Page 78 of Trust the Fall

He grunts.

“For the record, you should go for it. If you have feelings for her, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t give in.”

His brow quirks, but he doesn’t say anything.

“You’re an adult. She’s an adult. You and I have already established that the most we’re going to be is friends …”

“Friends?” he asks, grinning.

“Yeah well, I haven’t quite decided, but maybe. Eventually. We could be friends.”

He smiles. “Friends.”

I smile back. “So, go get your girl.”

He grins, shaking his head. “There are more important things that need to be done.”

My inner teenager chuckles, wanting to say something highly inappropriate about someone needing to be done, but I refrain, and it almost hurts to do so.

“Fine. Then let’s go meet this queen of yours.”

He rolls his eyes. “Can we refrain from referring to her as mine? Please,” he groans, and I chuckle.

“Sure thing, lover boy.”

“You know, I’ve gutted men for worse infractions.”

I shrug. “Payback’s a bitch, reaper.”

ROYALS

Like something out of a human child’s storybook, a massive golden castle gleams under a sun-filled sky in the distance. It’s larger than any building I’ve seen in person. Bigger than the castles of Europe that I’ve read about, if I had to guess. It’s truly magnificent.

Heavy iron gates open as we approach, allowing us access to the inner heart of the reaper kingdom. I must look like a fool to all the reapers walking past River and me. My mouth is agape, and my eyes are wide as saucers.

Reapers call out their greetings to River, but I hardly register any of them. I don’t offer a single smile or wave. I’m too enamored by this place to pay any attention to anything but the scenery.

The architecture is a hodgepodge that somehow manages to come together in the most spectacular way. The cobblestone roads leading to the castle entrance are lined with timbered storefronts, the likes of German villages I’ve visited in the past, selling a variety of items.

There’s your typical bakery, an armory, and a grocery store on one side and furniture, clothing, and shoe stores on the opposite side of the road. Thatched-roof huts begin after the end of the stores selling various produce.

Reaper children call out current deals, trying to sell their daily stock. This place is a mix of old and modern times. I feel like I’m in the twilight zone, unable to decide what century this place adheres to, because it feels medieval in some respects and modern in others. It’s unlike anywhere I’ve ever been.

Toward the edge of the town center, a uniform set of brick homes form two rows. Each house has the same outside façade, and they are spaced equally apart. The lawns are manicured, and the shrubbery is the same.

“What are these?” I ask, pointing toward the identical buildings.

“The guard houses. It’s where our military generals reside.”

“With their families?”

River glances at me. “No. The guard don’t marry. They might look like houses, but inside, they’re the equivalent to barracks.”

“So, not family friendly,” I think out loud.

“Definitely not. I can’t think of one female that would choose to live in the bunk houses.”

“Does Cat have to stay there?” I recall the female guard we met when we arrived.