I… liked it.
I liked him, too, and even as a strange drowsiness stole over me, I still found strength to loop my arms around his shoulders, literally holding on to him for dear life. Or so I figured…
“Is this it?” I murmured, overcome enough by the sudden onslaught of lethargy to rest my head on his shoulder. “Are you taking me now?”
“I’m not your fate,” he said in that dark voice that hummed through me, igniting a flare of heat, that odd desire he’d stoked in me before. Though, perhaps not so odd?
His words invoked a rueful ache in my spirit, too—one that echoed on as I faded out, compelled into oblivion by his cold caressing of my soul.
He’d said he wasn’t my fate.
But those words did nothing to stop the strange longing that, in a different world, another time, another life… he could have been.
19GRIM
At this point, I could stop pretending that a way to unfuck myself was going to magically appear. Which was why I took Helena home.
Tomyhome.
“Crivvens!” cried Flora when I entered the Basins from the hall, her voice echoing in the cavernous chamber. “What in the name of the wee hours of Allhallowmas do you think you’re doing, Grim?”
“Grim’s home,” said Pluto, who once again rested on his perch. “He caught a bird.”
I didn’t reply. I just moved in silence toward my statue, carrying Helena’s slumbering form to the only place in this realm or any other that I knew for certain Cedric, once he again reanimated, could not get to.
“Are you off your ever-lovin’ bone head?” Flora yelled, and the quick scamper of bare feet forewarned me of her sudden appearance in my path.
“Pretty bird!” announced Pluto with a flap of his great wings, his voice, like Flora’s, echoing in the enormous chamber.
“Who is that?” the fairy demanded, arms spread wide, like thatcould really stop me—like she could. “And what in the dancing devils is she doinghere?”
I had my back to Johann. He’d looked up from his scribbling when I’d come in, and his face had hardened with concern. And possibly condemnation. He hadn’t said anything, though. Yet.
“Move,” I told Flora.
“Like hell, you crabbit,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “Isthiswhat the row with Cedric is about? A lass?”
“Cedric’s dead,” I said. “I killed him.”
“Deadric Cedric,” said Pluto. “Lost his headric.”
“Again?” cried Flora, throwing her arms up and letting them flop to her sides in exasperation. “Oy, I can’t believe this! Where’d you put his soulthistime?”
“His scar will cry,” added Pluto, “though no one knows why.”
“Left it. Now kindly move the fuck out of my way before he comes back.”
In the restaurant, I hadn’t had time to mess with Cedric’s soul. Not with the police surrounding the place—Helena couldn’t be seen. Neither could I.
Aside from that, I’d just wanted to get out of there. I’d wanted to getherout of there.
Flora blinked in shock. She tilted her head at me, miffed, perplexed, and still, I could tell, horrified over Helena’s presence here.
Humans—living humans—weren’t allowed in the Hallowed Halls. No one was, aside from us. And, of course, The Few.
I seldom cursed directly at Flora, either. In her vicinity? Yes. At her… Rarely.
But I needed her to not interfere with me. Not tonight.
