Page 131 of The Girl Who Only Died Once

“Exactly,” Ambra says, and Chloe gets the distinct sensation that Ambra would be shooting Killian a thankful look if it wasn’t for whatever the hell is going on. “So I came here. To actually check. See for myself. See if you need to run away.”

Despite that last bit, Killian doesn’t react, his face still, solemn, like he’s understanding what Ambra’s saying this time. Like the posturing wore off.

And, with how much Ambra’s staring directly at the mossy ground, Chloe has no reason to doubt just how truly awkward she feels.

“I’m okay,” Chloe says, swallowing down a lump. “It’s no big deal, I’ll text more.”

Killian scoffs at the no big deal, but he hangs back.

“How’s the Boltiex girl?” Ambra asks, cutting, and Killian’s frown deepens. “Did you follow your promise?”

They regard each other, and Chloe gets the distinct impression that this is a test. That Ambra has laid something in front of him and is waiting to find out if he passed.

“I set up a safe house close to her mother’s,” he says, finally, like it’s been unwound from him. “And the mother’s house is well protected.”

Seanna.

Ambra’s talking about Seanna.

In Gurlien’s halting story of the final battle with Ambra’s handlers, there had been a child kidnapped by a demon. That the demon had been held captive and helped them both escape.

The pieces slot neatly into place.

“I’m teaching her how to break demon traps,” Chloe interjects, and Ambra’s brows flick up. “She’s well taken care of. Likes pizza.”

Ambra hesitates, then nods, curt. “Good.”

So that’s why so many people want Seanna. That’s why she needs protection.

That’s why Killian hates the idea of the abominations. They wanted him to be one.

“The Necromancer who brought her back can sense her in danger?” he asks, mild, and Ambra squints at him once more. “She’s off limits, I know, Necromancers have killed too many demons for me to even want—”

“That’s what we mean by insane,” Ambra interjects, and he cuts off with a scowl. “Only…a bit. Just enough to be uneasy.”

“I’ll check in after, I dunno, periods of danger?” Chloe suggests, and Ambra nods, like that’s enough.

Killian shifts, and there’s something thoughtful on his face, something almost pondering, as he meets Chloe’s eyes. Like he’s evaluating something, finding it good.

“And be honest about it?” Ambra asks, and it would be cutting from anyone else. “Gurlien can tell when you’re not honest and it’s been a lot.”

“He’s the one not talking to me,” Chloe protests.

“Have you even apologized?” Ambra asks, narrowing her eyes at her, and Ambra’s still a hell of a lot scarier now that Chloe can see her demon self. “You scared the shit out of him, have you even apologized for that?” As if punctuation, Ambra gives Chloe another once over, checking for injuries, then teleports away.

Because if there’s anything Ambra can do, it’s teleporting out of awkward situations.

Chloe rubs her face, but Killian’s still. “Well, that went great.”

He tilts his head, and despite all the posturing and the pseudo combat, there’s something thoughtful in his gaze.

“I like that there are people who care about you,” he says, voice soft.

Chloe has no rebuttal to that.

32

She sleeps hard the next night, and wakes before she truly knows why.

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