Page 40 of Heir of Illusion

“I can’t imagine why,” he says dryly. “He’s such a charming man.”

My lips twitch. “What about you, Reaper? Any enemies in Death’s court?”

“No,” he sighs. “I’m universally beloved.”

I roll my eyes. “There’s that imagination of yours again. Do you often lose touch with reality, or is this a new development?”

“I prefer to think of it as shaping my own reality.”

He disappears from my view as he follows a bend in the stairwell. Maybe it’s the eerie atmosphere, but this place has my anxiety spiking. There’s a sinister energy to the air. It’s palpable enough that when I turn the corner and catch up to Thorne a few seconds later, I’m strangely grateful for his company. This isn’t somewhere I’d want to explore alone.

“Don’t let theFateshear you talking about shaping your own reality,” I warn him with a teasing edge in my voice. “Those three sisters will think you’re trying to steal their job.”

“Perhaps they’ll find it endearing? I hear they enjoy a little defiance.”

“I certainly hope so,” I murmur, thinking of how many times I’ve probably strayed from their plan.

We walk for a while longer until we reach a circular landing that is about ten feet wide. I spot an entrance to a dark tunnel on our right, but what lies beyond is a mystery. Every tiny hair on my body lifts, leaving me with the sense that we’re being watched. As I scan the darkness, I almost expect to see beady eyes staring back at me.

The ceiling is low, only a few inches above Thorne’s head. Drawing in a shallow breath, I silently will the walls to stop closing in on me. Old fears rise from the depths of my subconscious, clawing their way into the present.

I’m assaulted by images of rocks caving in, crushing us beneath their weight. My breath hitches as I remember choking on dirt fifteen years ago. How it filled my mouth when I tried to scream. The way it burned my eyes as I searched for a way out, clogging my nostrils with each desperate breath. It touched me everywhere, as if the ground had open up and swallowed me whole.

“Angel?”

I startle at the sound of his voice. Looking up, I find his wary gaze watching me, seeing far too much. Pushing my shoulders back, I take a deep breath, holding the air in my lungs for several seconds before releasing it.

“Are you—” His question is cut off by a high-pitched shriek coming from the tunnel. His attention shifts behind me as his eyes grow round with fear. “Get down!”

I don’t need to be told twice. I dive to the ground, curling into a ball and using my arms to protect my head. Dozens of wings flap around us as we’re swarmed by a colony of bats. Their wails stab my ears, louder than anything I’ve heard before. Eventually the noise dissipates, leaving only stark silence in its wake.

I sit up, finding Thorne a few feet away. A blanket of dust covers him, clinging to his clothes and hair. A laugh bubbles up my throat, halting when I realize I most likely look the same.

“At least they weren’t rats,” Thorne comments.

I scowl at him as I rise to my feet, both of us doing our best to wipe away the grime. “They’re rats with wings. That’s not better.”

He chuckles, but I stiffen as a pressing question reoccurs to me.

“What happened to your wings?” I demand. “Where do they go when you’re not using them?”

He shrugs, leaving me behind as he starts down the tunnel. “Maybe I’ll show you someday.”

I huff, following after him. “Do you practice being mysterious, or does it come naturally to all reapers?”

“I don’t know,” he calls back. “I haven’t met many others.”

I quickly catch up, grateful that the tunnel is wide enough for us to walk side by side. “Really?”

He nods. “Let me guess, you thought I came from some hidden colony in the mountains of Death’s realm?”

Heat creeps up my neck at his words. That’s exactly what I assumed.

He laughs, but there’s an edge to it. “Yeah, that wasn’t quite my situation.”

“Are there other reapers?” I ask tentatively.

He lifts a shoulder noncommittally. “Speaking of which, I’m curious why you haven’t told anyone what I am?”

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