My Soul to Steal
Page 44
I took a long drink, then met his fatigued, bloodshot gaze. Sabines at it again. Or still at it. Or whatever.
Nashs ex? Alec rubbed the top of his head with one broad hand. Whats she doing?
The usual. Bullying her way into my head and sending nightmares. This has to stop.
Whats the big deal? Alec shrugged smooth, dark shoulders. Theyre just dreams, right? So shake it off and go back to sleep.
I blinked at him, trying to decide whether or not to take him seriously. Theyre not just dreams, Alec. Theyre renderings of my own fears, ripe with life force for her to suck. Shes a mara, remember?
Alecs eyes widened, and he sat straighter on the couch. Sabines the mara? Why didnt you tell me?
I did tell you!
Alec shook his head firmly. The other night, you said you dreamed she made out with your ex, then tonight you said you knew a mara. But you never mentioned that the mara and Sabine are the same damn person!
I set my can down and frowned at him. Okay, you seriously need to get more sleep. I told you she was a mara last night. In the kitchen, remember?
Alec looked startledtruly frightened, just for an instantthen his entire expression seemed to simply shut down, like when the power fails and the whole neighborhood goes dark. Last night? he repeated, cradling his head in his hands. Would this have been in the middle of the night?
Yeah. While you were working your way through a box of my dads cupcakes.
He exhaled slowly, then mumbled beneath his breath, Thats what he meant about the cupcakes
What? I leaned forward and studied his face when he finally looked up. Are you okay?
Yeah. Im justsleep deprived, I guess. I barely remember last night. SoSabines a mara? For real?
Welcome to the conversation. I turned my head slowly back and forth, stretching out the cramp in my neck. Shes been exploiting my fears to try to scare me away from Nash.
Wow. Alec whistled and leaned back with his arms crossed over his smooth, bare chest. Thats messed up. I mean, thats bordering on Netherworld-level torture. At least, of the psychological variety.
I picked up the can and took another sip, willing the caffeine into my system. Yeah, shes not exactly warm and fuzzy.
So whatre you gonna do? You cant just let her walk all over you. Alec looked more awake, and I started to relax a little, now that he was sounding like himself again.
I know. I thought I had it all taken care of, after I smacked her, and Nashsaid
Wait, you hit someone?
My fingers clenched around the cold, damp can. Why does everyone sound so surprised by that? But Alec only raised both brows at me. Okay, Im not exactly a prizefighter. But she had it coming. And anyway, after that, Nash said she promised to stay out of my dreams. Obviously she was lying. Or else he was.
Which do you think it is?
I took a long drink to avoid answering. I honestly dont know. The truth is that I havent been able to catch Sabine in a lie so farshes frighteningly bluntbut Nash has lied to me repeatedly. How sad is it that I can trust his serial-killer ex-girlfriend better than I can trust him?
Killer Alec said, like he was tasting the word. You really think she killed those teachers?
I dont know. Shes openly confessed to everything else shes done, so why wouldnt she admit to this, if shes guilty? Its not like the police are going to arrest her for dream-stalking, right? So maybe its not her. I shrugged and let my head rest on the back of the recliner. But I dont have any other suspects. And anyway, you said it yourselfa maras the most likely suspect.
Alec frowned. Yeah, but that was before I knew you were talking about someone you go to school with.
What does that matter?
He shrugged, obviously hesitating. Its one thing to say that a certain species theoretically fits the bill for what youre looking for. But that doesnt mean that the one member of that species you actually know is definitely the killer. You cant go blaming someone of murdering your teachers without more proof than that, Kaylee.
I flinched. Too late.
Alec blinked. Please tell me you did not accuse a marato her faceof killing someone. A mara whos already not crazy about you.
Umyeah. I did.
Damn. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling. I cant decide whether youre brave or stupid, Kaylee. No wonder shes playing dreamweaver in your head.
My scowl deepened. She was doing that already. Besides, this makes sense. Shes the only one with motive and opportunity.
Alec leaned forward again and shook his head, eyeing me solemnly. You watch too much TV. Nothings ever that cut and dried in real life. Especially when your suspects arent even human.
I scooted to the edge of my chair, irritated. Why was I the only one who could see what Sabine was really capable of? Shes trying to scare me into backing down, from both Nash and this investigation.
