Page 33 of Creatures that Breathe

Her rant devolves into a groan, and near silent muttering.

I try to help, but my gaze leaks to the smog billowing outside like smoke from a massive fire. The acrid stench overpowers the store’s faint scent of bleach and coffee.

Could it be possible my king died from arson?

Leni trips, forehead smacking my neck, hands sliding around my middle. “One last one,” she says, attempting to hoist me onto the cushion. “Come on.” She shifts, just a little, gasps. “Is that a gun?”

Fast as lightning, she wrenches the Sig from my holster and cradles it in front of her.

“He has a gun,” she mutters, twisting the matte black in her grip, shaking her head and finally—blessedly—gingerly placing it on a nearby table. “Unbelievable.”

I feel her gaze rake over me, and I try all at once to absorb the pain, but I’m too weak, drained from the fight, the curse, her. Especially her.

“I’d use it,” she continues, circling back to me, forcefully fluffing the pillow behind my head, oblivious to the fact that I’m awake. “If a male was coming at me, I’d shoot. Anyone would, but you didn’t.” She sighs, the same way she did against my mouth. “Of course you didn’t. Gods, you really are perfect, aren’t you? Please, do not die.”

Polite, even when talking to a corpse.

Her fingers trail over my forehead, caressing, kind.

I blurt, “Don’t—” Don’t comfort me, touch me, talk nicely, nothing actually comes out.

“Cross?” Her arms wrap around me, looping, grip comforting, and it’s the most effective she’s been in moving me, the both of us spilling across the couch together.

She’s hugging me.

It hurts, but I allow myself to surrender to her embrace, let her shimmy up my torso and push the hair off my forehead.

A slight smile graces her lips. “I was so worried.” Those pale eyes drip to my mouth, linger there for a moment. “I thought ...” she trails off, choked with emotion. “Stop doing that, will you? Passing out doesn’t negate our deal.”

“Noted.” I manage to say, hauling myself to sit. Drag a hand across the back of my neck, chew on the edge of my lip.

Leni’s sleeves are rolled up, blue hair tucked haphazardly behind her ears. She dragged me here from the alley, rescued me.

“You know,” I say, suddenly awkward. “I’ve never heard ‘Gods’ and ‘perfect’ used in the same sentence.”

“You’ve never met one then,” she retorts, emptying a napkin holder into her palm. “They don’t open their mouths without claiming Divine righteousness. Blowhards.”

Fuck, she’s making me smile. “I’ve also never met a creature unafraid of the Gods.”

I track her across the room, watch her wet a napkin from the hot water dispenser.

“If they wanted to punish me, they’d just go on letting me figure this all out on my own.”

“Fuck the Gods.”

Her gaze snaps to mine.

I smirk and raise lead filled arms to the ceiling. The heavens beyond.

Wait.

No lightning, no tidal wave, no gold tipped arrow through the chest.

Her lips hitch into a smile.

“I guess we’re the same,” I say, heart pounding in my chest.

“Not even close.” Her gaze shimmers as she melts to her knees in front of me, wrings out the napkin and wipes it along my hand. “They can’t punish you. They didn’t make you, so you’re not in their domain. A mortal imbued with immortal abilities. You’re ...” Our eyes lock under the glow of a plump yellow lamp. “You have power—real power—that you can control without worrying how the Gods will punish you if you actually embrace it. We’re nothing alike.” Her voice is not amused anymore. “You’re free.”

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