Page 20 of All Hallows Trick

He laughed, as if laughter could cover a world of hurt and heal the scars from his skin. “That’s not what you said when I buried your Swarovski bracelet in the back garden in revenge for you cutting my hair.”

I glared at his profile, pulling my hand away from him. “I still don’t forgive you for that. I’m holding a grudge. Forever.”

“I’d expect nothing less.” His smile returned, warmer, deeper as he stood. “Come on, we’d better get this over with.”

I groaned. My husbands were not going to like us returning to Ford one bit.

CHAPTER EIGHT

CAT

It took two hours, several promises of sexual favours, and a little light blackmail to convince them to let us go back to Ford, and they only agreed because they were all going with me, Virgil included. Only Honey declined, fear flitting through her eyes at the thought of going back. I knew how she felt—my chest was a tight mess of panic—but I needed to do this.

“Wait for me!” Madde cried, rapid footsteps joining us in the living room where Death, Miz, Tor, Virgil and I stood on the purple rug, shadows beginning to wrap around us. The sight of them was a relief, a sign that Death wasn’t as weak as he was yesterday, but the sheer rush of power I usually felt was absent, the palpable thrum of his magic muted. Still weak, like Virgil said.

I turned, bemused as Madde raced into the room, messy-haired in a ragged Iron Maiden T-shirt with the sleeves and bottom cut off to make a crop top, heart tattoos visible all upand down his arms and across his slim waist. A pleated leather skirt swished around his knees, the heavy goth boots on his feet leaving impressions in the rug.

“Did you really need a dress change?” Tor drawled, only fractionally less hostile than he’d been hours ago.

Madde scoffed. “Obviously. We’re going to a cursed academy on a remote gothic island.”

“You knees will get cold,” I said.1 That was why I’d worn a pair of fleece-lined leggings I found in a wardrobe, exactly my size like all the other clothes left for me.

“Guess you’ll just have to keep them warm for me,” Madde replied with a saucy wink. Glitter liner sparkled around his eyes.

“You two are awful,” Virgil remarked, his nose wrinkled. “How would she even do that, hold your knees?”

“Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it, Virgie,” Madde quipped, reaching us just in time to boop my brother on the nose. It was hilarious watching Virgil try to figure out how to react to that; I stifled a laugh.

“I’m glad you’re coming,” I told Madde. “Safety in numbers and all that. But should we really be leaving Honey here alone?”

“She’ll be fine. She’s exploring.”

“Exploring,” I repeated.

“Lots of adventures to be had in my castle,” Madde explained proudly, his chest puffed out.

“Nothing dangerous. Right?”

He glanced around the room with wide eyes. “No…?”

Death sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’ll stay with her.”

“You don’t have to—” I began, reaching for him, knowing his protective instincts were as vicious as mine, if not more so. It wouldn’t be easy to be apart from us. MASQUE—cruelty admits she did something to weaken death when they were left alone.

He soothed me with a kiss, his lips lingering on mine, warmth oozing through my chest until a weight fell off my shoulders. “Remember my name, little one?”

I nodded, sinking my hands into his hair to bring him back for another, longer kiss. “I’ll call for you if we need you,” I promised. “If you hear nothing, we’re completely fine.”

His eyes gentled, as warm as liquid silver. He stroked up my back and down again, just once. “Don’t stay too long.”

“I won’t.” The tightness returned to my shoulders. “I know it’s not safe there.”

“No, don’t stay too long because I’ll miss you,” he corrected quietly, the words just for me.

I melted, the tenderness of his words wrapping my heart in a hug. “I won’t be long. Promise.”

Just long enough to find more vials of antidote for me and Virgil.

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