Lake

I had never been more relieved to see anyone in my entire life.

Realized a moment later I had no reason to be relieved.

For all I knew, Aras had no problem with this.

No, that couldn’t be true.

I argued with myself, but deep down, knew that I had no assurances.

For the moment at least, Gaspar had stopped, so I clung to that.

“Stand up, Lake,” Aras said.

I wasted no time in complying, my own breath coming out heavy, my arms dropping.

“Aras, I—”

The words Gaspar was going to say died in his throat.

One second, Aras was standing in the kitchen doorway.

The next, he had rushed forward, his booted foot connecting with Gaspar’s jaw.

I heard the snap from where I stood, then saw the tears well in Gaspar’s eyes.

His jaw was shattered. There was no doubt about that. Just as there was no doubt that his jaw was the least of his concerns.

Gaspar staggered to his feet but went back to his knees when Aras slammed his fist into his already broken jaw.

The squeal that came out of Gaspar was unlike anything I had ever heard, and I flinched against the sound.

But I didn’t move.

Stayed exactly where I was, watched as Aras punched Gaspar, then punched him again, then again.

And again, and again, until Gaspar’s face was a twisted, bloodied mass, and his screams were but a memory.

I should have looked away, but I hadn’t.

I had watched each blow, heard each whimper.

And kept my eyes on Aras.

He was angry, I could see that, feel it in his aura.

But he wasn’t out of control. Each blow was purposeful, methodical, and his rage was all more terrifying for its purposefulness.

After some time, I had no idea how much, he stood.

Walked to the sink and rinsed his hands, then turned off the oven.

“I think the chicken and dumplings burned,” I said.

Aras

“I think you’re right,” I responded.

Lake wasn’t hysterical, but I didn’t think she was making a joke either.

It was probably shock starting to set in

“Go take a shower. You’ll feel better,” I said.

Lake, who had been staring at Gaspar, looked at me, then nodded.

She turned and left without another word.

Not the homecoming I had been expecting.

I had stayed away an extra day just because I had wanted the homecoming so badly but was beyond angry at myself for doing so.

I had given Gaspar a specific command, and I had been arrogant, or distracted, enough to think he would follow it.

I had been wrong, and that had put Lake in the crossfire.

I needed to make up for that, though I wasn’t sure how.

I would figure it out, but first I had to clean up a mess.

Lake

He’d been right.

The shower had definitely helped.

I was conflicted about that, but I wasn’t conflicted about what I’d seen.

Gaspar would have had no problem doing whatever he wanted to me.

I knew that, and there was a time that I still might have felt bad about his fate.

No more.

He’d gotten what he deserved, and I refused to be sad about that.

Instead, after the shower and a few moments to try to kick my residual nerves, I took a deep breath and walked out of the bedroom.

I approached the kitchen tentatively, not sure what I would find there.

I poked my head in, my gaze immediately going to the spot where Gaspar had lain.

A spot that was now completely clean.

If I hadn’t been in the room, no one would have been able to convince me that less than an hour ago Gaspar had attacked me and paid for that with his life.

Nothing was out of place.

That fact was both chilling and revealing.

I had known Aras was good, but this…

I didn’t even want to begin to imagine how he had acquired the skills that made it possible for him to dispose of a body in less than an hour.

Didn’t even know if I had the capacity to wrap my head around it.

I wouldn’t find out today.

I went to the refrigerator and pulled out ingredients.

After about fifteen minutes, I felt that familiar brush of awareness, the feeling that told me Aras was near.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

I paused, turned to look at him, saw that he looked like he always did.

“I’m making chicken and dumplings,” I said.

I turned back to the stove, but not before I saw Aras smile.