Make Me by Parker Blue Read Free Book Online

he didn’t respond. Maybe he was listening.
    YEAH, Fang confirmed. WITH YOUR HELP, DAVID HAS WEDGED IN SOME DOUBT AND GOTTEN HIM TO RETHINK HIS POLICIES.
    David shrugged and continued, “But it’s not up to me. By tradition, the soothsayer uses her abilities to choose the best person for the job. It might be you, it might be me, or it might even be someone else… like Val.”
    “Me?” He was kidding, right? He had to be kidding. “No way. I don’t want to be a leader.”
    David smiled. “You are one, whether you realize it or not. Others are following your example, not waiting for Micah to give us permission to defend ourselves, but taking it into our own hands to clear the streets of undead scum who prey on humans.”
    “That’s dangerous,” Micah protested. “Val has training where most do not.”
    “And whose fault is that?” David shot back. “Besides, it’s more dangerous to leave them out there.”
    Pia retrieved an envelope from one of the chairs along the wall and handed it to Micah.
    David gestured at it. “That’s a petition from a dozen members of the Underground, requesting a Naming Ritual to validate your position as leader. By tradition, it is our right to call for one.”
    “What you’re really asking for is a vote of confidence,” Micah said tightly.
    Pia nodded, her intent gaze never leaving Micah’s face.
    Micah turned to me, his face grim. “And you, Val? Do you think the Underground needs a new leader?”
    Oh, no, he was not going to put this on me. But since he asked, I was going to tell him the absolute truth. “I don’t know. But this would answer the question either way, right?”
    YES, Fang agreed. LET THE GROUP DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.
    Micah’s lips tightened. I guess that wasn’t the answer he was hoping for. “All right,” he bit out, “I don’t think it’s necessary, but you’ll have your ritual.”
    “When?” David asked.
    “After Christmas. I don’t want to interrupt anyone’s holiday plans. Will that work for you?” he asked David stiffly.
    David and Pia both nodded.
    “Good,” he said, practically biting out the word. “I assume you can see yourselves out.” Without waiting for an answer, he strode out of the room like he couldn’t get away fast enough. Or like it hurt too much to stay.
    I watched him go, disturbed that I might be the cause of his pain. Did I do the right thing? I asked Fang.
    DON’T WORRY, Fang said. HE’S NOT MAD AT YOU. HE’S MAD AT HIMSELF, THAT HE DIDN’T SEE THIS COMING. HE PRETTY MUCH JUST GOT THE CRAP KICKED OUT OF HIS BELIEFS. HE FEELS A LITTLE GUILTY AND HE’S WORRIED THAT THE RITUAL WILL GO AGAINST HIM AND SHOW THAT HE’S BEEN SCREWING UP ALL ALONG.
    And I’d just gone and said it was necessary. Crap. Why couldn’t I have kept my mouth shut? No matter what happened with this ritual, I was afraid my easy, cousinly relationship with Micah had just changed forever.

Chapter Five
     
    “So,” I said, turning to David. “The least you can do is give me a ride home.”
    “Sure. Let me get my truck and I’ll meet you out back.”
    As David left, Pia moved toward me. She gazed into my eyes then grabbed my hand and deliberately pumped it up and down. Her way of saying thanks, I guess.
    RIGHT, Fang confirmed. SHE ASKED ME TO TELL YOU THAT SHE APPRECIATES YOU BACKING THEM UP. MICAH WOULDN’T HAVE LISTENED TO THEM WITHOUT YOUR HELP. AND SHE’S SORRY SHE HAD TO DRUG YOU AND LOCK YOU UP.
    “You’re welcome,” I told her. I still didn’t think the drug and cage were necessary, though I did understand why she wanted them. “And you’re forgiven. But next time, just text, okay?”
    She grinned and nodded.
    As I followed her out of Micah’s secret basement, Fang trotted alongside me. DO YOU FORGIVE ME, TOO?
    He sounded uncharacteristically anxious. I don’t know. Why shouldn’t I wring your neck for putting me through that?
    As we squeezed into the cab of David’s beat-up pickup, Fang cuddled up in my lap.