Page 75 of Perfectly Perplexing Zombie

“I regret nothing,” I answered, unwilling to insult his intelligence by claiming his scent was sunshine and roses.

Wendall’s pale blue eyes were as bright as ever. The decay assaulting his skin had so far skipped that wondrous sight. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“I do.” Cupping the side of his face, I ran my thumb over his deteriorating flesh and asked, “Does it hurt when I touch it?” I’d asked before, but I wanted to make certain nothing had changed.

“No.” Wendall tried to shake his head but wasn’t able to move much with my hand holding his face. “It feels a little weird and different, but it doesn’t hurt. If anything, it doesn’t feel much at all. I think that’s why it’s weird.”

As the skin deteriorated and peeled away, he lost feeling in the area. I should have expected that. “I’m sorry.” It was perhaps the most useless two words I’d ever spoken. Those words did nothing, including conveying the magnitude of my sorrow. Selfishly, that sorrow wasn’t restricted to Wendall alone. I already mourned his loss and felt it deep in my bones. Wendall’s second passing would change me in ways I could hardly fathom but knew would not be for the better.

“I know.” Wendall reached across my chest to pet Trinket. She cooed in appreciation. “She really was the absolute best present you could have ever given me, Ray.” Lifting his chin, Wendall’s gaze bored into me. “You’ll take care of her, won’t you? When I’m gone, you’ll make sure Trinket’s safe and loved?”

I didn’t bother arguing the fact that Wendall would, indeed, be gone soon. “I could do nothing less.”

Wendall’s grateful grin broke my heart. “Thank you. Between you and everyone at Dusk, I know she’s in good hands. Muriel said she’ll keep providing food for her.” Wendall softly chuckled. “This little gal has a bigger appetite than me, and her food’s just about as gross. We make a disgustingly good fit.”

“Her diet will not be a problem, even if Muriel is no longer able to provide sustenance.” I would speak with Ilish directly and source the best food possible. Trinket would never want for anything. Except what I could not give her—Wendall.

Laying his head on my shoulder, Wendall relaxed against me. Nearly all species feared fairies, including humans. It was…odd to have another so willingly close, so relaxed and at ease in my presence. It was a feeling I’d never sought, but when gone, it would leave a gaping hole in my soul.

“Do you think this will work?” Wendall softly asked. “I’d be lying if I said I’m not worried. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt. Professor Stover has already done enough damage, and I think he’s willing to do a lot more.”

Wendall wasn’t wrong. “I believe it is the best hope, no matter the risks.”

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think trusting Aurelia is wrong. Given what happened between me and Professor Stover, I’m probably not the best judge of character, but I get a good vibe from her.” Wendall chewed his bottom lip before he amended. “Well, maybe not agoodvibe, but I don’t think she’s lying when she says she just wants to rest. Also, she agreed that djinns shouldn’t be completely free. She’s terribly self-aware. I’m not sure I have as good a handle on my own psyche as Aurelia.”

“You have not lived for over three thousand years either.”

Wendall jerked back, eyes round. “Three thousand? Seriously? I knew she was old—”

“At least that old. I doubt Aurelia herself knows her exact age. Witches began experimenting with djinn creation a little over thirty-five hundred years ago. All known djinns were created within a five-hundred-year period.”

“Wow.” Wendall laid his head back on my shoulder. “That’s amazing.”

“It is, but Aurelia hasn’t walked the earth for that amount of time. Most djinns spend decades, if not centuries, peacefully sleeping within their object of attachment. They are summoned into worlds that have changed dramatically from the last time they were awake and active. It is a very dissociative existence.”

“No wonder they’re not all sane,” Wendall mused.

“It would not be a life I would choose.”

I wasn’t sure anyone would. Djinns were all-powerful, but that power came with too high a price. Besides, djinns didn’t benefit from their power. Others did, but not them. For a djinn, there was no upside. Even life eternal was its own form of enslavement.

Trinket moved from me to Wendall, slipping into his lap and cuddling close. Wendall’s fingers dug into her soft fur, and he contentedly hummed. “You know, it’s amazing how the most dangerous creatures are wrapped in the cutest or most beautiful packaging. Scuttlebutts, sirens, fairies…I’m sure there are others.”

I smirked. “And which category do I fit into? Cute or beautiful?”

Wendall’s soft giggles tickled against my skin. “Depends on what you’re doing. You, Hellfire Rayburn, are always beautiful. But sometimes, on rare occasions, you can be cute too.”

“Please, do not repeat that to anyone else. It would ruin my reputation.”

Wendall playfully slapped my chest, and warmth exploded behind his casually endearing touch. Without thought, I captured his wrist and held his palm to my chest. Wendall quickly stopped trying to pull it away and snuggled in a little closer. I could not fathom how much I was going to miss this.

Pulling Wendall’s hand up, I pressed my lips against his palm.

“Ray, don’t. I couldn’t get all my skin covered. That section is—”

“Still a part of you,” I interrupted. “Allow me to do with it as I wish.”

“I…and what you wish is to—”

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