Page 42 of Reaper Unhinged
“Metabolize this shit in our systems. Come on.”
“There’s not exactly much room in here.” Mal’s eyes light up. “But all we need to do is get our heart rates pumping. Exertion will do it.” He grins. “Fancy an arm wrestle?”
Chapter Fifteen
Fee
“I’m not leaving you,” Uriel said. “I let you down in Limbo, I know, but I won’t let you down again.” His expression was a mixture of determination and shame.
Oh God, did he think that was the reason I was sending him back? “Uri…” I grasped his hand and looked up into his face searchingly. “You did not let me down. That is not why I’m asking you to head back.”
“It isn’t?” He looked confused. “Then why?”
“I need you to let Grayson and Cora know what went down. They need to know the power is free, and they need to know what Keon and I are about to do in case…in case we fail. I need you to make sure that the power is doing what he’s meant to and that the Righteous keep their end of the bargain.” His shoulders dropped, and I lifted his hand and clasped it to my chest. “I need you to do this for me.”
“Of course,” he said. “But if you’re not back in a few hours, I’m coming after you. I’ll find a way into the Underealm.”
I believed him. I pushed up on my tiptoes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and hugged him, allowing his aura to roll over me. He went still, but I didn’t care. I needed this hug. He needed this hug. We all needed hugs, but then his arms were around me. Me, and he was hugging me back. My heart bloomed with joy.
“Keep her safe.” Uriel’s chest vibrated against me as he spoke.
“It’s what I do,” Keon said.
Uriel pulled back and looked down at me, his ember gaze a soft caress. “Whatdidhappen while we were unconscious?”
I kissed the corner of his mouth, savoring his magnolia scent, and then stepped away from him.
“I’ll tell you over coffee and donuts when this is all over.”
He gave me a pointed look as if to say,I’ll hold you to that, and then he winked out.
“Come on,” Keon said. “Night’s still young, and there’s blood to be shed.”
“Or you could just say we have saving to do.”
“I like my way better.”
Figured.
* * *
Keon madesure we approached the crossroads tavern from the opposite direction he believed Mammon’s men would arrive. We landed in the shadows by a creek behind the tavern and crouched in the darkness.
“Stay here,” Keon said. “Let me scope out the place.”
I nodded and he set off, moving so sinuously he was one with the shadows and I lost sight of him. How the fuck did he do that? I guess that’s what made him an excellent assassin.
Would I see him coming when I was his target?
No, don’t think about it. That day might never come.
But the squirm in my gut told me it would and that I was playing with fire and that I needed to stop moving forward with Keon and take several steps back. But that kiss…
The crack of a twig had my head whipping around to search the shadows behind me. “Keon?” I whisper-hissed.
A shadow rushed me, and my pending scream was cut off by a hand over my mouth. My instinct was to fight, and I inhaled through my nose, ready to do just that, and froze as my attacker’s scent permeated my senses.
My eyes grew hot, and I sagged back against him. He slowly removed his hand and gripped my shoulders gently.
