Page 9 of Shadow of Death

Rastin walkedinto the cabin the next afternoon. He fixed himself a drink before settling on the couch and kicking his feet up on the table before even saying a word to me.

This was going to be one of his talks. It was hard to determine the subject because it could be anything with Rastin. He was the poster boy of ADHD, and I never knew where he’d land or if it would stop there.

He took a deep breath, his typical opening salvo before launching into his subject. “You know how me and Kicks have this kind of love/hate thing going on?” He sipped his drink while he waited for me to acknowledge him.

“Love?” I took a seat on the nearby chair.Lovewas not a word I’d ever use to connect those two. They were loyal to each other because they were now pack. Rastin showed due deference because Kicks was alpha, and Kicks would kill for anyone in his pack.

Butlove?

Death appeared, standing not far from Rastin. She’d developed a habit of showing up for these chats. She perched awkwardly on the arm of the couch, staring at him.

I find him very amusing,she said.Almost feral in his needs. It’s refreshing.

He shrugged. “Okay, like-ish/hate?” Rastin continued, oblivious to the newcomer. I wish I were so lucky.

Death giggled, or that was what I interpreted the squealing sound that hurt my ears to be.

“I’m not going to split hairs. Get to the point.” I needed him to spit it out so that I could get this torture over with. I was wondering if I should’ve poured myself a drink before I sat down with him—and now her. A verylargedrink.

“You’re killing the guy. He’s strung so tight I’m afraid he’s going to crack or his dick is going to break off. Like, either throw him a bone or set him loose already. It’s getting hard to watch.”

He’s right,Death said.I don’t know why you are so intent on making everything difficult. You should just conjugate with Kicks already.

“I’m not trying to mess with him.” Maybe if I had taken a drink, I could blame the alcohol for the flush of my skin.

“You’re telling me he looks wound that tight for no reason? Really, Piper, I—”

“Maybe unintentionally,” I said. I wasn’t getting into all the nitty-gritty details with him, and I didn’t need him to continue speculating either.

“Well, you need to stop.”

“It’s not that simple. You don’t know what’s going on, and you need to stay out of it.”

“Oh, I know. You’re acting all Dark Piper now. Stay away from scary Dark Piper.” He made spooky ghost noises while giving me jazz fingers.

When I finally started to feel like part of a pack, part of the family, I’d been so elated. It wouldn’t ever be the same as if I were a shifter, but still, it was the most I’d ever felt like part ofa large family. And now I understood why people wanted to kill their brothers.

“Look, you might not want to accept it, but I’m not the same.” Rastin was nuts. He’d seen me kill with a wave of my hand. Although he didn’t know where the power came from, no one in their right mind would underplay that.

“Who the hell is anymore?” He waved his glass, already half empty, in the air. “Ever since Death Day,everyoneis different. We’re all doing shit we never would’ve imagined, and never thought we would. That’s not exclusive to you. You don’t get exclusivity on dark. The whole fuckingworldhas gone dark.”

Death nodded from her perch.He does make a valid argument.

She needed to butt out. How many people had Death literally stalking them? Had a piece of Death literally growing inside of them as she used them for her retribution? I had an edge on dark, whether he knew it or she’d admit it.

“I appreciate the chat, but I have stuff to do.” I got up and walked over to the kitchen.

He leaned his head back as he tried to visually keep tabs on me. “Is this you telling me to fuck off?” he asked, not sounding too surprised.

“Yes. And don’t forget the part where I glare so you know it’s not your business to discuss with anyone.”

He let out a sigh and then a soft laugh. “Yeah, you missed that boat.” He got up and walked to the door, nodding and then smirking toward me before he left. We both knew he’d be back soon enough with another discussion he felt needed to be had. I wasn’t even going to think of the other discussions he’d been having.

Rastin had left, but the one I really wanted gone was still here.

“How much longer do I have here? When will I be leaving?” I asked. I’d been asking on and off for a month and already knew what she was going to say.

Soon,she said.

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