Page 21 of All Hallows Game

“Hm.” Miz’s tone was dry but more lifelike than I’d heard it in days. “You do have your uses, I suppose.”

I nudged his ribs, resting my forehead on his shoulder.2 “You’re supposed to agree I’d fetch a pretty fortune because I’m pretty.”

Miz made a throaty sound. “You’re just fishing for compliments now.”

I drew back enough to give him a pout, my eyes wide and pitiful. “So… you’re saying I’m not pretty.”

His beautiful gold eyes flattened. “Don’t make me punch you in the dick.”

“You remember I have a dick? Could’ve fooled me.”

“You really do want to die.” He pulled away and this time I let him go but kept my hand on his wrist, fucking delighted when he tugged my hand down to his, lacing our fingers together. “Do you have any idea how stupid it would be to be vulnerable around me? I could strangle you in the throes of passion. I could rip out your throat while I have you pinned to the bed.”

“I’m intrigued. Go on.”

The scowl he threw my way was pure Misery and made me grin shamelessly.

He used our linked hands to yank me closer; I tripped over an exposed root and had to splay my palm across his chest for balance. “I’m serious.”

“So am I. You can’t kill me, Miz.”

A shadow chased through his eyes. “A death god can be killed by another death god.”

“Which means Nightmare can be killed by us before she gets a chance to touch your mind again.”

“You’re delusional.”

“Delulu is the solulu,” I replied very seriously.

He groaned, as intended. “Where the fuck do you get these things?”

I leaned up to kiss him, taunting him with a light touch. If he wanted more, he’d have to initiate it himself. “Saw it on K-Pop TikTok.”

“Why do you even have a TikTok? You’re a death god.”

I tilted my head, a smile pulling at my mouth. “Don’t you mean what’s TikTok, Mr. Allergic To Technology?”

His scowl deepened, but pink tinged his pale cheeks. “I’m aware of the world.”

“You got addicted to cute animal videos after Cat showed you those prairie dogs, didn’t you?”

“No,” he scoffed, turning away, walking fast. “Fuck you. Why would you even suggest that? I never watch videos.”

“That’s a whole lot of protesting, darling.”

His pink cheeks turned cherry red, and I grinned, satisfied with my progress. He wasn’t silent and sullen now, wasn’t stuck in his head, worrying about Nightmare. Plus, Miz was fucking cute when he was embarrassed.

“Come on, let’s check the rest of the woods and you can make good on all those promises you made.”

He gave me a blank look, his eyes pinched until understanding dawned and they rolled. Hard. “Those were warnings, Tor.”

I squinted at him, making a show of it. “You’re absolutely certain that wasn’t a sales pitch?”

He answered with a low mutter I was ninety percent sure was a curse or plea to the gods for intervention. Since the stubborn bastard refused to tell me what it meant, I’d come up with my own meaning over the years.

“Asking the god of sex for an extra few inches on this baby?” I circled my hips for emphasis.

“You’ve already got enough inches for an ego of shocking magnitude,” he drawled, golden eyes scanning the forest as the trees began to thin. I realised why a moment later, when fading light caught the silver surface of the lake.

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