situation.

I stare at that hand. “I thought Cora was your ally.”

“Cora is an unstable, unsuitable queen. The universe knows she isn’t destined to last long in power. I’m irreverent, witty, charming—never oblivious.” He waits a breath before he nods. “You can tell I’m being honest, can’t you?”

I grit my teeth, loathing the way his honesty feels weaponized. “Yes.”

“Good. Consider us friends.” He smiles wider, revealing rows of pristinely white teeth. “Well? Where are we going? Your school? The police station? You need to choose before Cora sends out her guards to chop off our heads.”

“I don’t know,” I admit, turning my gaze back to the road and the city beyond it. “I was hoping I could distract Cora with your death and not have to choose.”

“Terribly sorry to disappoint you.”

“You aren’t forgiven.”

He exhales a rough sigh. “I suppose I could bite them for you. If you pick where we’re going, I’ll help you. You won’t have to do the dirty work alone.”

I blink at him. “You would do that? Defy a direct order from the Wolf Queen?”

“Allies,” he repeats. “You may not be a killer, but I can manage just fine. And I’d really rather we survive the day.”

I stare at him, and he stares at me. And then, without another word, we start walking as if the last hour never happened. I still don’t trust him, of course. I’ve been burned by enough people—by enough men—to know better. But… I could use his help.

I never actually considered who I would attack. I assumed there would be a way out of this, a way to escape Cora’s grasp, but there isn’t. I think of my father first. His colleagues and their terrible yearly volleyball tournaments. None of them could serve. Some of them never even managed to make contact with the ball. I think of school next. The last pieces of Celeste that exist on this Earth. The bustling hallways, filled to the brim with innocence and hope. Potential for hundreds of futures, none of which belong to Celeste anymore.

I can’t choose. I don’t want to choose. But I must.

“The police station,” I say suddenly, my voice clearer, stronger, than I feel. “It’s about two miles south.”

Evander inclines his chin, looking as serious as I’ve ever seen him. “Then we’d better compel ourselves a ride to Daddy Dearest.” His gaze flicks to mine, and he holds it. Something charged and powerful courses between us, and that feeling from before—that memory—flickers in my mind. Just out of reach. “Are you certain you can do this?”

“No,” I admit, “but we have no other choice.”

Besides, I won’t let him bite my father. Not today.