The Unleashing
Page 63
Sweating and exhausted, he dropped on top of Kera, unable to find even the bit of strength needed to roll off her.
Thankfully, she didnt seem to mind, her arms reaching up and her hands smoothing down his shoulders. Like she was trying to soothe a restless stallion.
Maybe she was.
After several minutes, he was able to roll away from her. They lay next to each other on his bed, their panting finally turning to easy breaths.
You never quite got off your jeans and boots, she noted.
Vig glanced down and saw his jeans bunched at his ankles. No. It was taking too long.
It was.
You hungry? he asked.
Oh my God . . . Im starving.
Vig sat up. Eggs and bacon all right?
I dont care.
Good. We eat, he said, standing. Then we fuck. Deal?
Kera grinned. Best deal Ive had in years.
Skuld gave you a second life, he reminded her.
And yet eggs and bacon before more fuckingshe shruggedstill better.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
After two hours of solid sleep, Erin woke up and made her way to the kitchen. The actresses with an early set call were already gone. As were the lawyers, doctors, and bankers. The rest of the Crows were either practicing yoga in the backyard, going off to spin class at the gym in town, or heading off to auditions. There were a few of her sisters who liked to play with trouble and would go down to the ocean to swim or get in a little surfing. That was playing with trouble because the Claws of Ran controlled the ocean and the Claws hated the Crows.
But whatever entertained them was up to her sisters. All Erin wanted to do was enjoy her orange juice and relax.
Thats exactly what she was doing when Chloe stumbled into the kitchen, dropping into a chair across from Erin and placing her head on the table.
Are you okay? Erin asked. You look like shit.
Thank you. Thats very kind.
Up again yelling at your ex over the phone?
No. Chloe pushed her hands through her hair. Bad night. Too many dreams, which has been going on for weeks now. She reached over and took Erins glass of orange juice out of her hand.
Hey.
Chloe finished the juice in one gulp and held the glass out, jerking it a bit to indicate she wanted more.
I need my own apartment, Erin complained.
No ones stopping you. Chloe finished off another glass of juice, and said, Heard the new girl let those witches go last night.
She did.
And you guys allowed it?
We did.
You know
Before you go any further . . . she had good reason. Very sound logic on why we didnt have to kill anyone.
And what if shes wrong?
Well find out.
Why didnt you go back and take care of it yourself?
Why are you so worried?
Leigh says
If you start listening to Leigh, especially about Kera, were done with this conversation.
What if shes right? What if the new girl cant kill?
Do you know who Leigh heard that little tidbit from? Stieg Engstrom. The most useless of all the Ravens.
And then she left, right? The new girl didnt hang with you guys after?
Yeah. So?
Where did she go?
She probably went to Rundstms.
Chloe frowned. Why?
She likes him.
Why?
I cant have this conversation with you.
I guess theres no accounting for taste.
Should Erin mention her leaders incredibly unhealthy relationship with her ex? No. Probably not.
What are you worried about, Chloe? Because Im assuming theres a reason youre actually talking to me.
Im just . . . Chloe rubbed her forehead. Do you dream, Erin?
No.
Chloe slowly looked at her, dropping her hands to the table. You never dream?
No.
Everybody dreams.
I dont.
Has this been since your second life?
No. Its been that way since I was a child.
Thats weird. And off-putting.
Ive been told that. Usually by my grade schools child psychologist, Mr. Jeffries, who I tormented because I was bored and he was stupid.
Well, Ive been having these intense dreams. Im not getting any sleep.
Thats sad, but Im not sure what that has to do with the new girl.
I think its her fault.
How can it be her fault? Erin asked. You said youve been having these dreams for weeks now.
I said that?
Two seconds ago.
Oh. Chloe glanced outside through the big picture window beside the table. I still think its her fault.
Erin didnt bother to argue, she just watched three more of her sister-Crows stumble into the kitchen and drop down at the table. They looked as exhausted as Chloe.
Thankfully, she didnt seem to mind, her arms reaching up and her hands smoothing down his shoulders. Like she was trying to soothe a restless stallion.
Maybe she was.
After several minutes, he was able to roll away from her. They lay next to each other on his bed, their panting finally turning to easy breaths.
You never quite got off your jeans and boots, she noted.
Vig glanced down and saw his jeans bunched at his ankles. No. It was taking too long.
It was.
You hungry? he asked.
Oh my God . . . Im starving.
Vig sat up. Eggs and bacon all right?
I dont care.
Good. We eat, he said, standing. Then we fuck. Deal?
Kera grinned. Best deal Ive had in years.
Skuld gave you a second life, he reminded her.
And yet eggs and bacon before more fuckingshe shruggedstill better.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
After two hours of solid sleep, Erin woke up and made her way to the kitchen. The actresses with an early set call were already gone. As were the lawyers, doctors, and bankers. The rest of the Crows were either practicing yoga in the backyard, going off to spin class at the gym in town, or heading off to auditions. There were a few of her sisters who liked to play with trouble and would go down to the ocean to swim or get in a little surfing. That was playing with trouble because the Claws of Ran controlled the ocean and the Claws hated the Crows.
But whatever entertained them was up to her sisters. All Erin wanted to do was enjoy her orange juice and relax.
Thats exactly what she was doing when Chloe stumbled into the kitchen, dropping into a chair across from Erin and placing her head on the table.
Are you okay? Erin asked. You look like shit.
Thank you. Thats very kind.
Up again yelling at your ex over the phone?
No. Chloe pushed her hands through her hair. Bad night. Too many dreams, which has been going on for weeks now. She reached over and took Erins glass of orange juice out of her hand.
Hey.
Chloe finished the juice in one gulp and held the glass out, jerking it a bit to indicate she wanted more.
I need my own apartment, Erin complained.
No ones stopping you. Chloe finished off another glass of juice, and said, Heard the new girl let those witches go last night.
She did.
And you guys allowed it?
We did.
You know
Before you go any further . . . she had good reason. Very sound logic on why we didnt have to kill anyone.
And what if shes wrong?
Well find out.
Why didnt you go back and take care of it yourself?
Why are you so worried?
Leigh says
If you start listening to Leigh, especially about Kera, were done with this conversation.
What if shes right? What if the new girl cant kill?
Do you know who Leigh heard that little tidbit from? Stieg Engstrom. The most useless of all the Ravens.
And then she left, right? The new girl didnt hang with you guys after?
Yeah. So?
Where did she go?
She probably went to Rundstms.
Chloe frowned. Why?
She likes him.
Why?
I cant have this conversation with you.
I guess theres no accounting for taste.
Should Erin mention her leaders incredibly unhealthy relationship with her ex? No. Probably not.
What are you worried about, Chloe? Because Im assuming theres a reason youre actually talking to me.
Im just . . . Chloe rubbed her forehead. Do you dream, Erin?
No.
Chloe slowly looked at her, dropping her hands to the table. You never dream?
No.
Everybody dreams.
I dont.
Has this been since your second life?
No. Its been that way since I was a child.
Thats weird. And off-putting.
Ive been told that. Usually by my grade schools child psychologist, Mr. Jeffries, who I tormented because I was bored and he was stupid.
Well, Ive been having these intense dreams. Im not getting any sleep.
Thats sad, but Im not sure what that has to do with the new girl.
I think its her fault.
How can it be her fault? Erin asked. You said youve been having these dreams for weeks now.
I said that?
Two seconds ago.
Oh. Chloe glanced outside through the big picture window beside the table. I still think its her fault.
Erin didnt bother to argue, she just watched three more of her sister-Crows stumble into the kitchen and drop down at the table. They looked as exhausted as Chloe.
