Page 30 of Death Raiser

“The Lord of the Veil.”

“That’s the guy,” I muttered.

“And you’re alive?”

“Apparently.”

“What did he want?” he asked.

It was my turn to sigh dramatically. “A date.”

Kang’s whole body went rigid, and fury streaked across his face. He balled his hands into fists. “What did you tell him?”

“Well, I wanted to say no. Actually, I did say no, but he persisted. I wasn’t sure how well outright denying him a second time would go down. Men don’t always take rejection well, and I was in difficult position of not wanting to die. I told him I’d think about it.”

“I wasn’t aware you were…acquainted.” Kang pressed his lips together. “I know why I want to date you, and also that I have no claim on you. Yet. But why is the Lord of the Veil interested?”

“I’m still trying to figure that out. It may have to do with a lack of options, but I suspect he wants to use my magic somehow.”

Kang flashed his teeth. “I don’t like that you were in danger and some…thing...tried to use it to get a date.”

“Going to place me in a padded room, Kang?”

“Would you let me?”

“Not a chance.”

“How about I just handcuff you to a bed?” His gaze darkened. “My bed.”

“Definitely not.” Heat stirred within me, ready to answer that question in a completely different way. “You haven’t even taken me out to dinner yet…”

He took a deep breath again and stepped forward. Starting at my shoulders, he ran his hands down my arms until he held my hands. “Will you let me know if you need help?”

“That I can definitely promise.”

He squeezed my hands. “Are you okay?”

“Hungover as fuck and I only had like four or five drinks.”

He waited.

“And kind of freaked out,” I admitted. “Not just from getting pathetically hungover, but from Leviathan yeeting me from the living realm to proposition me.”

Without a word, Kang pulled me in and wrapped his arms around me. With my face smushed into his neck, his subtle cologne surrounded me along with the warmth of his body.

What was happening right now? Had I entered a parallel universe? A few weeks ago, I never would’ve guessed I’d be standing here with Kang holding me. The same Kang who swore at me every time I arrived at a crime scene and called me a bone witch the first time we met.

The same Kang who’d quietly investigated my father’s disappearance without being asked, who saved my life during our very first case together, who valued my input on spirit testimonies, and who caught me whenever I tripped and staggered at crime scenes.

Candace MacKinnon had been right.

Before the angry spirit had tried to kill me, she told me I didn’t notice what was right in front of me. I never claimed to be the smart one in the family, but I wasn’t a numbskull either. At least, not usually. I should’ve noticed Kang’s qualities and feelings sooner.

I should’ve realized my own, too.

Luckily, I still had a chance to make it right.

“I can make this go away,” Kang said. “I will make this go away.” His chest rumbled with each word. “Just say yes and I’ll handle it. I’ll make him pay for every lost hour of sleep, every flinch, every fucking hesitation.”

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