Page 79 of Trust the Fall

I can’t imagine having to stay in bunk houses with the angels. We were given our own residences in Heaven. There’s no way I would’ve managed to not end one or more of their existences if I had to share confined space with any of them.

“She actually lives in the castle. She’s one of Camille’s personal guards.”

I don’t remark on his informal use of the queen’s name, but I wonder if that’s normal around here or a River exception. In the end, I don’t ask, and River doesn’t elaborate.

We continue walking in silence, and I don’t mind it at all. There’s so much to see.

Over the rooftops of the guard houses, several large estates loom in the near distance.

“And those? What are they?”

“That’s where your dukes live.” He smirks and I roll my eyes, recalling our conversation back in Hell, when he attempted to explain reaper hierarchy.

“Hardy har har,” I say.

“In all seriousness, that is where the higher-ranking reapers reside.”

“So you weren’t lying when you said it was similar to a monarchy?”

“Why would I? Like I said, this information is readily available if you know where to look.”

“I’ve always been told that reapers are tricksters. Creatures that like to keep others at bay.” I shrug.

“We’re actually an open book … if you can get one of us to talk.”

I grunt. “You talk … a lot.”

He smirks but otherwise ignores my dig. “The only thing you won’t find is where our kingdom is hidden. We like that part to remain a mystery for safety purposes. It’s easier if everyone believes reapers to simply be wanderers.”

My cheeks heat, recalling how I’d called them just that not long ago.

“It seems our plan has worked,” he chuckles.

The farther we travel outside of the city, the closer we get to the enormous castle that had been visible from our arrival point. It’s perched on top of a small mountain.

The front is lined with trees that appear to be pine, but they’re far taller than any pine tree I encountered on earth. They’re easily as tall as a New York City skyscraper.

“Wow,” I say, because clever words elude me.

The entire castle glows as if made from gold.

My head snaps to River to ask, but he’s not looking at me. His gaze is trained on the castle with something so close to longing that it couldn’t be anything but that.

“I hope you take my advice, River. I can tell how happy you are to be here. If this place makes you that happy, you should stay.”

He offers me a crooked smile but doesn’t say anything else.

“So what’s the plan? Are we just storming in there and going straight to the queen? Or do I get to change out of this?” I ask, looking down at the red monstrosity I put on back in Hell. “I don’t buy for one minute that I am the missing reaper princess, but I surely don’t wish to meet your people looking like something straight out of the bowels of Hell.” My nose is scrunched in revulsion.

He snickers. “I can’t say I blame you. That outfit is s⁠—”

“Shut it,” I snap.

“I was just going to say slightly revealing.”

I curl my lip in what I hope is a warning before deciding maybe a different route will have a better outcome. “Please let me change. This is highly inappropriate and utterly embarrassing.”

He nods. “I’ll arrange for someone to get you situated while I inform the queen of our arrival.”