Page 53 of The Reluctant Reaper
A stupid stupid stupid stupid kiss!
And then he...
And then he...
“He’s busy,” she replied shortly. “I needed to talk to you in private.”
“Wonderful to hear. Dare I inquire if you finally have tender feelings for me? Or anyone?”
“What? No.” She’d ruined what she had with the only person she had tender feelings for, and there was only so much tenderness to go around. “Why do people keep assuming that? So you hung out with your followers and just now came back?”
“Yes, to check on your father and see if your dear mother needs anything. Again: Why the interrogation?”
“Never mind, I’ve got everything I?—”
“Amara Morrigan.” The wiseass grin disappeared as his tone dropped at least ten degrees, and though he hadn’t moved, he loomed over her, a good trick since he was three feet away. “Answer my question.”
Amara took a few seconds to respond.I’m so used to dismissing him as a jackass, I forget he can be aformidablejackass.
“Something’s not right,” she admitted. “And not just with my father. I think a person or persons might be doing this to him.”
La Croix frowned. “That is... an extraordinary accusation. For what purpose?”
“That’s where I keep getting stuck.”
“And who could do such a thing?”
“Same problem. I’d think only Death can kill Death, but I might have that wrong.”
La Croix studied her for a few seconds, opened his mouth, paused to consider, then said, “I was late because I did not get the invitation in a timely manner.”
“Understandable, since you’re the worst.” Bitchery aside, Amara didn’t like the sound of that at all. Why wouldn’t her mother want all the support she could get? “My mother’s under immense pressure. I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt?—”
“As did I.”
“—and put it down to stress. I mean, you drivemenuts, but my folks always liked you. No reason to cut you out.”
For that, she got another one of his mocking bows.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Years earlier...
When Sophie Perry died, Amara knew her plan had failed. So she ran to her cave and sat and sat and awaited the inevitable summons.
“Amara? Come out, dear. Your father needs to speak to you.”
Hmmm. Mom doesn’t soundtoomad.
“Now? I’m...” She groped for an excuse. “I’m doing homework.”
“You’re eight, darling, you have no homework.”
“That’s not true!” She hadtwoSeek-and-Find worksheets to fill out. Those apples weren’t going to seek and find themselves.
“Even so, I doubt you’re doing homework in a lightless cave near a waterfall. Though if you are, stop at once because that’s terrible for your eyes and the waterfall will ruin your work. Out, please.”
She sighed and crept out of the cave, then looked up at her mother from her hands and knees. Mom had the stern-yet-loving expression that meant Amara was in trouble and she was disappointed, but nottoomuch trouble and nottoodisappointed.
