Page 85 of Death is My Ride or Die

“Why do you think Death isn’t helping you with your power?” Ace asked.

Turning toward the warlock, I had a strong feeling that he already knew the answer. “Besides the fact that he likes to watch me suffer, has no emotional empathy, and is literally the second-in-command of Satan, so he’s still my enemy? No idea.” I heaved in a breath. “It’s like he’s . . . ” Everything seemed to click into place, stunning me into silence. “Afraid. Afraid to get too close. When he’s teaching me self-defense, it’s so second nature to him that it’s predictable. Everything is calculated. Especially the distance he puts between us.”

“And the light that comes from you is more unpredictable,” Ace reflected. “It requires a more personal, unique approach.”

“Exactly. I think he’s afraid my power will get into his head again, so he’s wary of getting too close. He’s afraid to . . . to even touch me.”

“Well, that may be for the best. If Death touches a living creature with his hands for too long, it dies,” Ace elucidated, and I felt my heart sink into my stomach. The reminder of why he wore those black leather gloves was depressing.

A figure skirted my peripheral vision. I turned my head to look down the aisle of books behind us, and I stilled as I caught the silver eyes of Master Vampire Duncan, the vampire Death and I had crossed paths with in Ace’s club.

“Get a good earful?” I sneered before I could stop myself.

“Just enjoying some literature, love. Say hello to your zombie boyfriend for me, would you?” He pushed a book, which I was certain he hadn’t read, back into a shelf. Then he strode to the other end of the library and shoved open a velvet curtain against the wall before he disappeared inside.

“Stupid fang-face,” I said. “He was totally eavesdropping.”

Ace folded his arms, his head still turned in the direction the vampire had gone. “It appears so . . . ”

“Aren’t you going to do something about it?”

“Can’t. He’s a member of Spades; he’s allowed to visit my library.” Ace didn’t seem happy about that rule as he threw open a different set of purple velvet curtains against the wall. “Let us continue our conversation in my séance room, where it’s private. Also, have you ever had the Taco Bell?”

While Ace placed our order on his phone, I wandered around the room looking at all the ancient-looking artifacts. I stopped in front of a glass case and leaned in, taking in the small pendant inside. I’d seen this the last time I’d been here.

The warlock limped over to me and leaned on his cane. “The barracuda,” Ace said, sliding his free hand into his pocket. “Beautiful as it is dangerous. Suits you,oui?”

I could feel him staring at me intently, and I laughed shyly. “Suave.”

Ace’s smirk broadened, illuminating his handsome features. “Barracudas are notorious for intensifying emotions, which is why many novice magic users give up on them. But given some adjustment time, they become one with their wearer. They are incredible conduits of inner strength from the heart chakra.” He touched his own chest and smiled down at me. “Wear it well,ma chérie.”

I frowned, then looked back at the glass case. The pendant had vanished.

Something cold pressed against my cleavage. The barracuda was now around my neck below my communion cross.

“What’s the deal with you and Death?” I asked later, as Ace and I feasted on our smorgasbord of Taco Bell. “I know you two aren’t on the best of terms, but he must trust you if he called to you for help from Limbo.”

“Due to moral clashing between magic users and humans in this realm, there aren’t many neutral warlocks like me anymore. See, in my business, the good guys would never involve themselves with Death, and the bad guys, they’re too greedy to trust to get the job done. Therefore, I’m one of the finest, most convenient options.”

I narrowed my eyes and took another bite of my Crunchwrap. “You know I’m not an idiot, right? You evaded my question.”

Ace sighed and sipped his Baja Blast.“Ma chérie . . . ”

“What?You’rethe one who teased me about being his friend once.”

“Because I knew the only way you would trust me quickly was to make myself relevant to your problem.”

“Why does everybody insist on keeping things from me?”

“I am more than happy to answer any questions about wielding your power. Other than that, there are some stones better left unturned.”

“Oh, come on!” I exclaimed. “I played along with you at the penthouse and riled him up about this date. Now I gotta gobackand face the psycho. The least you can do is give me some juicy gossip out of this.”

Ace unwrapped a supreme taco, not meeting my eyes. “You’re telling me, in all the time you’ve spent with him, he’s told you nothing about me?”

I nodded. Ace scoffed and muttered a bitter phrase in French.

“Death doesn’t exactly enjoy talking about his past,” I said to soothe his hurt.

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