Page 129 of Vervain

“Reyes,” Serun warns.

My ears bend back as I shout, “You are lying! We can save him. We just need to keep him hooked up to⁠—”

“I will do it.” Serun cradles my cheeks, forcing me to focus on him. “You and Reyes leave, and I will fight my way out of here with all my might to protect our family. I will do it all, only if you leave and do not become a martyr.” His forehead rests against mine. “Not again,” he says, his voice struggling to break above a panicked whisper.

A whimpered cry chokes out.

“If you haven’t died and haven’t heard from me in forty-eight hours, call a meeting,” Serun says, but as he looks at me, his words are for his brother. “Make Maeve Lord of the Undercity and fortify our barriers.”

“Serun…”

“Brother!” Reyes snaps. “You are willing to risk all our lives over this!”

His thumbs brush the tears beneath my eyes. “I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.”

Behind him, the door trembles, shuddering on impact, as if people on the other side are trying to force their way in. “Go, my kamai. I will follow with your brother, even if I have to take my last undead breath. He will be with you again.”

I face my brother, and my heart sinks.

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO

ENDOPARASITE

Saya Claymore

“Saya, can you tell me one of your stories?” Cole sits on his bed, eyes heavy with sleep. I sit across from him on mine, pillows fluffed, the radio playing the sweetened music the Bleeders allow us to have, and our stomachs full enough.

Manni is already asleep. Her covers are over her head, and light snoring comes from underneath. With a groan, I cross my legs and face Cole. His smile broadens, hazel eyes crinkling, as if he were remembering a fond memory.

“What’s so funny?”

He scratches the back of his head and laughs nervously. “You might not find it as funny. You know, guy things.”

“Guy things!” I hiss. “Cole, you are eight! Who is teaching you this?”

He shrugs. “I heard it in the shower.”

I will kill everyone who takes away my brother’s innocence.

I raise my hand and gesture to him. “Try me. What was so funny, Cole?”

His eyes widen, surprised by my challenge. Then he scratches his face, struggling to suppress a laugh as he says, “The new guy kept farting in the shower. Said it was from the egg because he’d never had one before. I couldn’t stop laughing.”

“Daniel?” I ask. I was never good at remembering names. After a while, names often blurred in and out of my mind.

“He likes to be called Dan,” Cole answers, his hand over his face now as he tries not to laugh too loudly and wake Manni up.

Resting my hands on my knees, I say, “Why wouldn’t I find it funny?”

Cole tilts his head to the side, as if confused by my question. “Because you are a girl and girls don’t fart.”

I blink to digest his words, but I’m finding it hard. This bubble of laughter tightens in my chest at something so uncanny. Girls don’t fart. I certainly didn’t teach Cole enough.

He goes on his knees and points at me. “Stop laughing!”

“I’m not,” I say in a dry voice.

His cheeks flush a scarlet red, and he says, “You are! Your eyes can’t lie to me, Saya!”