Page 75 of Trust the Fall

He smirks. “Princess, if I cross the line, I will hand you the dagger to perform the dissection.”

I chew on my cheek to stop myself from smiling. River’s charm is a dangerous thing, but I’m not falling for it. He’s temptation wrapped in a perfect package and tied up with a bow, but he’s not Luke.

Luke is who I’ll be coming home to after all of this reaper business is put to rest.

“Time’s up, princess,” River says, scooping me up underneath my legs.

I yelp at the sudden movement, caught off guard. I don’t have time to ask any questions or say a word before the wolves have officially found us. I don’t need to turn around to know it.

I can practically feel their breath on my neck. The growls confirm they’re here.

“See you around,” River calls over his shoulder, stepping us through the rock.

Every nerve in my body is electrified as a warming sensation blankets over me. My eyes close, basking in the foreign feelings.

“We’re almost there,” River whispers into my ear, and goose bumps pimple my arms.

This feeling isn’t about him, I chide myself internally. It’s wherever we are. Whatever mode of transportation we’re currently using to travel between worlds.

The sensations don’t last long. A free-falling feeling takes over and my stomach bottoms out. My eyes snap open just in time to see we’re standing at the edge of what can only be the reaper castle.

“Wow,” I say, in complete and utter awe, as River sets me down on my feet. “This is …”

“Incredible? I know, right? Welcome home, princess.”

I look up at River, but his eyes are trained on the castle ahead. He looks at peace, and I wonder why, if he loves this place so much, he doesn’t live here. Why choose Earth?

I don’t have time to ask him, as two reaper guards approach.

“River! Glad you’re back, man. You’ve been gone for too long.”

A tall, willowy blond-haired boy, who can’t be older than twenty, steps forward, pounding his fist into his chest three times.

River mimics the act, then pulls the young guard into his chest and claps him on the back.

“Good to see you, Cyrus. How are things around here?”

“Quiet. Almost too quiet. Boring, actually.”

“That’s good. Considering the rest of the world is in a dire state.”

Cyrus nods. “I guess. The queen has been uncharacteristically restless. She’ll be happy to see you’ve returned.”

Something about the way Cyrus says this doesn’t sit right. Add to that the lopsided grin, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he’s insinuating something intimate.

Interesting … and even more so, disturbing.

River’s to be the lost princess’s husband, and the queen is sleeping or has slept with him? Gross!

River turns to look at me and I shake my head, not wanting to know.

“What?” he asks with animatedly wide eyes.

I clear my throat, shaking my head to rid it of the thoughts of him and a woman being intimate. My cheeks burn and I have no way of hiding it.

A slow, smoldering grin spreads across River’s too-perfect face, indicating he sees it.

“Were you just thinking dirty thoughts, princess?”