“Yeah,” said Hunter. “Meaning heactedweird.”
“Did he have a beard?” I asked, my mind going straight to Johann—the only “old guy” I happened to know. “A long one?”
“Like Gandalf long,” Helena added.
“Nah,” said the kid, “it was short. Like Obi-Wan Kenobi short.”
I tilted my head at him, my frown deepening. There wasn’t a soul—friend or foe—I knew that fit that description. At least… there hadn’t been until that morning. That had to be just a coincidence, though.
“Did he say anything?” I asked.
“Anything out of the ordinary?” Helena chimed in.
“Yeah, that’s what I’m saying,” said Hunter. “He gave me the Dewey and asked me if I could pull the book. He said he needed it because he was going to die in Idaho.”
“What?” I barked, an actual chill clambering up my spine.
“Hunter, that’s crazy,” said Helena. “Why didn’t you go alert security?”
“Because!” he said, spreading his arms. “In case you forgot, this is the freepubliclibrary. And need I remind you it’s a bit hairier on the adult side of this book-paved hellscape. If I grabbed security for every weird thing a patron said to me, Rick would probably assign a personal guard to me, and I’ve got enough trouble withhimbreathing down my neck about earbuds, hours, micromanaging my shelving technique—yes, I have a technique—andhis weird hairline envy.”
“Honestly, that’s fair,” said Helena peering up at me. But my disquietude must have been written on my face, because she scowled in concern. “Grim?”
“I have to go,” I told her, handing over the book, which she took.
“Wait,” she said, “what?Where?”
Back to the Hallowed Halls with my haul of souls—one of which I was apparently going to have to pull out and find a way to interrogate. Because this made no sense.
I’d come here certain this Hunter would verify my suspicions—that the note had been planted by Cedric.
Instead, he’d confirmed my worst fear. That therewassomething more at play here.
That therewereforces at work beyond my control. Beyond my current understanding.
That someone other than Cedricwasfucking with me. And using Helena to do it.
“You’re welcome, by the way,” called Hunter as I stalked past him and out of the aisle.
“Grim, please,” said Helena, hurrying after me. “Don’t go. Or… let me come with you.”
Halting, I turned back to her, grabbing her by the wrist. Then, spotting the door to the stairwell, I pushed through it, pulling her in after me.
There wasn’t anyone on the stairs leading either up or down. Which, good.
While she blinked up at me, I guided her backward until her spine met with the wall. Then I kissed her like I had last night. Like I never would get to again.
Helena murmured in surprise and bliss, her free hand going to cup my face.
But I grabbed it and pulled it back down before breaking the kiss and staring her dead in the eyes.
“I am never taking you with me again,” I vowed through gritted teeth.
“Grim,” she half pleaded, half cried, reaching for me.
But I stepped back from her.
And then, as she rushed after me, I dissipated—going to smoke and sweeping out of her sight and, officially, for certain this time… out of her life.
