Page 71 of The Death Dealer

“He never did like to share his toys,”his father replied with a rusty bark of laughter.

“He still doesn’t,”Trevor assured him.

“All’s fair in love and war, buddy,” she retorted snidely, not quite over what had happened. “You kissed Skankzilla.”

“You’re getting better at those comebacks, Dalli.”

She grinned. How could she help it? Who didn’t love a man who appreciated snark?

Draven checked his watch.“Your hour is almost up, my friends. I’m not opposed to a second visit by the lovely Brooke Ellis, but she’s liable to arrive trigger-happy.”The Guardian narrowed his eyes when Sabrina opened her mouth.“Don’t say it,ma petite amie.”

“Papa said I’m not allowed to tell what I know.”Her offended sniff added to the humor of the situation.

Hanging his head, Trevor grunted.“I’m not sure I can stand, much less teleport to the Authority.”

“I’ll take you.”Ben approached him and held out a hand.“We’re in this together, son.”

Disbelief and something akin to hope flashed across Trevor’s wary face.“Why now?”

“I’ve always had your back, Trevor. You were too stubborn to see it.”

“No, Dad, you didn’t. Simon was the golden child.”He held up a hand.“Not that I’m complaining. Or hell, maybe I am, but I love him and wouldn’t steal whatever you felt for him.I wish you’d have worried about me a little more, though.”

Ben squatted and gripped Trevor’s shoulder.“Ialwaysworried about you, son. Why do you think the Authority allowed youthe freedomto pick and choose your marks? I picked up the slack.”

Trevor paled.

“What?”He glanced at Damian.“Is that true?”

The Aether nodded.

“I thought you were in hiding all these years.”Trevor looked devastated, and Soleil desperately wanted to hug him.Wantedto tell him it would all be okay. But she couldn’t. Their family dynamic was wildly different from hers, and healing belonged to them.

Ben shrugged.“I was, for the most part. There were other Death Dealers they could utilize forthe easyjobs. Not many can do what I do, though.”

“That whole kill-a-guy-without-touching-him thing?”Soleil glanced at the blood stain on the floor left by Agnes Vector’s guard.

“That, and other things.”

“You’re a scary dude,”she said with the utmost respect.

His grin flashed, and she saw a hint of Trevor’s standard charm in it.

“Sure, and you’ll be back to work after today, yeah?”Fintan said to Ben.“They’ll be after a Death Dealer to replace Trevor.”

The other shoe just dropped, and Trev’s expressions ran the gauntlet from confused to shocked to outraged. He lifted his arm with his hand flat, palm turned to the ceiling. His concentration was great, but no magical weapon formed.

“I’m powerless?”His eyes held betrayal.“Completely? How am I supposed to defend Soleil? Or anyone else, for that matter?”

“You were the one she needed defending from,cher,”Draven said. His tone was surprisingly gentle.

Where Trevor found the energy to leap to his feet, she’d never know, but he did.Weaving and bobbing, he approached her and raised a hand toward her face.

Her flinch was involuntary.

“Dalli.”His voice was ragged and filled with an aching regret.“What happened?”

“We can discuss it later.”With a tight smile, she wrapped her arms around her middle and nodded toward Draven.“You’ve got to go.”

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