“She’s fine,” the gray man said. “I’l make certain of that, but in the meantime, you need to go.” When Death would but in the meantime, you need to go.” When Death would have protested, he shook his head. “Go.”
Death frowned, his gaze moving to me again. Then he vanished.
The gray man strol ed across the grass, col ecting the half-dissolved souls of the late dancers. His roundabout route brought him directly in front of me, and he stared at me, whether studying or assessing, I wasn’t sure.
“Remember this day. Remember this place,” he said, sweeping a hand out to encompass the remains of the ritual. “This is why the two of you can never be.” He stared at me for another long moment. Then he vanished.
The two of us? Death and me.
I frowned at the empty space where he’d been for a long time until a rustling in the trees behind us caused Falin to turn, taking me with him. Kyran walked into the clearing, stil carrying his hourglass, al the sand now in the bottom half.
“Brava, brava,” he said, leaning the staff in the crook of his arm so he could offer an exaggerated clap. “I must say, I was a bit worried about the dragons at one point, but splendid job.”
“You were watching the whole time?” I asked around my chattering teeth.
“But of course. I said I wouldn’t miss it. Wel , my dear, I believe we are about to get more company.” He gave me a smal bow. “Until you dream again.”
He disappeared into the woods just as Hol y stepped into the clearing. She carried PC under one arm and in her wake stormed several ABMU officers in ful tactical gear.
I glanced around. Falin and I were the only ones left standing in a field of dark magic and bodies. How come when I end up in these situations, the bad guys have always disintegrated?
Chapter 39
I sat in the middle of my bed, huddled under blankets. I hadn���t spent a night in jail this time, which had shocked the hel out of me considering that most of the witnesses to what had happened were soul col ectors and not inclined to speak to the police. While I’d walked the detectives through a heavily edited version of the events surrounding Edana’s ritual, I’d remembered Edana had owed me a debt. I might not have had to destroy her. Not that I’d meant to completely remove her from al planes—I’d needed to stop her. And I’d done that. But now I had more blood on my hands.
The explanation of what had happened had stretched my newfound inability to lie, so the police knew more than Faerie was likely to appreciate. Of course, the fae weren’t the only ones with things they would rather that mortals did not know tied up in this mess—the col ectors had more than a few of their own secrets precariously close to the surface of the tale. And, speaking of soul col ectors, I hadn’t seen Death since he disappeared. It had been only a day, and it wasn’t like he showed up daily, but I was worried about him.
I was also worried about what the gray man had said.
Though I hadn’t seen Death, I couldn’t keep Falin from hovering. I’d lost even my psychic sight by the time we were released from the crime scene, and my vision hadn’t improved with sleep. So now I sat on the bed, listening to the news because I couldn’t see it.
“. . . Stil no explanation for the bizarre dreams that attacked the city two nights ago.” Lusa’s broadcast voice mixed with the sound of static before clearing. “While mixed with the sound of static before clearing. “While nightmares are a common occurrence often brought on by stress and other life events, the sheer number of people who cal ed police in the early morning hours because they thought their dreams were real has led some experts to speculate that outside forces might be involved. Despite the number of emergency cal s, no one was hurt, but the OMIH continues to investigate. In other news . . .”
I tuned out the TV as the bed shifted under Falin’s weight.
He pressed a steaming mug into my hands, and the scent of rich coffee met my nose. Then he lifted the comforter from my shoulders so he could slide closer before wrapping us both in the covers again. My skin reacted to more than just his body heat, and I focused on the mug of coffee I couldn’t see.
I didn’t know whether to enjoy the giddiness that erupted in my body with every stray touch of Falin’s body, or to run and deny the emotion. How could I very much want to be here, right now, with Falin and stil be worried about Death?
I ached to see Death and know he was okay, to see that easy smile that hid so many secrets, and to know what might have happened if there hadn’t been a hydra at that bridge. I feel like I’m trying to run in opposite directions at the same time.