Page 126 of The Cruelest Undead

Not death.

But her once guardian.

Bad things are coming. Stay close to Rinnon, and be safe when you can’t be with me. I’m trying to change the outcome, but know that I love you, and we have a slim chance.

Are you going to die?

No, and neither are you. I can’t give you more, Jolie. Just fight for me.

And as quickly as time stopped so he could break the rules once more, it sped back up, and Jacques was gone.

Death was the one buried in her.

He dropped to the bed beside her.

Jolie went into his body, and she felt the kiss of feathers around her as he cocooned her in them.

Neither spoke.

“It’s really important we get that sword, isn’t it?” she finally asked.

He nodded.

“Oui. It’s a matter of life and death.”

She didn’t ask any questions, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to answer her anyway.

Instead, she put her faith in Death.

“Save us,” she whispered.

“I’m trying,” he admitted. “Have faith.”

Oh, that was all kinds of ironic in this situation, and she knew it.

“Flynn will find the relics. I believe in him and his skill,” Death said. “Our mate is tenacious.”

That he was.

Only, as they basked in the afterglow, they were both thinking the same thing.

Could Flynn pull off something so damn difficult? Could he find two antiquities in under twenty-four hours so that Fate wouldn’t bone them good?

It appeared that time was going to tell.

It all rested on a man who had already sacrificed everything for them. Now, they were going to ask for more.

And they knew it wasn’t fair.

At all.

Chapter Eight

New Orleans Morgue

Monday

Mid-Morning

---