Page 36 of All Hallows Game

“I could use help on that assignment, too,” I said, pretty damn proud of how normal my tone came out. “I’ve missed too many lectures since—you know.”

He would; he was there at Duncan Ford’s Halloween party.

“Yeah,” he agreed, a shadow chasing through his eyes. “Well, you know me, happy to help.”

Happy to hack Ford’s system for past assignments, no doubt. Did I hear an insinuation about him helping me track the photo of Virgil, or was I overthinking it?

Smash his skull into the wall until he can’t breathe, let alone speak.

I swallowed, ignoring the dark compulsion even if my hands tingled and I could feel the pressure of Justin’s head against my palm.

“I’ll let you know when I’ve got some free time,” Justin offered, backing up a step. “I’ve gotta go get my car serviced.”

That sounded like an excuse, but I was so happy to get him away from Honey that I didn’t care. If she found out about Virgil, would Nightmare kill my brother? Or would she bring Honey into it, manipulate her like she was manipulating me?

“What was that about?” I whispered when Justin loped over to a crimson Porsche that was the abject opposite to his slouchy appearance. “And don’t tell me it was about an assignment.”

I met her eyes so she knew I meant business, and she sighed.

“It’s nothing,” she murmured, rolling her eyes. “Just him being a tosser about me parking in his spot.”

I raised an eyebrow, squeezing her into my side. “You can tell me what’s really wrong. I don’t mind breaking his nose to scare him away from you.”

“Cat!” Honey laughed, her eyes crinkling and a real smile crossing her face. “You can’t go around breaking people’s noses.”

“Alright.” I shrugged, taking a good look at her, noting the same dark circles she had last night, her bottom lip bitten and broken, her hair pulled into a messy bun I’d never seen her wear before we came to this island. “I’ll knee him in the dick, then. Or put salt in his espresso. Just tell me what he did, and consider it done.”

The look she gave me could only be described as fond exasperation. “I’m serious, he’s pitching a hissy fit over a parking space.”

I believed her this time, and honestly, I shouldn’t have been surprised. People were so possessive over the slightest thing. A fight broke out once over a Saint Laurent coffee cup. Blood spilled. Hair was ripped out. Someone lost a tooth. As if there weren’t a dozen other coffee cups.

I rested my hands on Honey’s shoulders, meeting her eyes. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” She laughed softly, rolling her eyes. “I shouldn’t let confrontation bother me so much, I just hate it.”

“That’s why you’ve got me to beat up your bad guys.”

She bumped her shoulder into mine, the tension easing from her. “Who are you and what have you done with my introvert friend?”

I shrugged. “I’m trying out this thing called taking no one’s shit.”

Except Nightmare, who had me by the lady balls. And I was only taking no shit because I didn’t have the energy or inclination to care anymore, but I didn’t tell Honey that part. She didn’t need to worry about me.

“I like it,” she said, resting her head on my shoulder. “I might try it some time.”

“I’ll help you. Taking no shit is a team effort.”

She snorted, pulling away to give me a look that told me I was mad. I watched the smile fall off her face as she waited for Byron to make a quippish comment and felt my own fall when he didn’t.

“I’m—going down to the village if you want to come,” I offered awkwardly. I could put off going to Death’s domain if Honey needed me. Sure, we’d drank long into the night—and so heavily that my head felt like a bhangra drum—but I wasn’t leaving her now if she needed me. I couldn’t lose anyone else.

“I was gonna go for a drive,” she said, her tanned throat bobbing, “but I think I’ll—I want to go see By.”

I pulled her into a tight embrace and squeezed her to me, like I could take away both our grief if only I hugged hard enough. “Call me if you need me.”

“I will,” she promised, resting her head on my shoulder for another moment before she drew away. “You call me, too. Or call one of your hot husbands.”

“They’re not my husbands anymore,” I said with a sad smile.

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