Page 131 of Death is My Ride or Die

“You’re using me asbait?” I exclaimed. “I’m starting to think your English isn’t as good as it appears, Roman boy. When I said I wanted to come with you and fight with you, I didn’t mean I wanted to be the worm you dangle in front of the king bass.”

“We can’t keep the book here, not when Duncan was able to enter through the wards.”

“Vague and not answering my assumptions. Fantastic. Back to your old ways, I see?”

“If we can take my scythe back tonight, we can avoid entering the otherworld,” Death said. “There’s a chance you’re right about our fate, that it can change. It’s happening already. This gives us the best chance of survival.” He looked away from me, his jaw tightening. “The reapers and I all agree that you’re not strong enough to go up against Ahrimad or Malphas. And I especially don’t want you entering the portal.”

“Then what exactly is your plan here? Because it sounds to me like you’re going to go into the mausoleum by yourself, winging it. And if all else fails, you’ll use theBook of the Deadas leverage for Ace.”

He stretched his neck to the left and growled out an aggravated noise. “I’m not giving them the book, Faith. Giving Ahrimad the book means giving him you, and I’ll drop dead before that fucking happens.”

I felt a little breathless at his confession. Although, I reminded myself that he’d said that because he wanted me and the book all to himself. “You can’t make me hang back and be babysat while you go in there like a martyr. Sure, I might not be a full-blown she-warrior yet, but I want to be involved. Ace needs both of us, and he’s my friend. I can do this.”

But he didn’t seem convinced.

“Ahrimad is twice, maybe three times as old as I am,” Death said. “He doesn’t give ashitabout anyone, including me, including the warlock. He’s an ancient, evil entity created solely for the purpose of harboring death. If you want Ace to survive, we need to be careful, and you can never be alone. You’ll be guarded by the Seven.”

I couldn’t lose him, but I couldn’t fight my way onto the front line and make matters worse. If something happened to Death and I couldn’t help . . .

“We need to talk about the worst-case scenario tonight.” Death’s eyes searched mine as if he were reading my thoughts. I could feel my heart sinking. “If things go south, if things don’t work out the way we’d hoped, and I—”

“No,no!” I thrashed out of his grasp, but he only grabbed me again. “I’m not listening to this. Let go of me—”

“Stop. Faith,stop.” He pinned my wrists at my sides and flattened me against the dresser. His eyes were calm and steady against mine. “I know. I know this is difficult to talk about, but we can’t pretend Ace’s vision isn’t a possibility. If things don’t go the way we planned, if Ace’s vision comes true . . . I need you to promise me you won’t be reckless.”

I hated this. I hated that he was even making room for the worst-case scenario. As far as I was concerned, Ace’s vision had been wrong from the moment he was kidnapped. We would be at the mausoleum one night earlier than he’d predicted, so fate had already changed.

“I made my promise to you,” Death said. “Now it’s time you make yours. I’ve lived two hundred lives. You’ve hardly lived one. If anything happens to me, promise me you won’t get yourself killed trying to be the hero. Promise you won’t seek revenge. That you’ll chooseyouover me. I need you to choose you over me.”

I looked up at him with wide eyes as an invisible fist squeezed around my throat.

He grasped my face, smoothing the pads of his gloved thumbs over my cheekbones. “Say the words, cupcake.”

“I promise,” I whispered.

With my fingers crossed behind my back.

XXXIV

The Seven showed up to travel with us to the Greywood Mausoleum. Unlike Death and the other Fallen, none of the reapers had wings, which meant we had to travel by car.

Leo, Wolf, Gunner, and Flash traveled in one, while I traveled in another, sandwiched between a stoic Denim and an exasperated Blade in the back of a Cadillac. Romeo boasted in the driver’s seat about how he’d coined the termménage à troisin 1856, explained why monogamy is a social trap, and expounded on other Romeo-related topics.

“. . . andthatis why I get along so well with gynecologists,” Romeo said as we pulled into a bare parking lot.

“Shut,” Blade hissed, gripping his head, “the fuck. Up.”

Romeo snickered. “Clearly, I’m not the only one suffering from high testosterone levels in this vehicle.”

“Enough,”Denim warned. “Both of you.”

Suddenly, dark-winged angels hit the ground, surrounding the Cadillac. The shadows of their menacing wings tucked gracefully into their backs. I counted at least ten.

“Death’s Fallen,” Romeo said and cut the engine. “Just a precaution to protect you, love. Let’s do this thang.”

Denim and Blade got out of the Cadillac. I scooched out after Denim and slammed the door behind me. The Fallen moved into formation with their hands clasped behind their backs. One with a buzz cut stepped forward as Leo approached.

“I am Reaper León, Lead Commandant of the Seven,” Leo said. “What is your status?”

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