Page 26 of Glutton for Punishment

Three very long, very irritating weeks since my little stormcloud vanished into that transporter’s light. Beamed away. WOOSH!

One moment she was there, breathing, moving, making the world interesting—and the next she was gone.

Poof.

Into the Wastes.

Which, if you’ve never been, is dust, bones, and things that used to be people. A paradise, in my opinion, if it weren’t so bright. And hot.

And brown. Brown’s not my favorite color.

I assumed we would have her back by now. Stormcloud isn’t the type to politely die where she’s told to.

And we had plans.

Master said, ‘Wait for the plan.’

But three weeks is a long time for someone like her to stay quiet. Too long.

Master knows everything. He knew I would run into Maddox in that hall.

He told me to slash his hand and throw the bloodied vial to her. He knew they were bonds before anyone else, and HE SAID WE WOULD HAVE STORMCLOUD AFTER.

The voices scream inside my head. My voice? I think so… but this isn’t the fun screaming.

Unless…

Unless he lied.

The forbidden thought slows my pacing. I stop and press my forehead against the cold stone wall of the corridor. Breathing… Counting…

I move it back slowly…

and then I slam it. Hard.

The crack echoes nicely.

“Bad Maylo,” I mutter, tapping my head against the stone again. “No more bad thoughts.”

Because that thought had crept in there again.

The ugly one.

The whispers that maybe he knows where she is… maybe he’s just not telling me.

Footsteps catch my attention as an Envy spy in a dark tunic rounds the corner and pauses. His eyes land on the blood running down my face before he turns around and wisely keeps walking in the opposite direction.

They get me here.

The mark on my wrist hums beneath my sleeve, like it heard my ugly thought and wants to tattle. Right on cue, his voice ancient voice slides into my skull. Impossible to ignore.

Maylo. Do not ignore this summons.

I straighten. “Never, Master.” I whisper.

My feet move before the echo of his voice fades. If he’s calling me personally, something interesting must be happening.

Maybe he’s heard whispers of her.