#Chapter 85 – Fallout

There is a long moment where neither of us move. And then Victor groans – not the kind of groan he made just a few minutes ago, but the sound of a very tired man. He rolls back away from me, moving his hand from my hip.

Suddenly cold and awkward without the solid warmth of him behind me, I sit up and reach for my tshirt, which lays crumpled a foot away. As I do this, Victor pulls up his pants and re-buckles his belt, not looking at me. I pull the shirt over my head.

Then, we face each other, silent, sitting on my kitchen floor, me with my feet curled beneath me, him with his back against the cabinet, his legs bent in front of him and arms resting slack on top of his knees.

I don’t say a word, but stare at him, trying to gauge his emotions. Victor’s face is complex as he looks back at me. He runs a hand through his hair.

“I’m sorry, Evelyn,” he says, his voice measured. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

I huff a laugh, shaking my head.

Victor frowns at me. “What?”

“Don’t talk about it like it’s something you did to me, Victor,” I say, angry. “It’s something that happened to both of us. We were both there! We did it.”

“Still,” he says. “I shouldn’t have.”

“Neither should I,” I say, shrugging, looking down at the floor. Despite that truth, I can’t bring myself to apologize.

“It was a…strange night,” he says, and I glance at him again. He’s looking off into the living room, thinking. “I had had a lot of whiskey tonight, and…it was The Hunt, you know.” He lets his voice drift off here.

I do know. Joyce and I had our own Hunt when we were engaged, but I refused him that night, wanting to wait for wedding night. A mistake, in retrospect. Still, I know what Victor means.

“Don’t do that,” I say, my voice hard. “Don’t try to blame whatever this is,” I gesture at the space between us, “on whatever drugs you took tonight off of some girl’s lips.”

He frowns at me, narrowing his eyes. “But that’s all it was. Without all the whiskey, the hallucinogens –“

“Victor,” I say, silencing him. “Don’t lie to me. This thing between us?” I pause, and the look he gives me lets me know he knows exactly what I’m talking about. “It has been brewing for weeks, months.”

I’m not brave enough to

tightens his jaw and turns his gaze away. His hands tighten to

he whips his head to glare

he snaps, his face angry and

I say, gesturing towards my kitchen, myself. My eyes are filled with my anger but that emotion hides a deeper hurt. “You were on your Hunt tonight, Victor. You were supposed to find your bride, to ravish her. So why

him then, glaring at him and then up the stairs where my boys are asleep. He snaps his mouth shut and nods once, silently agreeing to be quieter. “All

somehow, that he wasn’t confused at all. “What’s happening, Victor?” I whisper, feeling

asks, looking me up and down. “We made a

shake my head again, growing firmer in my intentions.

me. “Can’t do

I spread my hands to my sides, encompassing everything – everything we feel, everything we’ve experienced, all the complications of his

he growls, leaning forward. “It was one

I meet his

can return to normal

my voice soft as I voice my thoughts aloud. He goes perfectly still when I say that, staring

here, your little pet…” I shake my

doesn’t have to be like that,

ask, lifting

says nothing, just

tears slip down my cheeks.

at his

and struggling to my feet. “I’ll take the boys, we’ll move somewhere else

can’t go

as he tries to take my hands, grab my arms. “No, Victor. We can’t live like this.

firm, putting his hands in his pockets as if

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