Nashs ex? Alec rubbed the top of his head with one broad hand. Whats she doing?
The usual. Bullying her way into my head and sending nightmares. This has to stop.
Whats the big deal? Alec shrugged smooth, dark shoulders. Theyre just dreams, right? So shake it off and go back to sleep.
I blinked at him, trying to decide whether or not to take him seriously. Theyre not just dreams, Alec. Theyre renderings of my own fears, ripe with life force for her to suck. Shes a mara, remember?
Alecs eyes widened, and he sat straighter on the couch. Sabines the mara? Why didnt you tell me?
I did tell you!
Alec shook his head firmly. The other night, you said you dreamed she made out with your ex, then tonight you said you knew a mara. But you never mentioned that the mara and Sabine are the same damn person!
I set my can down and frowned at him. Okay, you seriously need to get more sleep. I told you she was a mara last night. In the kitchen, remember?
Alec looked startledtruly frightened, just for an instantthen his entire expression seemed to simply shut down, like when the power fails and the whole neighborhood goes dark. Last night? he repeated, cradling his head in his hands. Would this have been in the middle of the night?
Yeah. While you were working your way through a box of my dads cupcakes.
He exhaled slowly, then mumbled beneath his breath, Thats what he meant about the cupcakes
What? I leaned forward and studied his face when he finally looked up. Are you okay?
Yeah. Im justsleep deprived, I guess. I barely remember last night. SoSabines a mara? For real?
Welcome to the conversation. I turned my head slowly back and forth, stretching out the cramp in my neck. Shes been exploiting my fears to try to scare me away from Nash.
Wow. Alec whistled and leaned back with his arms crossed over his smooth, bare chest. Thats messed up. I mean, thats bordering on Netherworld-level torture. At least, of the psychological variety.
I picked up the can and took another sip, willing the caffeine into my system. Yeah, shes not exactly warm and fuzzy.
So whatre you gonna do? You cant just let her walk all over you. Alec looked more awake, and I started to relax a little, now that he was sounding like himself again.
I know. I thought I had it all taken care of, after I smacked her, and Nashsaid
Wait, you hit someone?
My fingers clenched around the cold, damp can. Why does everyone sound so surprised by that? But Alec only raised both brows at me. Okay, Im not exactly a prizefighter. But she had it coming. And anyway, after that, Nash said she promised to stay out of my dreams. Obviously she was lying. Or else he was.
Which do you think it is?
I took a long drink to avoid answering. I honestly dont know. The truth is that I havent been able to catch Sabine in a lie so farshes frighteningly bluntbut Nash has lied to me repeatedly. How sad is it that I can trust his serial-killer ex-girlfriend better than I can trust him?
Killer Alec said, like he was tasting the word. You really think she killed those teachers?
I dont know. Shes openly confessed to everything else shes done, so why wouldnt she admit to this, if shes guilty? Its not like the police are going to arrest her for dream-stalking, right? So maybe its not her. I shrugged and let my head rest on the back of the recliner. But I dont have any other suspects. And anyway, you said it yourselfa maras the most likely suspect.
Alec frowned. Yeah, but that was before I knew you were talking about someone you go to school with.
What does that matter?
He shrugged, obviously hesitating. Its one thing to say that a certain species theoretically fits the bill for what youre looking for. But that doesnt mean that the one member of that species you actually know is definitely the killer. You cant go blaming someone of murdering your teachers without more proof than that, Kaylee.
I flinched. Too late.
Alec blinked. Please tell me you did not accuse a marato her faceof killing someone. A mara whos already not crazy about you.
Umyeah. I did.
Damn. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling. I cant decide whether youre brave or stupid, Kaylee. No wonder shes playing dreamweaver in your head.
My scowl deepened. She was doing that already. Besides, this makes sense. Shes the only one with motive and opportunity.
Alec leaned forward again and shook his head, eyeing me solemnly. You watch too much TV. Nothings ever that cut and dried in real life. Especially when your suspects arent even human.
I scooted to the edge of my chair, irritated. Why was I the only one who could see what Sabine was really capable of? Shes trying to scare me into backing down, from both Nash and this investigation.
