Page 265 of The Cruelest Undead

“Please don’t hate me,” she said, not intending to go there in front of the children, but she was scared.

Flynn was her mate, and she couldn’t lose him.

He was surprised.

“Why would I hate you?” he asked. “You didn’t do anything.”

“I brought them back,” she said.

He patted the couch.

“I’m not angry with you, Jolie. I’m angry with the universe. I just feel like I can’t get a break. I knew I was going to get hurt, and despite it, I had hope. Hope is my greatest weakness.”

Jacques sat on one side of him.

“Hope is your biggest asset, Flynn. How many times did you have hope when we were empty, and it got us through? Don’t lose your hope.”

“It’s too late. I can’t keep fighting,” he said. “I’m tired. I got them back, and now…”

Jacques touched his leg and told him the truth.

“They aren’t gone.”

Jolie and Flynn paused.

This was news.

“What?” Flynn asked.

“I have them in my realm. They don’t have souls, so I don’t have to reap them. I can just take two souls from someone else, and swap them out.”

Flynn’s heart skipped.

“Why?”

Jacques turned his head.

“What wouldn’t I do for you? I’ll destroy the world before breaking you. I’ll figure the rest out. What matters most is that you made the sacrifice. Now, I’ll repay it.”

Jolie felt hope now too.

“Can we just yeet some bad humans or monsters, and call it a day? Point me at them. I’ll get you some souls.”

He laughed.

“A little less serial killer-like, Jolie,” Jacques said. “I have to do some shifting and weaving, but then, I’ll figure it out. One problem at a time. We need to find the artifacts, and then, I’ll deal with that.”

“Really?” Flynn asked.

Jacques nodded.

“They are in my realm. I have to go back and when I do, I’ll deal with them—and not in the way I usually deal with shit. They’ll keep me company. Hell. I’ll give your mother some baking ingredients and let her bake for the minions.”

Before Flynn could say anything else, Brigit came walking into the room, her feet tapping on the stone floor.

“Uh, the spider,” Flynn warned.

Jolie sighed.

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