I let my eyes drift shut, breathing out a long breath, as the details snap into place. Because I know the story, of course – my parents told me about it. About Ariel’s friend, who jumped in front of the knife that a traitor Cadet pulled on her, who took the blow that was aimed at my sister and died
“Hey, Davis,” the woman says, wrinkling a pert little nose at him. “Sorry you’re dead, but if it helps, you look really sexy in sparkly blue ghost-light.”“Faiza,” Anton says quietly, his voice low and humming as his face breaks into a beautiful smile. “You’re a venomous little surprise, as always.
But all my hate for Faiza is wiped away and turned on Anton himself the moment he flicks his eyes to me, wicked. “Wishing you’d saved your little crush veto?” he murmurs. “Laila not looking so bad right now?”My snarl turns into a very real growl as I glare at him and then turn the expression on Fai
“Am I allowed to ask why we’re not welcome at the temple?” I raise my chin as I glare at Faiza.Slowly Faiza smiles and then shakes her head.“But,” I hesitate, glancing over at Anton, who stares at Faiza quite seriously. “How will we –“Faiza sighs and holds out her hand, palm flat to the ceiling.
The next morning I wake up before Anton, but that’s not a surprise anymore. “Lazy wolf,” I murmur, lifting a hand to flick at his nose. He wrinkles the feature and just frowns, turning his face away from me, still asleep and making me smile.I grin at him and then sigh, glad that we’re back on good
“Oh, don’t play so coy, June,” Anton says with a dark laugh. I turn to him, stunned. “You seriously can’t think of any bad behavior that would piss off the God of Death?”I blink at him in surprise and begin to wrack my brain.But, obviously, it only takes like half a second to figure it out.“Liste
“You live like this…” she whispers, “voluntarily?”I frown at her, putting my hands on my hips. “Look, Laila, I don’t get it. I mean, it’s messy, but it’s not that bad.”“You are a princess, Juniper Sinclair,” Laila snaps, defensive for my sake and making me grin. “And this will not do.”I watch in
Anton and I both eagerly wait for Laila to begin the story about her date, but when she just continues to sit and blush Anton moans and collapses on to the couch next to me, making both of us turn to him in shock.“It’s no fair,” he groans, putting his hands over his face. “I’m so jealous. No one ta
“No!” she sputters out, stumbling a few steps towards me, shaking her head so hard her pretty blue-green hair flutters out all around her. “No, Junie, don’t make me go! I want…I want to stay here! And help! I mean…” she bites her lip. “It will be nice to be able to visit home. But I want to stay wit
“I’m sending you home too,” I say quietly, doing my best to look each in the eyes. “I’m sorry this happened to you. I’m sorry if you’re disappointed that you didn’t get the wish.” They murmur a variety of responses back to me, most of them relieved. One by one they step forward and I take their ha
“Does…” I whisper, my eyes still fastened to Orion as my eyes move over him, feeling the powers that radiate from him now. “Does that mean you have all of the powers of Darkness too? From…from the wish?” “No,” Orion murmurs, looking down at his hands and flexing them, experimenting with the feel o
Beatrice is the last to go, staring at me in shock, realizing finally that she bet everything on the wrong horse. I bare my teeth at her, fangs extended, and Beatrice’s eyes go wider as she trembles and finally submits, going to her knees and bowing her head. “Good,” I say, my voice returning to n
Laila’s knife sinks deep between Death’s shoulder blades and the final scream of a God fills the air as Death falls to his knees. The magic stops mid-stream, like a tap being suddenly turned off. I groan and tilt forward against Anton, who catches me and holds me against his chest. “Shit, June,”
“Just a little longer, June. She’ll do it.” But what if she doesn’t? What if…what if I’m inches from oblivion, and this is it? My heart strains in my chest, my wolf shaking like a leaf from snout to tail. But still, I will myself to hope. To trust in my friend. “I know,” I reply, letting my ey
I gasp, my shoulders trembling under the sheer weight of Death’s magic that flows over and around us, my shield barrier straining and buckling under its might. “June,” Anton breathes, eyes wide as he looks up at the magic streaming over us in an unending torrent. “Shit – are you –“ I crouch besi
The wish presses against Death for a moment and then sinks into him, dissolving into his chest. He sighs with happiness and what looks like ecstasy, tilting his head back to the sky as the magic disappears into him. Beatrice steps away, tucking her hands behind her back, beaming at the God she jus
Before I can get more than three steps after Laila, Anton lunges forward, his paws landing on either side of me as he snatches at the back of my gown with his teeth, holding me back. His fierce growl reminds me that I need to stay here – that Death took Laila because he wants me to come rushing onto