Page 132 of Death is My Ride or Die

“I am Fallen Morax, Battle Order Lead Commander, Legion Six-Nine,” said Buzz Cut. Morax’s black eyes flicked to each of the reapers before landing on me with a brief flicker of surprise. “Is that . . . ?”

“Yes, this is the girl,” Leo answered. “She is to be protected at all costs.”

The horde of hooded soldiers swiveled their heads to look at me, whispering amongst themselves.

“You’re kind of a big deal in Hell,” Gunner whispered at my ear. “You might want to say something charming for your first impression.”

Feeling incredibly under pressure, I raised a hand with a peace sign. “Greetings, Legion Sixty-Nine.”

Romeo burst out laughing.

Morax turned his attention back to Leo. “Upon Lucifer’s order, I have thirty Fallen surrounding the perimeter of the cemetery. I await orders from His Highness, Lord Death. When can we expect his arrival?”

As Leo and Morax discussed strategy, I heard a slight rustling from above us. My gaze moved heavenward, and I squinted at a small shadow above us, a raven sitting in an old maple tree. My heart rate picked up as I thought of Malphas and our encounter in the projection.

Wolf grabbed me by the shoulder. “You’re gonna hang back with Denim and me. In the Cadillac.”

“You can’t be serious,” I said. “We’re waiting in theparking lotwhile all of them go in to kick some demon ass? What if they need help?”

“There are thirty other Fallen for backup,” Denim said, steering me toward the car. “Neither of us wants to babysit a mortal tonight, but it’s Death’s orders.”

Instead of arguing that I didn’t need to bebabysatand Death was in no frame of mind to be making last-minute decisions about my involvement, I planted my feet and crossed my arms over my chest, trying to look as intimidating as possible.

“Denim and Wolf, Icommandyou let me into that cemetery.”

They shared a look and chuckled.

It had been worth a shot.

“Get into the Cadillac, pipsqueak,” Wolf said. “Before I throw you over my shoulder.”

Before I could argue further, Death landed like a cat on top of the Cadillac. His mismatched green eyes were nearly black in the night, the lower portion of his face was covered by that black scarf, and he wore his cowl. He pounced onto the hood of the car and hit the pavement gracefully.

“Faith is coming with us,” Death said.

My heart skipped a beat.

Wolf spoke up for us all. “But you said—”

“I changed my mind,” Death snapped. “She’s coming with us. Got it?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Under his breath, Romeo muttered bitterly, “Always a dramatic entrance. Did he have to dent my hood like that?”

Death stalked past the group of hooded soldiers and moved fearlessly toward the entryway of the Greywood Cemetery. He kicked open the massive black cast iron gate.

“So much for a surreptitious entrance,” I muttered.

Neither the stars nor the moon showed up to light the way as we trudged into the boneyard blanketing the dead. The rotting smell of earth brought awareness of the corpses lingering beneath the rows upon rows of tombstones fading out of sight. I’d never been in a cemetery at night, and I yearned for this to be the last time.

“You smell that?” Denim asked Morax.

“Indeed,” Morax answered.

“It’s getting stronger,” Romeo replied.

“Whoever smelt it dealt it,” Flash joked.

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