Page 18 of Bound to Death

“You better get that,” she remarked, pointing to my pocket. “Look, thanks for saving me from those gross assholes, but unless I’m marked for dead, I don’t want to get involved in whatever this you-intrigue-me business leads to. I’m barely keeping myself mentally afloat as it is. So, you can go ahead and show yourself out. I’m sure that’s not a difficult task for someone like you.” With one final, fleeting glance, she escaped down the hall. The door to her room clicked shut before locking.

“Fuck,” I cursed, taking my phone out before answering in a tone that threatened violence. “What, Zelus?”

“Just missing you, Dead.”

I stole a look at the hallway, determined to chase but worried it’d be met with derision and silence. Worse, I sensed Zelus was close by. If I stayed, he’d find me with her. So, I’d go elsewhere to keep him off her scent.

“I can see you’ve made yourself a nuisance again,” I clapped back, heading to the front door. Shadows crawled across my torso, fitting a shirt into place, then my favorite leather jacket. Leaving her made me uncomfortable, but I needed to intercept Zelus before he came too close. “I’ve been taking care of some business out here, so what do you want?”

“Death business?” he pried, another tell.

“What other kind is there?”

I could hear him snicker. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe you’ve found your Counter Soul and neglected to say anything. That sounds like something you’d do.”

Growling, I quickly exited Asha’s building, leaving her behind the way I promised I never would. “Unfortunately, I’ve been too busy doing my goddamn job. Must be nice to be so free to wander around, doing nothing but what your heart desires, hmm, Pest?”

That shut him up.

“So, no soul yet? We only have a month left, Dead. They have to be easier to find than this. Fate wouldn’t make it impossible. I mean, we know practically nothing about them, of course, but it shouldn’t be this fucking hard to find one measly human. There’s one for each of us. That means four, Dead. And none of us has found a single soul? Seems odd, don’t you think?”

I heard the uncertainty in his voice. He’d been unsuccessful. He hadn’t found his. He was seeking me out for help because he was getting desperate.

How perfect.

Brushing back my dark hair, I eyed the street, sensing him miles away to my right. He wasn’t as powerful as I was, so he wouldn’t be able to track me from this distance. I’d lucked out, but it wouldn’t stay that way. Zelus was smart enough to get this close, so it was only a matter of time.

A raven landed on a fence nearby, cawing its greeting. I nodded to it, sending it to find Zelus. It would track him better than my shadows from this distance. But he’d grow suspicious if he noticed it follow him, so I asked it only to report his location and tell the others to take places along the way to Asha’s home to ensure if he was headed this way, I knew about it.

“Want me to hold your hand and lead you into the apocalypse? Wasn’t it you who said it was apiece of cakeand we’d all bethanking youbecause you’d found yours and taken care of it?” I finally muttered when the raven took flight.

“You’re a real dick when you want to be, Dead. Just let me know if you cross yours. Not that you will before I do since you’resobusyand can’t be bothered.” I heard him call out to a woman nearby, and I let loose a breath of relief. “Whatever, you sour wanker. Come take the edge off. I’ve got us some birds. Not that kind before you give me an ear-lashing. But I bet the reason you’re all growly is because you haven’t fucked someone in a couple decades. Still got those piercings?”

Instead of answering, I ended the call and did a quick sweep of the street. Alarm was ringing through my body, electrifying all of my otherworldly senses. Zelus was crafty, so I couldn’t trust he was off the scent just from one conversation. I’d play it safe and take post at a distance for the night instead of returning to her room, my new favorite spot.

Zelus might have trouble tracking me while I was a shadow, but around Asha, I couldn’t trust myself. I’d want to touch her, feel her warmth against me, wrap my shadows around her andfuck her again. It was laughable how scared Death was of some little human, but I wasn’t reckless enough to test it with Zelus skulking around the area.

I hated the idea of not watching Asha sleep and missing the angry ramblings she’d make about me or her poor attempts at rationalizing what she experienced, but I couldn’t take the risk. Not when I’d just revealed myself to her. Not when I had her where I wanted her. Not when I hadn’t had my fill of her gorgeous body or been given the chance to chase and fuck the excited fear into her.

No, I wouldn’t let that bastard ruin this for me. I just needed a little more time. I’d ripen her the way I liked then deliver her soul like I was supposed to. I had a month. Plenty of time to accomplish such an effortless task. Too much time one could argue. Might as well enjoy what I could before she was…

My throat constricted, but I cleared it and fixed my jacket. Easing back into the shadows, I watched Asha's building from a distance, invisible to the humans who ambled along on the sidewalk. Determined never to be far from her. Surrendering her to no one, not the other Horsemen or the apocalypse.

For now.

Chapter Nine

Asha

How did someone process all that I was asked to in a matter of a day? They didn’t. So I wouldn’t.

I’d escaped to my room, knowing that if he wanted to come find me, he would. But he didn’t. After what felt like hours, I peeked my head out of the door and waited for Thanatos to manifest out of the shadows right in front of me like the demon he claimed he wasn’t. But he didn’t. Instead, the apartment was quiet.

Slowly, I walked to the kitchen, still not convinced. Nothing. Three plates were still on the table where they’d been left—and honestly, where I’d devoured the best eggs and hash concoction I’d ever tasted, convinced it was poisoned or roofied but too hungry to care. The pan he’d used was washed and fully dry on our over-encumbered drying basket.

But still, he wasn’t there.

My phone went off, and I nearly jumped five feet into the air in my fright. It was a text from Emily. She’d be out for the rest of the weekend. Guess the necessary prep she’d put off for the deposition later that week was no longer procrastination-okay. I sensed Emily’s frustration with her boss based purely on the long string of emojis she used about his refusal to let her come home until they could move forward with what she had.

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