Page 78 of The Sinner and the Gunslinger
I turn to Zeke but find him struggling to keep his eyes open. The potent pálinka got to him. Claudia kept refilling his glass. He’s also exhausted and probably sore from the journey. I have to remind myself he’s not as fit as me.
I thank our hosts for the amazing hospitality and organize a lift in the morning to the nearest town where Zeke and I can either rent a car or find a bus. Then I make our excuses, and we leave.
Zeke fumbles up the loft ladder when we get to our cabin and falls onto the bed. There is only one. I’m less upset about that than I would have been two days ago. I find myself eager to join him, but first, I must complete my checks.
This is a new place with new hazards... especially the fireplace still burning downstairs. Everything in the cabin is flammable. I don’t like the idea of leaving it unattended while we sleep. Iknowlogic says an ember won’t likely fly over the barrier and burn the place down. But I have to check.
I look around the house for electrical hazards, ensure all windows are shut, and return to douse the fire but don’t want to fill the place with unwanted smoke. So I sit on the flower-covered crochet couch and watch the flames warily, hating how I’m still a slave to this fear, hating how Flauros is one of the demons in Asmodeus’s entourage. At least Snuggles is far away. If that was truly a beacon, then I can sleep safely knowing it’s nowhere near us.
My phone buzzes with an incoming message from Thea. Something about the new prophecy. I’m not one for studying pictures, so hit the call button instead.
“Hey,” Thea answers.
“Hey.”
“You in Romania?”
“Yep.”
“How’s it going.”
“Okay.”
“You gonna say more than one-word answers?”
I chuckle and then tell her everything we learned from Orlov and the poker game.
“You guys were lucky to get out of there alive.”
“I know.”
“None of the Holy Nails are authentic. At least, Mercy and Tawny didn’t react to being near them. You two are our best bet right now.”
“I think we’re in the right place. Can’t explain it, but it feels right.”
“And...” Her voice trails off as the baritone of male mumbling increases. She asks, “And how are you and Zeke doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you know. Are you enjoying the ride?”
“We’re on a mission.”
“You know what I mean. He’s hot. You’re hot. Letting off steam with each other is not unheard of.” Her salacious undertone makes me suspicious. I’m not ready to divulge the details of Zeke’s and my relationship. I don’t even know what we are yet.
“We’re fine.”
“That’s it?”
I frown. “Why are you so interested?”
“I’m not. It’s just... Wes told me you guys used to know each other.”
“Did he?”
She sighs. “You could have talked to me, Leila. I’m probably the only one who knows what you’re going through.”
It’s none of their business. “Like you talked to me about healing Zeke from certain death?”
