Page 57 of Black Ledger

“No,” I growled, then turned on my heel and left the room.

I heard Katya’s words floating in the air behind me. “God help those boys.”

“Yeah…” Nika added. “We really should follow.”

“Nah, let her go destroy them… they can probably handle it.”

It only took me seven minutes to walk to the Zeta house. I didn’t have a plan. I had an emotion: unbridled fury. So without knocking, I stalked through the house and up the stairs. I was like the spirit of vengeance coming to collect souls.

Like a Fury from Greek mythology.

As I hit the top landing, I ran into Kaz as he turned a corner, and I nearly dropped the box. I imagined the head popping out and rolling across the old wood, and I laughed.

Would it bounce?

My lips quirked to one side, and I wanted to test the theory.

“Oh, he actually sent it to you.” Kaz chuckled. “I didn’t think he’d do it, and as much as I hate him, I have to admit the boy has balls.”

I fixed Kaz with a lethal glare, and his smile immediately faded.

“You hate it?” he asked.

“No.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Then why do you look like you want to kill me?”

“Because I do.” I really did not want to explain my emotions to him when I barely understood them myself.

Kaz cocked his head and studied me for a moment. “Got it. You’re not here to yell at me.”

“I am not.”

“Well, on your way then.”

I shook my head and smiled. Kaz was my best friend; he knew how to read me, maybe better than I knew myself.

“Have fun with that conversation.” Glee lit up his face as I walked past him.

“Is he in his room?”

“Oh, yes.” He chuckled. Kaz was enjoying this far too much.

I turned away to find my real victim, but when I was two steps away, I stopped and yelled back, “One other thing, Kaz. Get that look of sympathy off your face when you see me. I never want to see it again.”

Kaz clicked his tongue playfully. “There’s my girl.” He walked down the stairs, his laughter echoing as he went.

When I reached Severin’s door, I stopped and closed my eyes, bracing for whatever waited on the other side. I genuinely didn’t know what I would say. My fingers dug into the box for support.

As I opened my eyes, the door swung open, and I was standing face-to-face with a surprised Severin who was about to walk out.

“Hi,” he said tentatively.

I said nothing, my molars clenched, and my fingers were still digging into the corners of the box.

He took a measured step toward me. “You’re angry.”

I still said nothing and did nothing.