Page 49 of Dead End

His eyes danced with mischief. “Are you sure about that?”

“On that note, I’ll see myself inside,” Ray said, and disappeared.

“Everything all right?” Kane asked. “I’ve been worried about you.”

“Right back at you.”

He tugged me onto his lap and curled his arms around me. “Talk to me.”

I told him about Ziz and the bird’s special delivery.

“Thank the devil,” he said. “That’s a relief.”

It took me a second to process his response. “I’m sorry. Did you just say you’re relieved? You heard what I said, right? Ancient angry bird. Decapitated siren.”

“I heard. I worried you were dodging me because you changed your mind about living together. Ancient angry bird is better. That’s a short-term problem.”

I pressed my forehead against his. “Why would I change my mind?”

“We spoke about it before…” He trailed off. “I didn’t want you to decide out of pity.”

His comment took me by surprise. “Pity?”

“It’s one thing to see a vision of someone at their worst, but you actually got to experience it firsthand this time. If that changes things for you, I understand.”

I tugged a tuft of his hair. “Did Lucifer get in your head?”

“He worked very hard to sow the seeds of doubt. In my weakened condition, perhaps a couple took root.”

I cradled his cheek. “Firstly, if seeing you in that condition changed anything, then I had no business ever telling you I loved you. Secondly, that wasn’t you at your worst. That was Lucifer at his. For the record, I do want to live together, and if I didn’t, I would tell you rather than avoid you. I believe that’s part of the whole healthy communication we’ve talked about.”

I felt the tension ease from his body. “Excellent. Glad to hear it.”

“Let’s go inside. I’m famished.” I stood and pulled him to his feet.

“Hold on,” he said. “Looks like visitors.”

I turned to see Gunther and Camryn at the gate. I waved them over. As they crossed the moat, I noticed that Gun carried a basket tied with a large red ribbon.

“We wanted to see how His Highness is faring,” Gun said. With an exaggerated bow, he thrust out the basket. “We come bearing gifts.”

Kane accepted the basket. “You shouldn’t have.”

“You’ll thank me later. We included a set of luxury soaps. Lorelei only uses store brands.” The mages shuddered in unison.

“Soap is soap,” I insisted.

“I appreciate the gesture,” Kane said.

“Is it true that you live here now?” Cam asked.

The rumor mill of a small town never ceases, even in a crisis. “I do,” he said, “although I still need to gather the rest of my belongings. I left in rather a hurry.”

“Come inside,” I told them. “I might as well update you while you’re here.”

Gun wiggled his eyebrows. “Ooh, sounds like there’s more tea to be spilled than the Boston Harbor.”

“I wish it were salacious,” I said. “It would be a far more enjoyable conversation.”

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