Page 58 of Amber Gambler

“There was a time when I walked battlefields in search of those voices, to help anyone who called me, but I was young then.” His brow slid into neat furrows. “Newly made.” His lips pinched. “I didn’t understand the width and breadth of death and all its facets.”

“I doubt even gods do.”

“I believe they did when they were first spoken into existence, but time has eroded their memories.” His expression tipped toward shame. “I too grew tired of the cycle of unending loss. I withdrew from this world to salvage my sanity.”

“You’re in pain every second you’re here?”

“To some extent,” he answered quietly.

“How will you bear it?”

“You make the sting worthwhile.” He traced the creases in my knuckles. “I don’t remember how it felt to be a man, how it felt to live or to love.” His eyes lifted to mine, and I read the promise there. “But I can learn.”

A flutter behind my breastbone warned just how much his words meant to me, but I did my best to keep that rush of emotion from knocking me down. I carried more baggage than Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, the busiest airport in the world. With two siblings who were the center of my universe, no pedigree, weird power fluctuations, and more dead friends than alive ones, I was alotto take on.

Maybe more than even divine powers could manage.

“Not to devalue myself—I mean, I’m awesome—but are you sure it’s worth it? For me?”

He was the Viduus. An icon. A legend.

I was just…me.

“Who said it was for you?” He chuckled at my expression. “Perhaps I meant Josie.”

Pinwheeling overhead, Badb croaked a laugh that called him a liar.

“Frankie?” Pedro hustled to us with enough ice to create his own glacier bound in a clean towel from the shop’s laundry. “I didn’t expect you to actually listen to me.” He held the glob to my cheek. “This boy is a good influence on you.”

“I’m offended you think I require supervision to be responsible.”

But it was hilarious to hear him refer to Kierce asthis boy.

“Mija, you’re the most responsible person I have ever met.” He tweaked my nose with a fond chuckle that made me smile. “Except when it comes to caring for yourself.”

“You’re just saying that because I’ve almost died a few times this week.”

His concern peering out of my brother’s eyes wrecked me.

“Too soon?” I took the ice pack from him so he could straighten. “I promise it’s not on purpose.”

“You might walk hand in hand with death, but I know you would never follow him home on purpose.”

Kierce tensed beside me, but I patted his knee, which didn’t help much since he vibrated with strain.

“Are y’all having secret meetings now?” Josie ducked around the corner with a carrot in hand. “I would expect this from Matty the Bratty, but you, Pedro? I thought you had my back.” She reached us, and the vegetable tumbled from her fingers as she drank in the sight of me. “Who do I need to murder?”

Just to yank her tail, I said, “Carter.”

Upon hearing that, Pedro beat a hasty retreat, proving he was wiser than the rest of us.

A flicker of indecision warred across her features then she squared her shoulders. “I’ll get the shovel.”

Hmm. Maybe I should invest in a shovel manufacturing plant. You know, to keep up with demand.

“You wouldn’t go after Carter.” I snared her by the wrist. “YouloveCarter.”

“No. I want to get in Carter’s pants. Or get her in mine. I’m not picky.” She scowled as Badb swooped in to steal her dropped carrot, which Josie would have one hundred percent dusted off and eaten herself. “You’re my sister. I love you. I choose you. Always.” She snapped her fingers at Kierce. “You in or out?”

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